Phil Hunt explains how he moved from overthinking outreach to acquiring two hair and beauty salons, using seller motivation, direct mail, legal support, and smart acquisition funding.
Listen to the EpisodeEpisode 193 | Runtime: 27:50 | Audio Episode
Hear Phil Hunt break down how he sourced, negotiated, funded, and completed his first two salon acquisitions while still working full time.
Episode
193
Runtime
27:50
Topic
Buying hair and beauty salons
Format
Founder interview and acquisition case study
Three acquisition lessons from Phil Hunt's first two salon deals.
Phil spent months overthinking letters before sending a meaningful batch. Once he acted, owner conversations began quickly and deal flow followed.
The first salon owner wanted retirement, continuity, and staff protection more than a headline price, which allowed a low cash asset purchase to complete fast.
Phil's second acquisition used available funding and deferred consideration, proving that a share purchase can work without relying on personal cash when the structure is right.
This episode follows Phil Hunt, a full time HR director in London, as he explains how he used the Dealmakers Academy process to buy his first two hair and beauty salons. Phil had previously run small businesses, but wanted a route back into business ownership that did not depend entirely on selling his own time.
The conversation covers his early hesitation, his shift from analysis to action, and the direct mail campaign that produced seller conversations. His first acquisition was an asset purchase where the seller was driven by retirement, staff security, and protecting the salon's legacy. The deal completed in around four weeks after the in person meeting, with legal focus placed on the commercial lease.
Jonathan and Phil then break down the second acquisition, a share purchase using external funding and deferred consideration rather than Phil's own money. The episode also explores trust building with vendors, using lawyers properly, understanding sector margins, building to six or seven salons, and creating a group that could eventually be sold for a meaningful exit.
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