What Guy Bartlett talks about

Decision Making Under Pressure in Acquisitions: military discipline applied to deal negotiation

Many entrepreneurs enter acquisitions focused on valuation, structure, and opportunity, but the real test often comes when pressure hits. A difficult negotiation, unexpected risk, or last-minute…

Acquisition Without Large Capital: seller finance, deferred payments and earn-out structures

Many business owners assume acquisition is only available to buyers with deep pockets, investor backing, or large amounts of cash ready to deploy. That belief keeps capable operators stuck trying to…

Preparing to Negotiate an Acquisition: setting limits and reading risk before talks begin

Guy Bartlett spent 42 years in military service, including commissioned service in the Royal Engineers, before he started sitting across the table from sellers who move their terms at the last…

Seller-Funded Acquisitions: How buyers structure deals using deferred payments, earn-outs and staged terms instead of upfront cash

Guy Bartlett has advised on more than 150 deals across owner-managed companies, and he argues the money rarely has to start with a bank. Most would-be buyers assume they need the full purchase price…

Due Diligence as Operational Planning: what a buyer verifies on a target business before committing money

Guy Bartlett served 42 years in the military, including commissioned service in the Royal Engineers, and has advised on more than 150 deals across owner-managed companies. He argues that most buyers…

The UK Business Closure Wave as an Acquisition Opportunity: why retiring founders' companies close instead of selling, and what that means for buyers

Guy Bartlett has spent more than two decades buying, selling and advising on owner-managed companies, and he is watching a generation of UK founders reach their 70s with no one to hand the business…

Making a Business Sale-Ready: why many owner-managed companies never sell and what buyers check first

Guy Bartlett has advised on more than 150 deals across owner-managed companies, and he says the hardest conversations are with owners who left it too late. Government figures show many privately…

Fractional M&A for Owner-Managed Businesses: finding, structuring and integrating acquisitions without an in-house deal team

Guy Bartlett has advised on more than 150 deals across owner-managed companies, and he argues that buying other businesses is not reserved for firms big enough to employ a deal team. He cites one…