Introducing jonathan jay's
BUSINESS ACQUISITION MENTORING MASTERMIND
Will Give You Everything You Need To Be A Professional Business Buyer
Business Owners Gain proven acquisition strategies and world-class support to buy your next business
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Would you like to grow your business faster this year than in the previous ten years?
Thinking of buying a business but don’t want to make expensive mistakes?
This year is the 10th Anniversary of my business-buying groups.
And it's the last year I'll personally mentor clients.
Plus I’ve added two brand-new features for 2026:
You’ve decided you want to grow your business faster – and not rely on slow, ‘organic’ growth.
You’ve realised that buying another business is the answer
However, you know that mistakes are expensive and figuring it all out by yourself takes time – and time is money.
You’ve already discovered that the internet is full of conflicting advice – that’s often not UK-relevant.
And although you have capital, you want to keep that in the bank as much as possible and the thought of 100% financing of the acquisition is (very) appealing.
PLUS: have you spent money on marketing or a business coach and it didn’t work?
A small investment in the Business Acquisition Mentoring Mastermind will help you achieve your business goals with SPEED and CERTAINTY.
Watch the video below to learn more about Dealmakers
The Acquisition Entrepreneur Mastermind is the answer for 8 reasons:
- Mastermind is a time-saver as you follow a clear system and process - tried and tested by hundreds before you. Our proprietary processes CANNOT be found on the internet.
- Mastermind removes the doubt – is this a good deal or a bad deal? Is this the best way of structuring the deal? Is the seller taking advantage of me?
-
Mastermind provides a community of like-minded people all doing the same thing – an elite business network of owners growing their business by acquisition.
- Mastermind gives you all the professional contacts you need – legal, financial, tax, due diligence etc.
- Mastermind is NOT just about buying a business – it’s about what happens afterwards – how to deal with staff, suppliers and customers and how to merge with your existing business.
- Mastermind will build your self confidence and belief and give you the tools to grow and build a group of businesses using our unique approach to the ‘Buy and Build’ or ‘roll up’ method where you acquire, merge and exit at a higher value.
- Mastermind will show you how to find the best deals, negotiate them and fund them – this will save you tens if not hundreds of thousands…
- Mastermind explains everything clearly – from the basics to the advanced principles – no one is left behind.
What Mastermind is NOT – it’s NOT a series of ‘get rich quick’ tricks and dubious practices taught by business buying gurus. Beware of promises that sound too good to be true! This programme has been running in various formats since 2016 and is one of the ‘original’ M&A training programmes in the world.
Mastermind is a 12-month Programme of Zoom meetings and Live events
Available in three different levels depending on your goals and aspirations
Participation is by application only and numbers are strictly limited to optimise the experience for you. We have a Zoom call with everyone who’s interested to establish which level is best for you – Gold, Platinum of VIP and to see if we can offer you a place.
“This year, I’m personally going to help 25 business owners scale their business by acquisition”
My name is Jonathan Jay and over the past 25 years I’ve bought and sold over 70 businesses, including multi-million pound deals.
Back in 2016 I started a small group for business owners that’s now one of the largest acquisition communities in the world.
After 25 years of doing this myself and helping thousands of other business owners do it too, I’ve developed 10 critical steps to successfully grow your business by acquisition.
These steps help you identify what business to buy, how to buy it, and how to run it so it grows your revenue in a way that no other method can.
The 10 Steps to Successful Business Acquisition
STEP 1
You need a clear acquisition strategy
You might think the best move is to buy a business exactly like yours.
For instance, if you own a dental practice, you might consider acquiring another one.
Or, if you’re running a car wash, you might look for another car wash for sale.
Sure, that approach can work.
But there is more than one way to scale your empire.
Once you dig a bit deeper, you might actually be better off acquiring a supplier or a distributor.
You could buy multiple complementary businesses that support each other and build a self-sustaining ecosystem — one where you don’t rely on other businesses and everything is under your control.
The key is to have a clear strategy.
Most people don’t even have a business plan for their current business.
But if you’re going to buy another business…
You MUST have a solid acquisition plan.
If you don’t get this right, you could end up buying a business that drains your energy and finances, rather than helping you grow.
STEP 2
Identify the right business to buy
There are millions of businesses out there.
But let me share a little secret with you.
