What size of business should you buy first? In the latest episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan Jay offers guidance to first-time business buying on some key decisions to make when targeting their first acquisition.  Jonathan highlights elements to consider such as business size, owner involvement, business location, and the time commitment for the acquisition. He stresses the concept of not buying a business for just one pound, given the assumed liabilities can be burdensome, especially for first-time buyers. Jonathan recommends buying a solid, profitable business and using other people's money instead of taking on a distressed business. He also suggests strategies for negotiating, understanding the seller's motivations, managing the risks involved, and thinking about the business's exit strategy from the beginning for a more profitable result. If you are about to start your business buying journey, this episode will give you all the answers you need to these important questions.  Here are the key highlights: 00:00 Introduction to Business Acquisition 01:09 Guidelines for Your First Business Acquisition 03:30 Location Matters: Where Should Your First Acquisition Be? 05:02 Time Commitment in Business Acquisition 08:28 The Pitfalls of Buying a Business for One Pound 11:33 The Ideal Business for Your First Acquisition 16:57 Negotiating a Deal: The Power of Words 24:03 Golden Rules of Business Acquisition Here is what you will discover… Why you should avoid making owner-managed businesses for your first acquisition (who do you think is going to fill that void when they leave?) Why everything gets harder if you get your first acquisition wrong (it’s why this is such an important decision) Why it’s vital to figure out the cost of replacing the owner-manager with a manager paid market rate Why the million pound revenue mark is a good indicator for business buyers Why buying a business in another country as your first purchase is not a good idea (you’re buying a lot of inconvenience for your first deal) How shopping local is a good idea for acquisition entrepreneurs when starting out Why it is realistic and entirely possible to buy your first business while working a 9 to 5 (in fact, business owners prefer to speak out of hours) Why you need to switch your mindset from doing everything to leaning on your Deal Team to work through the process (the sooner you do this, the faster your progress) Why buying a bigger business actually gives you more time rather than less (you’re buying a working infrastructure with a bigger business)   ** Looking for a great acquisition lawyer in the UK? Use mine! ** If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my own lawyer, John Andrews. You can phone his office at (0345) 2412494 or email him at [email protected]. Ready to get started? Here’s how you can start your business buying journey… Download our free Business Buying Toolkit https://dealmakers.co.uk/business-buying-toolkit Join our Business Acquisition FastTrack programme https://www.dealmakers.co.uk/fast Already bought a business? if you've already bought a business, you should be part of my Inner Circle group where we discuss raising capital, integration management, and exiting. Email Maria on [email protected] for more information. Connect with Jonathan Jay at: Website: https://www.dealmakers.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-jay-3556b230/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDealmakersAcademy