Hari Krishnadasan explains how he moved from building companies from scratch to acquiring businesses, using deferred consideration, seller motivation, and no money down deal structures to test the acquisition process.
Listen to the EpisodeEpisode 249 | Runtime: 21:10 | Audio Episode
Hear how Hari Krishnadasan bought businesses outside his original sector, tested the acquisition process, and used seller motivation to structure low risk deals.
Episode
249
Runtime
21:10
Topic
No money down business acquisition
Format
Founder interview
Three acquisition lessons from an entrepreneur who tested the process in real transactions.
Hari's first acquisition worked because the seller cared about continuity, legacy, and removing stress, which made deferred consideration more practical than a cash-heavy deal.
The barber shop deals show that a buyer does not need to be the technical operator if the business is understandable, staff are retained, and management routines are clear.
Buying two businesses during a difficult market gave Hari proof that direct vendor conversations, timing pressure, and no money down structures can work in smaller acquisitions.
In this episode, Jonathan Jay speaks with Hari Krishnadasan, an entrepreneur who started in investment banking before building fashion, jewellery, and distribution businesses from scratch. Hari first acquired a long established fashion brand through a deferred consideration structure, then later realised that acquisition could become a repeatable strategy rather than a one-off opportunity.
Brexit and COVID exposed the risk of relying on one core sector, which pushed Hari to explore acquisitions in a completely different market. He identified two barber shops through direct vendor conversations, uncovered the seller's motivation, and structured the deal around the owner's need for speed, certainty, and capital for a new restaurant venture.
The discussion covers what happened after completion, including staff retention, operational handover, basic marketing improvements, weekly cash collection, and the discipline required to work on the business rather than in it. Hari also explains why he is now considering a buy and build strategy in children's nurseries, with a focus on asset finance, future exit value, and building long term security for his family.
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