SMART BUSINESS OWNERS DON’T BUILD, THEY BUY UNLOCK EXPONENTIAL GROWTH THROUGH STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS. THE PLAYBOOK SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES DON’T WANT YOU TO READ.
3
You might be exploring your first acquisition, or preparing for your next. Either way, you’re not here by accident. You’re thinking bigger. You know growth through acquisition is powerful, and it’s your next move.
A message from our CEO At Buy Side Advisory, we believe that the boldest growth often comes from companies and entrepreneurs who dare to think beyond organic expansion. Since founding, my mission has been clear: to level the playing field for mid to small-cap businesses and provide them with the insight, access, and executional excellence traditionally reserved for the largest corporates. We specialise exclusively in supporting acquirers; helping ambitious leadership teams find the right opportunities, structure smart deals, and unlock real long-term value. Our values are rooted in one simple principle: we create value by putting our clients’ success at the centre of everything we do. We approach every engagement not just as advisors, but as aligned partners, committed to delivering measurable outcomes and lasting impact. Our role is personal. When we’re invited into a client’s growth journey, we don’t take that responsibility lightly. Whether you’re exploring your first acquisition or building out a focused buy-and-build strategy, our team is committed to being right there beside you.
We’ve advised clients across sectors and geographies, often working behind the scenes to turn bold ambitions into clear, executable strategies.
For me personally, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching an acquisition move from concept to completion, transforming from a strategic idea into a tangible, reality. It’s a privilege to witness that journey and to play a role in helping our clients turn their growth ambitions into real-world outcomes.
2
5
Growth isn’t a gamble, it’s a move.
Why Buy a Business?
Growth through acquisition is a powerful and widely used strategy for entrepreneurs and business owners ready to scale. It’s often faster and more effective than starting a new business, opening another location, or launching a new product line. Organic growth can take years, sometimes decades, and is filled with costly challenges like marketing spend, recruitment struggles, operational inefficiencies, and the uphill battle of building brand trust. By acquiring an existing business, you skip the hard part. You gain a proven brand, steady cash flow, loyal customers, trusted suppliers, and experienced staff—all in one move. It’s a strategic shortcut to your next level of growth—buying what you want, instead of trying to build it from scratch.
Enhanced Brand and Reputation
Expansion of Market Presence
Increased Revenue and Growth
Vertical Integration
Synergies and Cost Savings
Strategic Positioning
Access to Talent and Expertise
Access to Intellectual Property
Diversification & Risk Management
Increased Shareholder Value
At Buy Side Advisory, we walk you through the process to a successful completion.
4
7
Traditional Growth vs M&A
TRADITIONAL GROWTH
M&A
Acquire and accelerate Get proven systems, teams & revenue on Day 1
Start from scratch Build team, brand, and customer base over years
Buy loyalty Instantly tap into loyal customers & established brand trust
Burn cash on marketing Slow conversions, low ROI, long trust-building
Plug in expert teams Gain high-performing talent that already works together
Struggle to hire Long recruiting cycles, retention risk, cultural fit issues
Buy proven products Scale successful offerings with built-in customers
Develop products from zero High risk of failure, long R&D cycles
Go global faster Get licenses, teams & revenue in new regions instantly
Expand geographically Slow ramp-up, costly market entry risks
Scale by acquisition Integrate existing infrastructure with speed & stability
Scale internally Complex ops, capital strain, uncertain ROI
Create synergy Unlock bigger margins through strategic integration
Cut costs to grow profit Limited upside, potential downsides
2% of UK startups hit £1 million in annual revenue within 3 years. Source: ONS
2-3 years on average for a startup to break even.
1 in 5 new hires leave within their first year.
1-2 Years the average time to build a new product. Source: McKinsey & Company
2-3% is the average
90% of all start
digital marketing conversion rate. Source: Wordstream
ups fail. Source: Harvard
Source: CIPD
Source: Fresh Books
6
9
Who Should Buy a Business?