Typically, the right business for you won’t be listed with brokers or featured in online directories.
You won’t find it by calling up business brokers or scrolling through endless listings.
Instead, you need to dig deeper and target businesses that are off-market – those not publicly advertised for sale.
Two critical factors to consider when choosing a business are its size and location.
Should you invest in a small business or aim for a multi-million pound revenue enterprise?
And is it better to buy a business close to home, or one that’s hundreds of miles away?
Getting these two decisions right is crucial.
I have clients who follow my advice and nail this.
They buy a business that adds millions of pounds/dollars in revenue to their bottom line.
But I have also had clients who ignore my advice and get these two things wrong.
They end up buying a job, rather than an asset that propels their business growth.
STEP 3
Decide if it’s a good or a bad deal
When you hear it from the seller, it ALWAYS sounds like a good deal.
And you may walk away from the meeting thinking you’ve just found a golden ticket.
But when you look closer and analyse it critically, the shine starts to fade.
In reality, 80% are bad deals, while only 20% are good.
You need to identify those 20% – the real winners.
If you don’t know what you’re looking for…
Chances are you’ll end up with a bad deal and only realise it once it’s too late.
STEP 4
Have a face-to-face meeting with the seller and their accountant
You can’t buy a business simply by talking on the phone…
Or working out a deal over a friendly coffee.
It involves a formal meeting.
You need to be fully prepared…
Know your numbers…
And demonstrate enough knowledge so the accountant doesn’t turn to the seller and say, “This person hasn’t got a clue.”
If you can’t convey confidence AND competence in this meeting, you’ll risk losing the deal entirely.
STEP 5
Negotiate price and terms
Ideally, you want to buy the business without using your own cash.
This isn’t as simple as saying, “I’ll buy a 1 million dollar business and pay it off out of the profits, $100,000 a year over 10 years.”
That approach used to work.
It doesn’t any more.
Today, deals are more sophisticated.
There are far better ways to negotiate terms that can significantly impact your finances.
Getting this right could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It could be the difference between paying off your mortgage in 12 months or paying it off in 12 years.
So it’s essential to spend the time negotiating the price and terms carefully.
STEP 6
Create a 100% finance structure for the deal
If you are going to buy the business without using your personal cash, you’ll need a 100% finance deal structure.
So the money you’ve worked hard to save over the past few years…
That stays where it is, safe and sound in your bank account.
This requires a concept I like to call the deal jigsaw.
It involves taking all the aspects of the deal, including the finance – from equity partners and lenders to creative financing solutions – and piecing everything together like pieces of a puzzle.
Once each piece is in place you can step back, see the complete image, and understand the structure and potential of your deal.
STEP 7
Build a team of experts to help you
navigate the acquisition
When buying a business, you need all your questions answered FAST.
And by fast, I mean on the same day.
Why?
Because delays can kill deals, especially when multiple parties are involved.
The problem is that most questions that arise are unique to the specific transaction.
You can’t find the answers by Googling them.
You need a team of experts on call.
Professionals who can provide tailored advice and quick solutions to complex problems.
This helps you navigate the deal confidently and efficiently.
Even the most experienced dealmakers can’t do this alone.
I’ve bought and sold over 70 businesses, including multi-million pound deals.
And I wouldn’t consider buying another one without my deal team on hand to help me through it.
STEP 8
Navigate the 12-week acquisition process
Once you’ve signed heads of terms, or the letter of intent, there’s a 12-week process to take ownership of the business.
This period is pivotal – and it’s where things can get a bit rocky, especially if you’re new to buying businesses.
Think of it like navigating the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.
First off, you need to dig deep with due diligence to spot any hidden issues or storms that might be brewing on the horizon.
Then, you need to make sure your finances are watertight.
And then there’s steering through the legalities to arrive safely with business ownership securely in hand.
While you may be the captain of this deal, you need a skilled crew to get there.
So during this period, the deal team you’ve assembled becomes invaluable.
They’ll guide you through the 12-week process, stop you from drowning, and ensure you successfully finalise the acquisition.
STEP 9
Lead the deal successfully to close in the final week
The final week before closing the deal is critical.
You must ensure that all components of the deal align perfectly.
This involves managing the flow of funds from funders, deciding when to inform the staff, and continuing to run your existing business simultaneously.
