#342 Podcast Highights 2025 - Part One

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 cashReal 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 directThe mindset shift that separates hesitant entrepreneurs from decisive dealmakersLessons 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: 👉 dealmakers.co.uk/clarity 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. Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. It helps more future dealmakers discover the show – and succeed in their first business acquisition.