What if you could eliminate your biggest competitor without spending a penny upfront? While most business owners throw money at marketing and AI tools, there's a silent weapon hiding in plain sight: buying the competition that's stealing your clients.
In this episode, I’m joined by Jeremy Harbour, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and founder of The Harbour Club. We get practical about growing through acquisitions by buying your competitor.
We talk about why so many owner run businesses never sell, what makes today such a strong time to buy, and how to approach a competitor without turning it into an awkward sales pitch.
Jeremy shares what he looks for, what to avoid, and how to protect yourself so you are not left with a mess after the deal.
5 reasons to listen
Stop competing, start acquiring. Discover why buying your competitor is more effective than spending another pound on advertising or the latest AI automation.
The zero money down blueprint. Learn the exact structure Jeremy uses monthly to acquire businesses without borrowing from banks, signing guarantees or hiring expensive lawyers.
Baby boomer goldmine. Understand why 80% of businesses owned by retiring baby boomers are essentially free for the taking if you know how to structure the conversation.
Red flags become opportunities. Jeremy explains how client concentration, employee risk and owner dependency actually make deals easier, not harder.
Real-time acquisition coaching. Watch Jeremy coach me through structuring my first competitor acquisition, including the consulting to equity approach that eliminates upfront costs.
Learn how to stop being your own bottleneck and start leading like a boss. It’s free, no email required and no BS.
Grab it now: https://adamstrong.notion.site/The-Exit-Playbook-Shift-from-Operator-to-Visionary-Leader-220f5f71e63b80bc91a0d7e0ca050c82?source=copy_link
Chapters
00:00 The Strategy of Acquiring Competitors
02:46 Current Market Dynamics and Opportunities
05:36 Understanding Business Valuation and Acquisition Risks
08:25 Navigating the Acquisition Process
11:04 Building Rapport with Competitors
13:48 Personal Experiences in M&A
16:41 Identifying Sweet Spots for Acquisition
19:25 The Power of Group Strategies in M&A
22:09 Overcoming Mindset Barriers in M&A
25:04 Initiating Conversations with Competitors
29:19 End of Year Reflections and Motivations
30:03 Identifying Red Flags in Acquisitions
31:08 Leveraging Red Flags for Better Deals
33:18 Creating Asymmetric Risk in Transactions
36:34 Evaluating Business Concentration Risks
38:37 Recognizing Green Flags in Negotiations
39:21 De-risking Post-Acquisition Integration
41:07 Common Mistakes in the First 90 Days
44:47 Acquisition Strategies for Consulting Businesses
51:13 Navigating the Complexity of Acquisitions
55:23 Understanding Technology Business Valuations
57:20 Final Thoughts on Entrepreneurship and Acquisitions
ABOUT OUR SPONSOR
Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.
Go to https://www.adambenedict.co.uk
ABOUT THE GUEST
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyharbour/
Website: https://www.harbourclubevents.com
ABOUT THE HOST
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong
Website: https://adamstrong.net
Email: hello@adamstrong.net
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