Everything must be coordinated for a smooth closing.
Any slip-up here can delay or derail the entire deal.
So you need to be proactive and ensure every detail is accounted for and executed on time.
STEP 10
Complete the takeover
You’ve sealed the deal, but the work isn’t over yet.
In fact, now comes arguably the hardest part – the takeover.
You face the challenge of informing the staff…
Decisions need to be made about who stays and who goes…
And you have to integrate the new business with your existing operations.
Even well-struck deals can sour post-purchase if you don’t manage them carefully.
I’ve completed deals that were textbook perfect, where everything went according to plan.
But I’ve also experienced deals that didn’t go as expected, including one where the business collapsed AFTER the takeover, because the staff weren’t on board.
So you need to be strategic to ensure a smooth transition and maintain business stability.
If you can do that, you’ll set yourself up for sustained success and real growth.
So… That’s business acquisition in a nutshell. That’s the reality of buying a business.
Every one of the 10 steps I’ve outlined is crucial to get it right.
You can’t take any shortcuts or things will go horribly wrong…
And you’ll be left picking up the pieces of a failed investment.
Now, the next logical question you might have is:
How can you navigate these steps without making mistakes that put the deal – or your current business – at risk?
If you’re serious about reaching your financial goals through business acquisition…
And what I’ve described so far hasn’t scared you away…
I run a Business Acquisition Mentoring Mastermind programme that can help you do this correctly, without making costly errors along the way.
It’s our flagship offering at Dealmakers and it has proven transformative for countless business owners just like you.
This programme includes advice, coaching and mentorship through the entire 10 steps involved in buying a business.
So let me briefly explain how it can help you at every stage of the business buying journey.
Let’s start at step 1 – which is developing your acquisition strategy
Instead of having to develop your own strategy from scratch…
My team and I will work with you to ensure your strategy is airtight.
We’ll make sure your acquisition strategy is tailored specifically to your financial goals and industry specifics…
And lay the foundations for a successful venture.
When it comes to step 2 – which is finding the right business – we’ll help you narrow down your search
Instead of being unsure where to look or how to contact businesses for sale…
You’ll be able to identify off-market opportunities that fast track your growth goals.
We’ll help you sort the trash from the treasure…
And we’ll guide you through the initial outreach so you make a great first impression.
This brings me to step 3 – deciding if it’s a good deal or a bad deal
Sometimes, even after all the research, you’re still not sure if buying the business is a smart move or not.
To ease your fears…
I will personally either red light or green light your deal.
This saves you a lot of time and stress.
But most importantly, it helps you avoid buying a lemon.
Next, is the face-to-face meeting
If you’ve never bought a business before, this can be a nightmare.
You feel like a child sitting at the big kids’ table.
But we’ll coach you through it and ensure you are well prepared for the meeting.
You’ll know exactly what to say to demonstrate your knowledge and seriousness…
How to run the meeting like a pro and keep the focus on your agenda…
And how to deal with the obnoxious accountant who’ll find any excuse to challenge your valuation.
You’ll even know where you should sit to command the room and establish your presence.
You’ll feel totally confident walking into that meeting, even if it’s the first time you’ve ever done it.
Next, we’ll help you negotiate the very best price and terms
This is something most new deal makers struggle with.
They lack the confidence to push for the best deal.
We’ll coach you through different negotiation situations to prepare you for the actual discussions.
We’ll advise you on what to push for and what to concede…
And provide ongoing support to ensure you get the best deal possible.
Step number 6 – creating a 100% finance structure
We’ll advise, coach and mentor you to ensure the best possible deal structure.
You’ll be introduced to the right finance people so you can buy the business without using any of your own cash.
You’ll be able to leverage other people’s money effectively and feel secure in your financial strategy.
Now, as I mentioned earlier, in step 7 you’ll need a team to get this deal done
So I’ll introduce you to mine.
A team of seasoned experts who have successfully navigated complex acquisitions across various industries.
These people get it.
They’ve done this countless times with other clients.
You’ll have them on-call throughout the process, so you’re never in the dark or unsure of what to do.
This team will also be crucial during the next step, which is the 12-week acquisition process
They’ll be there to guide you through, no matter what challenges arise.
Believe me, this 12-week period is notorious for unexpected curveballs.
