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Home / Video / Deal Insight Video Series: What is the most challenging aspect of buying a distressed business?


Deal Insight Series:

What is the most challenging aspect of buying a distressed business?




In this video of our Deal Insight Series, serial entrepreneur Jonathan Jay talks about some of the challenges you face when buying a distressed business.

For over 20 years, Jonathan has bought and sold companies, restructured groups, bought out competitors and successfully completed private equity deals both buy-side and sell side. In this video mini series he shares his deal insights with us.


The transcript of the interview follows:

What do you think is the most challenging aspect of looking to acquire a distressed business?

The most challenging aspect of buying a distressed business or a business out of administration is that it is a lot of hard work. You discover a new problem every day and everything that you’ve been assured about doesn’t come to pass. Basically, everything is a problem, which is why it’s distressed. But that’s why you’ve bought it for a very nominal amount just a few thousand pounds sometimes just a pound, that’s why you’re getting a deal. You’re getting a bargain, but you’ve got to work hard at it. But there are some people who have made tremendous successes of businesses that were dying under the existing management. My first piece of advice typically is get rid of the management team - the business probably went wrong because of the management team. Get them out the door as quickly as possible and take control of the company’s finances. You don’t want a business that’s leaking cash. You’ve got to be a little bit of a control freak with this. But you need to take control of the business, get rid of the management that messed it up and be prepared for quite a few sleepless nights.

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Jonathan Jay is the founder of The Dealmaker’s Academy.


If you’re looking for distressed opportunities, we list all UK Administrations, Liquidations and Winding Up Petitions daily. Our members receive daily email updates with new listings, if you are looking to profit from buying distressed companies Business Sale Report can help you stay in the know.

Business Sale Report have been providing our members with business acquisition opportunities and insightful resources since 1995.


For more information on buying distressed businesses, take a look at our other articles:

- How to buy a business out of administration

- How to make your business an attractive acquisition target – research from 9,000 private companies

- The 2018 business turnaround cheat sheet

- Buying intellectual property out of a business administration

Deal Insight Series


M&A market and Brexit


How do you value a potential acquisition?


The right approach to valuing a business


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