Marketing Agency M&A Blog

Mergers and Acquisitions in Communications, Marketing Services and Marketing Agencies

The communications, marketing services and marketing agencies sector has witnessed significant M&A activity in recent years, driven by the need for digital transformation, consolidation, and the pursuit of growth opportunities. This has been especially true with private equity as well as marketing agency owners looking at inorganic growth opportunities. Key Drivers of M&A Activity There…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 30 November, 2024

Building an Exit-Ready Agency (Even When You’re Not Looking to Sell)

After nearly a decade in marketing agency M&A and hundreds of conversations with agency owners and many on my podcast M&A/Q&A, I’ve noticed something interesting: the best exits often come from owners who weren’t actively looking to sell. Let me explain why this matters for your agency. The Value of Early Preparation I recently spoke…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 30 October, 2024

Why Media, Marketing Data, SaaS, AI, Automation, and Martech are High-Growth Areas for Marketing Services Businesses

In today’s fast-paced digital economy, marketing services businesses are evolving rapidly to keep up with the demands of data-driven decision-making, automation, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Certain sectors, including media, marketing data, SaaS, AI, automation, and martech, have emerged as high-growth areas, offering enormous potential for marketing services companies looking to scale, diversify,…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 7 October, 2024

Selling Your Agency: It’s Not Just About the Money

Are you considering selling your agency? Before you dive into the process, it’s important to understand your true motivations. Many agency owners make the same mistake of focusing solely on the financial aspects of a deal, but there’s so much more to consider when planning your exit from your marketing agency. The Pitfalls of Money-Driven…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 23 September, 2024

What are the typical valuation methods used for digital marketing agencies

Marketing agency owners we work with are always wanting to know how we value their agencies, and while every process has elements that are unique to each client, particularly when we are looking for comparable transactions in the market, there are some basics that are good to understand. Here are a few key valuation methods…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 18 September, 2024

Due Diligence Essentials for Agency Acquisitions

Thinking of acquiring a marketing agency? Smart move. But before you sign on the dotted line, you need to do your homework. Here’s your no-BS checklist for agency acquisition due diligence: The Bottom Line Due diligence isn’t sexy, but it’s crucial for a successful agency acquisition. This checklist covers the essentials, but don’t go it…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 12 August, 2024

EBITDA Multiples and Valuations for Marketing and Communications Agencies in Q1 2023

Marketing agencies are feeling the effects of larger macroeconomic and M&A market trends in 2023, with fewer deals closing and higher costs of capital. However, agencies serving niches such as esports, gaming, pharma and healthcare as well as many others are still able to get deals done. In this post, we provide context on the…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 26 February, 2023

PODCAST: How to exit your marketing agency for the best possible price!

Here’s the latest M&A/Q&A episode with Andrew Friedlander of The Sports Presentation Company. Andy is the founder of one of the UK’s best sporting events agencies an agency he built off the back of his TV and events presenting career. The Sports Presentation Company caught the eye of the large UK events company Smyle (who…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 23 January, 2023

The types of M&A buyers and exits an agency owner might have

☠️ Here’s an exhaustive list of the types of buyers or exits you could have: 🧙‍♂️ Strategic buyers These are buyers in your industry who want to grow through acqusition. My favourite kind of buyer. There’s two flavours these guys come in. The type that wants your clients and geography and doesn’t mind shutting down…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 22 January, 2023

How do you get the money to buy the first business?

I get asked this question a lot and there’s not really an easy answer, in that, if you are asking it, then there is probably only one answer. You go to the bank and see if you can borrow the money to acquire a business. Most newer entrepreneurs don’t want to hear that, they want…

By Andy Day

Posted on: 21 January, 2023