You might receive a call from the lawyer requesting a personal guarantee…
Or an email from the seller suddenly wanting to back out.
What should you do?
We’ll navigate you through every scenario that pops up, ensuring you’re always one step ahead.
If the deal starts to wobble, we’ll be there to help you stabilise it and ensure it doesn’t collapse at the last minute.
Now, step number 9 – the final week before completion
This last week is a roller coaster.
Emotions are at their peak, and the unexpected often happens.
The owner might get cold feet…
Or their lawyer might try and throw in a last-minute demand.
We help you navigate these hurdles and get the deal over the line.
And finally, step 10, which is the takeover
We guide you through the entire takeover process, ensuring a smooth transition.
This includes managing relationships with staff, suppliers, landlords and customers — everyone involved needs to feel secure and informed.
From the very first staff meeting, we’ll be there to support you.
Whether it’s making tough decisions about hiring and firing…
Or strategising on whether to rebrand or relocate the business…
You’ll understand how to run the company once you own it and succeed from day one.
So that’s how joining the Acquisition Entrepreneur Mastermind programme will help you navigate buying a business.
However, not only will you get all of this help, coaching and mentorship…
But you’ll ALSO gain access to a community of like-minded people with similar ambitious goals for business growth.
Many people in this community have formed lifelong friendships and even partnerships.
It’s invaluable for support, accountability and knowledge sharing…
And it will help you navigate the complexities of business growth with complete confidence.
Now, if you’re not ready for something like this, that’s okay.
You can hit the subscribe button below and explore the other videos on my channel.
I regularly share practical tips and valuable advice on how to grow your business by acquisition.
But if you’ve tried other methods to grow your business and they haven’t worked or they’re too slow…
You’re truly serious about expanding your business by acquisition…
And you want expert guidance, coaching, and mentorship that helps you avoid the pitfalls and sets you up for success…
Then the Acquisition Entrepreneur Mastermaster programme might be EXACTLY what you need.
A word of caution, though.
This program isn’t for everyone.
It’s designed specifically for business owners who are committed to scaling their operations through strategic acquisitions.
To ensure a high-quality, personalised experience, I limit the number of participants.
Over the next 12 months, I’m looking for 25 business owners to join this elite group.
If you’re interested in being one of them, I invite you to book a 15-minute call with my team
They will assess your eligibility for the program, ensure it aligns with your business goals, and offer additional information along with practical tips to get started.
The Mastermind programme is available in three different levels depending on your goals and aspirations.
Only 25 business owners will be accepted into this elite group.
Choose your preferred level today:
GOLD
One year
This is the entry point. It gives you everything you need to complete your first acquisition and get that all-important deal under your belt.
MOST POPULAR
VIP
36 months
VIP is our next level — and it’s for serious group builders who want to go beyond just “buying a business” to building and selling a portfolio.
Diamond
36 months
Diamond Membership is the highest level of Mastermind — designed for those who want every possible advantage in buying and selling businesses.
It’s everything in VIP plus you’ll get unlimited 1-to-1 mentoring from the Inner Circle members.
Split pay option available on all levels
PLUS Get These Fast Action Bonuses when you join today!
Invite your business partner
Receive a 90% discount for your business partner. They'll receive full access to every resource and event too.
FREE MBA course
Get my full MBA course worth £5,000
Dealmakers Marbella Retreat Ticket
Join us for our annual Dealmakers 5* retreat in Marbella, Spain. Free ticket worth £3,000
Personal Introductions to my Deal Team
Professional lawyers, accountants and HR specialists who specialise in business buying and selling.
Support upgrade – Receive an extra year FREE!
An extra year of support from Jonathan and his team.
Only 25 business owners will be accepted into this elite group.
Choose your preferred level today:
GOLD
One year
This is the entry point. It gives you everything you need to complete your first acquisition and get that all-important deal under your belt.
MOST POPULAR
VIP
36 months
VIP is our next level — and it’s for serious group builders who want to go beyond just “buying a business” to building and selling a portfolio.
Diamond
36 months
Diamond Membership is the highest level of Mastermind — designed for those who want every possible advantage in buying and selling businesses.
It’s everything in VIP plus you’ll get unlimited 1-to-1 mentoring from the Inner Circle members.