At Buy Side Advisory, we work with ambitious entrepreneurs, operators, and business owners who are serious about growth through acquisition. Whether you’re a first-time buyer exploring standalone opportunities, or an experienced operator looking to bolt on acquisitions to an existing company, we help you navigate the M&A process with confidence.
Our clients range from funded individuals to private companies turning over £1M–£20M+, who are motivated to build long-term value through strategic acquisitions.
The Corporate Strategist
The Private Fund
The Entrepreneur
The Business Owner
Efficiency and growth driver
ROI-focused deal hunter
Strategic, agile, ready to outsmart the competition
Ready to expand smarter
You move with intent, smart, calculated, ready to leap past slow, costly growth. Tired of building piece by piece? Acquisition lets you play the winning strategy now.
You’ve built a strong business and want to accelerate growth by
You hunt for lean, proven businesses to grow your portfolio fast—without guesswork or wasted time.
You seek strategic bolt-ons that expand market share, boost efficiency, and drive profit. Expand with strategy; unlock new markets and advantages.
acquiring complementary brands that fit perfectly.
Invest smart, scale faster, buy the business that works.
Accelerate growth, duplicate success, don’t dilute it.
Outsmart slow growth: acquire success with precision.
8
11
Common Misconceptions About Buying a Business
Although M&A transactions can be complex, the barrier to entry has never been better. With the rise in banks lending and a wave of retiring sellers, clever deal structures have opened the door for more buyers.
I’m not a credible buyer unless I’m already wealthy or own a big company?
Isn’t the process way too complex for someone who’s never done it before?
How a deal using debt can work, simplified with a £1 million example:
Do you need 100% of the money upfront to purchase a business?
Not true. Being a credible buyer isn’t about having deep pockets – it’s about having the right ingredients: • A proven track record or business experience • “Skin in the game” – that might be some capital or the ability to leverage finance • A clear reason for the acquisition, backed by a sound business plan • And crucially, the numbers in the target business need to work – the cash flow should comfortably cover the debt repayments You’re not personally taking on the debt, the company you acquire is, and it’s repaid from its own profits. That’s exactly how most acquisitions are structured, even by experienced dealmakers.
It can feel overwhelming at first – especially if you’ve never bought a company before. But you don’t need to figure it all out alone. With the right team around you, people who’ve actually bought, scaled, and exited businesses, the process becomes much simpler. We guide you through everything from finding opportunities and valuing businesses to negotiating and closing deals. You stay in control of decisions. We handle the complexity and guide you to completion. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to grow through acquisition, the process can be made clear, structured, and successful.
No, this is a common misconception. The majority of business acquisitions are not structured as 100% cash deals. Instead, they often involve a blend of debt financing, deferred payments, and equity. Think of it like buying a house, if every buyer had to pay the full price in cash on day one, very few houses would be sold. The same logic applies to mergers and acquisitions. Even high-profile deals, like Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter in 2022, involved debt. Just as with property purchases, in M&A you can put down a portion of the total price and structure the rest through other financial mechanisms.
£
Your Equity: £100k
Bank Debt: £700k
Deferred Consideration: £200k
Deal Closed at £1 Million
£
£
£
£
£
£
Acquisition finance term 3 - 5 years
10
13
“We pride ourselves on integrity, open communication, and empowering small to mid-market companies to achieve growth through strategic acquisitions.”
Our Services
Strategic, practical, and results-driven support across every stage of the deal process.
Deal Origination
Fact-Finding & Qualification
Valuations & Deal Structuring
We create tailored campaigns and leverage our network to find targeted on- and off-market companies aligned with your deal criteria. We do the legwork to save you time and money.
We represent your interests from the start. By asking the right questions, we qualify to disqualify – holding dozens of calls and meetings to bring you vetted, pre-qualified opportunities.
