#342 Podcast Highights 2025 - Part One
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
Release Date: 01/08/2026
#343 Podcast Highlights 2025 Part 2
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In the second part of our special two-part highlights series, Jonathan Jay dives into more of the most impactful, practical, and inspiring moments from the 2025 season of Business Buying Strategies. Whether you’re brand new to acquisitions or have a few deals under your belt, this curated episode brings together essential wisdom from trusted voices in the Dealmakers community. Here’s what you’ll hear: 1. The Legal Pitfalls First-Time Buyers Must Avoid Top M&A lawyer John Andrews shares critical advice for getting your structure right from day one. You’ll learn: Why a...
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#342 Podcast Highights 2025 - Part One
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
Kicking off the new year in style, this special episode of Business Buying Strategies brings you the best, boldest, and most instructive stories from the podcast in 2025. You’ll hear from real dealmakers—ordinary people doing extraordinary things—who followed Jonathan Jay’s proven acquisition strategies and transformed their lives. Whether you’re starting from scratch or already own a business, this episode will help you understand how growth through acquisition really works. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How complete beginners have bought businesses without risking their own...
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#341 Putting the Deal Together
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
This week on Business Buying Strategies, we return to the behind-the-scenes recording of a live seminar where Jonathan Jay walks an audience of ambitious entrepreneurs through his proven approach to buying and growing businesses without using their own cash. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve tried the “DIY” route with limited results, this is a must-listen for anyone who wants a safer, smarter way to buy businesses. Jonathan breaks down: ✅ Why confidence matters more than cash — and how to build it ✅ What a leveraged buyout (LBO) really means in practical...
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#340 One Deal Away: How to Grow, Scale and Exit Through Acquisition
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
This week on Business Buying Strategies, we bring you something different — a behind-the-scenes recording of a live seminar where Jonathan Jay walks an audience of ambitious entrepreneurs through his proven approach to buying and growing businesses without using their own cash. If you’ve ever thought, “Surely this can’t be possible?” — this episode will challenge everything you think you know about business growth, retirement planning, and personal freedom. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why acquisitions can fast-track your business goals more effectively than organic growth The...
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#339 From Podcast Listener to Dealmaker: The Fast-Track Path to Your First Acquisition
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this special episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan Jay pulls back the curtain on a pivotal moment in every dealmaker’s journey — the point where you stop watching from the sidelines and take real, tangible action. And if you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while but still haven’t bought your first business, this episode might just change everything. Here’s what you’ll discover: ✅ The biggest mindset shift that separates action-takers from “armchair” dealmakers ✅ Why trying to piece together internet advice is like cooking with three celebrity chefs —...
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#338 More Dealmaker Questions Answered by Jonathan
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this week’s episode of Business Buying Strategies, you’re invited to sit in on one of Jonathan Jay’s live “Coffee with Jonathan” sessions — where he fields rapid-fire questions from aspiring dealmakers and delivers straight-talking, practical answers. From metaphors that make sense to advice that saves you from million-pound mistakes, this episode is packed with real insights, real examples, and real momentum. Here’s what you’ll learn this week: The Spaghetti Analogy That Could Change Your Approach Forever Discover why Jonathan says business buying is like choosing...
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#337 Bonus Episode: Inside the Business-Buying Foundation Course
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this special short episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan reveals what really happens at his live Business-Buying Foundation Course — and why it’s become one of the most transformative events for first-time business buyers. Jonathan explains why he created the Foundation Programme for those who are tired of endless webinars and ready to learn in person — surrounded by like-minded people who are serious about taking action. Over three immersive days, attendees get clarity, confidence, and a proven process for buying their first (or next) business. In this episode, you’ll...
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#336 The 14 Rookie Mistakes Business Buyers Must Avoid
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this straight-talking solo episode, Jonathan Jay reveals the 14 most common mistakes first-time business buyers make – and how you can avoid them. After a decade of mentoring hundreds of entrepreneurs through their first (and second, third, even 20th) acquisition, Jonathan has seen the same mistakes crop up again and again. Some cost people time. Others cost them tens – even hundreds – of thousands of pounds. And a few can cost them everything. Whether you’re just starting out, stuck in analysis paralysis, or partway through a deal, this episode will give you clarity,...
