John has bought three businesses in a year — including a hotel and golf club from administrators and a software company in six hours.

GUEST

John Graves — Serial acquirer with three deals in 12 months, specialising in distressed and administrator opportunities.

EPISODE SUMMARY

John's approach to acquisitions is defined by speed, volume and decisiveness. He signs NDAs daily and reviews at least five opportunities a week. His standout deals include a distressed hotel and golf club bought from administrators (with seven broken toilets on day one), which he refinanced within a week to pull most of his money back out; and a software company acquired in a six-hour process — at the price of a family car — alongside fellow mastermind member Steven.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

▸ Volume of deal flow is everything: signing an NDA every day means you can be highly selective about what you pursue.

▸ When you have too many inbound leads to handle well, switch off outbound marketing temporarily rather than give any deal poor attention.

▸ Administration deals move fast — offer on Wednesday, accepted Thursday, completed the following Thursday. Be credible and be ready.

▸ Buying assets (not shares) from an administrator means HMRC liabilities and other debts stay behind — you get the business free and clear.

▸ Leases are a hidden cash-flow trap: 10 separate equipment leases can become 10 monthly payments that compound and crush trading cash flow.

▸ Asset refinancing after acquisition can return most or all of your initial investment within days, freeing capital for the next deal.

DEAL HIGHLIGHT

The hotel and golf club: bought from administrators with an offer on day two, completed in seven days. Refinanced the assets within a week of completion and recovered most of the purchase price — then used that cash to complete a second deal within 30 days.

"Stop the procrastination and get those deals in — it's about volume and it's about mass marketing."

Learn more: www.dealmakers.co.uk