Our experience across hundreds of deals informs robust valuations, practical deal structures, and essential working capital and cash flow forecasts.
Offer Sequencing
Heads of Terms Negotiation
Due Diligence Management
We craft offers aligned with your criteria and affordability, releasing them strategically to maximise acceptance.
We liaise with your legal team and manage the process to ensure favourable terms and a smooth start to your deal.
We build your “deal team”, maintain clear communication, and manage due diligence from start to finish to keep things moving.
Document Review & Negotiation
Closing Protocols
Financial Forecasting
From clarifying clauses to handling sensitive negotiations, we support you through every step of the documentation process.
We ensure everything is in place – from final documents to banking and legal requirements – for a seamless completion.
We provide integrated P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow models to help secure lender comfort and give you a clear post-deal roadmap.
Post-Acquisition Integration
Financial Due Diligence
Corporate Buyouts & EOTs
We guide you through the crucial first three months, including weekly cash flow templates, lender covenant checklists, and more – ensuring you’re supported, structured, and confident.
Our in-house capabilities reduce costs, streamline the process, and keep quality control high by eliminating unnecessary third parties.
Whether it’s a full buyout or an Employee Ownership Trust, we structure and manage the process to ensure fair transitions.
12
15
Your Acquisition Journey In addition to the roadmap, there will be phone calls, video meetings and in person meetings, all of which will be managed by a member of the Buy Side Advisory team.
1
2
3
4
5
6
NDA & INFORMATION REQUEST
CLIENT PROFILE, DEAL SPEC AND QUALIFICATION
CLIENT ONBOARDING
OFFER SEQUENCING
DEAL ORIGINATION
VALUATION
We originate on and off market deals from brokers, letters, email campaigns, our network, and M&A specific deal origination platforms.
This process involves: NDA, T&C’s, contract, AML documents, and your first invoice.
We request specific information post- NDA to evaluate the company, to guide you to a decision.
Financial & Commercial valuation with deal structures put together which we present based on your deal specifications and debt requirements.
We create, on average,4-5 different offers based on prices and structures.
This is where we build an idea of the target company and learn more about your goals.
12
7
9
8
11
10
SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
DEBT INTRODUCTIONS AND SOURCING (if required)
INDICATIVE OFFERS SENT
HEADS OF TERMS
Signing
COMPLETION
DUE DILIGENCE
Offers sent to the seller until accepted. Indicative offers include: Enterprise Value, Working Capital Deal Structure, Deferred Consideration, and Target Completion Date
At this point, we introduce a lawyer.
Although we can’t provide debt advice, we can introduce you to lenders and debt advisors if needed.
We assist with closing protocols and documents for a smooth handover period.
Handover of Financial and Legal for Due Diligence to be completed on the target company. Deal team to manage due diligence process working with legal and financial analysts.
A 70-80 page document we work on with your lawyer to set the overall terms of the transaction. At this point, we are also running more financial models and cash flow forecasts to make sure the deal still works prior to completion with debt, etc.
Signed heads mean we have exclusivity on the deal for three months (typically).
Ready to start your journey? Lets talk, reach out and we will arrange a call to show you how this will work for you and your business.
14
17
To find out more about the Buyside Process, and how we not only advise but acquire ourselves, watch our case study here :
Success in Practice Turning Strategy into Success
We do not just advise on deals, we do them ourselves. The following is a real world example of one of our acquisitions: The Kitchen Equipment Company Limited (“KitchEquip”).