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#335 Live Q&A with Jonathan: No Slides, Just Straight Talk
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
This week, we take you behind the scenes of one of Jonathan Jay’s exclusive Zoom coffee mornings — a live, unscripted Q&A session where aspiring business buyers put their real-world questions directly to one of the UK’s most experienced dealmakers. No slides. No fluff. Just straight-talking, practical answers from Jonathan on everything from company structure and personal guarantees to due diligence, PGs, investor myths, tax efficiency, and how to avoid wasting months of your life chasing the wrong advice. Highlights include: ✅ Do you need a Board of Directors? (Spoiler: probably...
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#334 Negotiation Masterclass with Martin
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this week’s episode, Jonathan Jay introduces Inner Circle member Martin, one of the sharpest negotiators in the business buying world. What follows is a complete masterclass on negotiation — packed with practical insights, real-world stories, and strategies you can put into action right away. Martin pulls back the curtain on how to approach deals with confidence, credibility, and control. From mindset techniques to financial structuring, from role-playing negotiations to managing seller expectations, this session is full of wisdom you won’t find on YouTube. What you’ll learn in this...
info_outlineKicking off the new year in style, this special episode of Business Buying Strategies brings you the best, boldest, and most instructive stories from the podcast in 2025.
You’ll hear from real dealmakers—ordinary people doing extraordinary things—who followed Jonathan Jay’s proven acquisition strategies and transformed their lives. Whether you’re starting from scratch or already own a business, this episode will help you understand how growth through acquisition really works.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How complete beginners have bought businesses without risking their own cash
- Real examples of smart deal structures (including 100% deferred payments, sale and leasebacks, and profit shares)
- Why business brokers are often best avoided—and how to source deals direct
- The mindset shift that separates hesitant entrepreneurs from decisive dealmakers
- Lessons from multiple industries: manufacturing, beauty, PR, accountancy, care, construction, and more
Featured Dealmakers & Their Stories
Danny : Bought his first manufacturing business in 2020 using a sale-and-leaseback strategy—without upfront cash.
Since then, he’s continued acquiring, including a steel stockist business sourced via a broker, proving there are exceptions to every rule. His deals are a masterclass in positioning, rapport-building, and creative funding structures.
Cara: Started with a single beauty salon turning over £180k. Now owns nine salons generating over £2 million—in just 18 months. Her story is a testament to bold action, clear negotiation, and using Jonathan’s direct letter strategy to source off-market deals.
Simon: Built a successful PR firm through five low-risk acquisitions (plus two media businesses). Did every deal with no upfront payment—just structured earn-outs and profit shares. Proves that asset-light businesses can still be bought without debt or risk.
Martin: Went from sceptic to super-dealmaker—buying two businesses in the final week of December. Now a key member of the Dealmakers training team, Martin specialises in smart structuring, negotiation, and financing—highlighting the power of taking fast action.
Richard: Shares powerful insights from 125+ investments across three decades. From growing up in the Australian care system to early retirement at 34, Richard reflects on the power of resilience, backing the right people, and learning from failure. This extended segment offers wisdom for anyone thinking about buying, building, or backing a business.
David: Built a £20m revenue care group from a spare bedroom startup via 17 acquisitions in just a few years. Started by taking over a struggling friend’s company, then pounced when two corporates exited the market. Now a blueprint for how to scale fast in a regulated, people-heavy sector.
John: Grew a £6m group of six construction-sector businesses by combining organic growth with smart acquisitions—some funded using the target company’s own cash. Emphasises the power of accountability, having a group strategy, and executing consistently.
Neil: Started 2020 with three clients and two months of savings. Now runs a 600+ client accountancy practicegenerating over £1 million annually. His first acquisition—a micro-fee bank—gave him the confidence to grow faster through acquisition.
Key Takeaways
- You don’t need money to buy a business—just the right strategy and structure.
- It’s never the wrong time to act. Deals happened on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
- Good sellers aren’t looking for the highest bidder. They’re looking for a safe pair of hands.
- Confidence grows through action. One deal is often the gateway to dozens more.
This is one of the most inspiring and educational episodes we’ve ever released. Whether you’re new to acquisitions or already making deals, you’ll walk away with new insights—and renewed motivation.
If you’re serious about buying a business – and avoiding the mistakes Jonathan outlines – book a free Clarity Call with one of his team:
You’ll get 15 minutes of expert insight to help you decide which next step is right for you – whether that’s attending a Deal Club evening, joining the 3-day Foundation Programme, or stepping straight into the Mastermind.
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