Business Broker of the Year Charlie Norton on Modern M&A, Realistic Valuations, Deal Fatigue & the Future of UK BrokerageIn episode two of the intro series, the host speaks with Charlie Norton, CEO of Vamos Business Transfer, who is heading to receive a UK “business broker of the year” award and explains how his modern brokerage sells low mid-market businesses (£1m–£50m) across the UK and Europe by focusing on realistic valuations and targeting heads of terms to completion within 90 days. They discuss why brokers get a bad name, the traditional listing-fee model, how legal and due diligence delays create deal fatigue, and tactics like weekly calls and group chats to keep deals moving. Charlie shares his early entrepreneurial journey, views entrepreneurs as built through persistence, reflects on partnerships, outlines buy-side vs sell-side work, and predicts a more American-style UK deal landscape with growing use of creative finance and the impact of AI.Charlie Norton Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-norton-767953227/Vamos website : https://www.vamosbusiness.com/Vamos youtube : @VAMOSBusinessTransfer 00:00 Welcome and Awards02:36 What Vamos Does04:01 Broker vs Advisor06:49 Fixing the Old Model07:48 Deal Delays and Due Diligence12:44 Keeping Deals Moving15:47 Early Hustles and First Buys18:48 Built Not Born22:05 Partners Behind Success27:30 Partnership Lessons31:07 Building a Finance Arm36:08 Funding Basics Explained36:45 Why Deals Fail Under 1M37:51 Buy Side vs Sell Side40:13 Deal Sourcing Is Not Automated44:57 Mentoring New Buyers49:18 Pick a Real Buy Box50:45 Construction Acquisition Strategy53:04 Risk and Liability Lessons55:22 Brokerage Market Red Flags59:15 Valuation and Deal Structures01:03:32 Future of UK M&A01:06:25 Every Business Has a Price01:10:51 Closing Thoughts and WrapThanks for watching and if you require anymore information then check us out at www.theacquisitioncollective.co.uk