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Starting a private equity fund sounds attractive, until you run the numbers.

If your fund is £20 million or smaller, the traditional 2 and 20 private equity model often fails to generate meaningful income for the fund manager, especially in the UK under FCA and AIFMD regulations.

In this video, I break down the real economics of small private equity funds and explain why management fees rarely cover costs, carried interest takes years to materialise, and UK regulatory overhead makes sub-£20m funds structurally inefficient.

Aspiring private equity fund managers, Operators considering raising a first-time fundInvestors curious about how PE funds really make moneyAnyone evaluating UK private equity fund structuresIf you’re thinking about starting a private equity fund in the UK, watch this before you commit capital, time, or reputation.

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My M&A advisory firm https://5dcapitalpartners.com/

If you want to work directly with me and my team to get acquisitions done, visit https://app.iclosed.io/e/Zak5D/5d-private-strategy-session

Join our Skool community https://www.skool.com/5d-program-6807

M&A Mastery Toolkit https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl

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My M&A advisory firm, 5DCP, helps buyers model cash flow before and after acquisition so deals don’t fall apart post close https://5dcapitalpartners.com/

If you want to work directly with me and my team to get acquisitions done, visit https://app.iclosed.io/e/Zak5D/5d-private-strategy-session

Join our Skool community https://www.skool.com/5d-program-6807

In this video, I sit down with 8 figure consultant Usman Kayani and break down how to structure consulting for equity deals properly, using real world examples to shift the mindset of consultants who want to move beyond fees and start building long-term ownership.

Most consultants trade time for money. The smartest ones trade expertise for equity, but only if the deal is structured correctly. Get it wrong, and you end up underpaid, overworked, or legally exposed. Get it right, and you create asymmetric upside without taking unnecessary risk.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction
0:50 - Current Retainer Model & Value Creation
3:42 - Client Types & Service Offerings
5:11 - The Churn Problem at 12 Months
11:12 - The 3-Month vs 12-Month Offer
12:34 - Small Business Equity Structure
14:40 - Setting Up Equity Triggers & KPIs
17:41 - Target EBITDA & Valuation Multiples
21:00 - Amplifying Returns with Hurdle Rates
24:02 - Understanding the 50/50 Hurdle Split
27:22 - Legal Framework & Value Creation Budget
28:34 - Founder Selection & Risk Management
31:00 - Founder Buyout Mechanism
32:10 - Implementation

M&A Mastery Toolkit https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl

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Nothing to say here, play the podcast...

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I have some time while I'm waiting for my flight at the airport, so I thought I'd walk through an acquisition we have been working on...I've since found out they sold to a competitor that we almost acquired 6 months ago! What a circus. 

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M&A Mastery Toolkit https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl

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https://www.youtube.com/@thesmbshow

Work with me https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl 

If you are a serious acquirer you can work with my team at https://5dcapitalpartners.com/ 

M&A Mastery Toolkit https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl

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5D member Thasan joins us to tell us how he sold his btc to buy his first business. 

We talk about how he acquired his first business, how he had heads of terms signed for 2x 8 figure businesses, and also how AI could affect small businesses. 

This is a great episode. 

Watch the interview here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0luIHDLrFmE&t=479s

M&A Mastery Toolkit https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl

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Last year was a whirl wind, here's some lessons I learned from 2025.

https://www.youtube.com/@thesmbshow

Work with me https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl 

5D Boardroom Live Event (Business Buying Masterclass) 
1x Ticket Birmingham 7th Feb (10am-4:30pm) https://buy.stripe.com/aFa28qayAaUz9Ev1aZeME3B

1x Ticket London 8th Feb (10am-4:30pm) https://buy.stripe.com/fZubJ0dKM8Mr2c3bPDeME3z

M&A Mastery Toolkit https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl

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In this Q&A session, I break down some of the most COMMON (and most confusing) topics in the UK business world, from Companies House filings to EOT structures, business turnarounds, EMI options, and much more.

If you’re buying, building, or turning around businesses in the UK, this video gives you clear, practical answers you can actually use.

Work with me https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl

M&A Mastery Toolkit https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl

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If you’re looking for the best business to buy, this is it.

In this video, I break down the business model that gives you recurring revenue, high margins, minimal day-to-day involvement, and stays strong even when the economy gets ugly.

We’ll cover why self-storage (and businesses like it) are the closest thing to a hands-off cash-flow machine you can own, and why smart buyers are targeting it right now.

✅ In this video you’ll learn:

Why recurring revenue beats “one-and-done” sales businesses

The profit margins most people don’t realise are possible

How this model stays recession-proof (even when consumers cut spending)

What makes it so hands-off / low-staff / low-stress

The key numbers to look for before you buy

Simple ways to increase revenue fast after acquisition

If you want a business that pays you every month, doesn’t need you on site daily, and holds value through downturns… you’ll want to watch this all the way through.

📌 Want help finding or structuring deals like this?

Work with me https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl 

M&A Mastery Toolkit https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl

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House prices haven’t gone up,  they’ve collapsed in real terms.

📉 While the headlines celebrate record property values, the truth is that when you adjust for inflation, the real value of homes has dropped by over 51% in the last decade.

In this video, I break down:
🏠 The shocking data behind the “hidden” property crash
💸 How inflation quietly erased half the market’s real value
📊 What this means for investors, homeowners, and first-time buyers

M&A Mastery Toolkit https://go.deeludlow.com/vsl