No Bollocks with Matt Haycox
Welcome to No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, the business podcast for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and anyone who wants to build big without the bullshit.
I’m Matt Haycox: investor, founder, and straight-talking business mentor. I’ve funded nearly £1 billion in UK business loans, bounced back from bankruptcy, and now own and advise multiple 7- and 8-figure companies across sectors, from property and e-commerce to finance and hospitality.
This podcast cuts through the noise. No bollocks. No gurus. Just raw conversations, real strategies, and the lessons you actually need to succeed in business.
Each episode features unfiltered insights from me and guests who’ve built it, lost it, and built it back bigger.
So buckle up. It’s time to learn how to do business, properly.
No Bollocks with Matt Haycox
Buy a Business Instead of Starting One: The Acquisition Playbook | Dee Ludlow
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Most people think building a business means starting from scratch.
Dee Ludlow’s view: it’s often smarter to buy momentum.
In this episode, Matt Haycox sits down with Dee Ludlow to unpack how business acquisitions work at the small-to-mid market level: why “buy don’t build” has exploded, what sellers actually care about (hint: it’s not only money), and how the best buyers win deals through relationship, credibility, and a clean process, not aggressive spreadsheets.
They also break down common myths: the difference between cash-free / debt-free vs sensible finance structures, why many brokers don’t truly understand valuation, and how a deal gets done when you don’t want to tie up all your own cash.
If you’re a founder tired of the “start from zero” grind, or you want to grow through acquisition, this is a practical, no-bollocks overview of the buy-side game.
Key topics covered:
- Buy vs build: why acquisitions can be a shortcut to traction
- Valuation reality: what businesses are really priced on
- Seller motivation: how to win deals by understanding the human side
- Funding structures: debt, “skin in the game,” and what banks actually require
- Relationship-led acquisitions vs private equity-style transactions
Follow Dee:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeludlow/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dee_ludlow/
Summit: https://summit.deeludlow.com/
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Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.
I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.
On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.
Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.
📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe
▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
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