Buying Small Businesses: M&A Strategies Explained

What actually happens when you start buying small businesses?

In this episode of #Value, Graham Davies speaks with James Collinson, founder of DesignSpec, about using M&A to scale a service business, acquire strong teams, and help retiring business owners find a better exit.

They cover:

1. Why many businesses stay too small for too long
2. The fear of hiring and how to move past it
3. Why culture fit matters more than CVs
4. How to find acquisition targets directly
5. Why brokers can slow deals down
6. How vendor finance works in SME acquisitions
7. The biggest deal killers in small business M&A
8. What to do in the first few weeks after buying a business
9. Why finance visibility matters monthly, not annually

James also shares real examples from his own acquisition journey, including deals that changed shape completely once the human side of the business became clear.

A practical conversation for founders, operators and business owners thinking about growth through acquisition.

Guest: James Collinson, DesignSpec
Host: Graham Davies, Addition Finance

#Value #MergersAndAcquisitions #SmallBusiness #FounderFinance #BusinessAcquisition #VendorFinance #Entrepreneurship

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If you’re a founder and want help understanding your finances, preparing for growth, or getting investor-ready, you can book a free call with the Addition team.

https://calendly.com/addition_graham/addition-app-demo-new-business?month=2025-07

Видео Buying Small Businesses: M&A Strategies Explained канала Addition Finance