In September 2023, we acquired KitchEquip. The company is a Commercial Kitchen distributor that works with Blue Chip customers, government bodies, sports stadia and independent hospitality venues. As a team, we have experience in acquiring companies in this sector so naturally it made sense to ‘stay in our lane’, we bought the company to form part of a larger group as a buy and build strategy. We found the business through one of our trusted sell side advisors and the company fit our requirements. As part of our process, we signed an NDA and requested information on the business including financial and commercial information to form our valuation of the company to structure an offer. When evaluating a business, we look for management structures, the business model and key revenue drivers and perform a valuation exercise of which there are many options at our disposal, we opted for a multiple of profit and and on a no cash, no debt basis. The deal structure was 80% upfront which was made up of cash invested by us, the shareholders, debt funding in the form of an invoice finance facility and a cash flow loan alongside deferred consideration to be paid over a three year period, we negotiated working capital requirements, a suitable handover period, the deal structure, price and target completion date. We retained key management and we also acquired the property as part of the deal. Since acquiring the company, we have implemented better financial reporting, streamlined operations, added new members of staff to our sales team and increased our profit margins.
16
19
The Market Opportunity There has never been a better time to buy an SME in the UK. Analysts are calling this “The $9 trillion wealth transfer” - retiring baby boomers (aged between 61 & 79) who own highly profitable companies.
• 52% of UK businesses are owned by baby boomers
• Only 12% of owners in this category have a succession plan
• Less than 10% of businesses listed for sale actually sell in the SME space
• 16.6 million people are employed by the baby boomer generation which makes up 60% of the UK’s private sector workforce
• More & more profitable businesses are closing down due to no succession plan and relatives taking more jobs in sectors like tech instead of running the family business
• $9 trillion worth of businesses are owned by this generation in the West
Couple all of this with a low success rate for sell side listings, the majority of acquisitions coming off market and I high appetite for lending in the UK, it is a buyers market. This is your opportunity to be part of the greatest wealth transfer in history by acquiring companies as part of your growth strategy.
Domestic M&A Values by Quarter (Q1 2023 – Q4 2024)
10
8.6
8
6
4
3.0
2.6
2.6
2.7
2.6
2
2.1
1.8
0
Q1 23
Q2 23
Q3 23
Q4 23
Q1 24
Q2 24
Q3 24
Q4 25
Quarter / Year
18
21
The board is set. What’s your next move?
FAQ’s
How long does it take to buy a business?
If using debt to acquire, who takes out the debt? This is a common question, the debt is taken out by the company that is being acquired, not you personally. Some lenders will require different levels of security and that’s dependent on the deal structure and cash invested. But fundamentally you are not taking out a loan personally, it will fall under your new acquisition. How involved do I need to be in the process? We take the heavy lifting, it takes tremendous amounts of infrastructure, skill and knowledge to complete a transaction, that’s what you are paying us for. But ultimately, it is you acquiring the business. We introduce you at the point we have a qualified lead that would be perfect for you to acquire at which point we support you in the relationship building process. We do everything in terms of preparation and make it as simple as possible so you can continue to run your business.
How do you find suitable deals to acquire? There are several routes we take depending on the industry but we always have multiple channels for each client. Utilising our vast network of brokers, accountants, lawyers, wealth advisors, corporate finance houses and lenders we anonymously share your deal specification which typically generates a huge response. Typically the process will mainly be taken up by deal origination, valuation work, negotiations and Due Diligence. We like to manage clients expectations and although it can be shorter, we say prepare for a 6 - 9 month process The other option is leveraging our off market database of sellers and proactive marketing campaigns made up of tailored email, letters and cold call campaigns to your target audience.
How do you make money?
We are committed to results and tailor our pricing around delivering a first class service. Our two price structures are: • A Milestone payments structure where fees are due as we hit different milestones of the process. • Monthly retainer and a success fee We do have different packages, Gold, Silver & Bronze to cover all bases of the level of support you need.
Contact Us
Start your acquisition journey today — contact us for a confidential chat about how growth through acquisition could be the perfect fit for you. Please feel free to reach out to our friendly team on 0203 923 3353 or email us at info@buysideadvisory.com for a free consultation.
20
Page 1 Page 2-3 Page 4-5 Page 6-7 Page 8-9 Page 10-11 Page 12-13 Page 14-15 Page 16-17 Page 18-19 Page 20-21Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator