M&A Blog

How to build a mid-market consulting platform through acquisition. Covers the federated practice model, partner retention deal structures, knowledge management as a competitive advantage, and PE investor considerations.

A comprehensive guide to digital agency roll-ups. Covers building a full-stack digital partner through acquisition, managing tech stack fragmentation, integration strategies, and how to create platform value from specialized digital shops.

How to build a digital experience platform by acquiring web design agencies. Covers the project-to-retainer revenue transformation, platform specialization strategy, creative talent retention, and positioning against no-code disruption.

A complete guide to building an SEO empire through acquisition. Covers multiple arbitrage, target evaluation, deal financing, integration playbooks, and how to build a holding company structure that commands premium exit multiples.

How to build a full-service marketing platform through strategic acquisition. Covers the service line diversification thesis, the holding company model, deal structures, integration approaches for creative teams, and positioning for a premium exit.

Introduction The marketing agency landscape continues to evolve rapidly in 2026, with mergers and acquisitions playing an increasingly significant role in the industry's growth and consolidation. Whether you're a marketing agency owner considering an exit, a potential buyer looking to expand through acquisition, or simply an agency founder wanting to understand your business' current worth,…

Introduction In the dynamic world of marketing agencies, valuation is not merely a financial exercise but a strategic imperative. Whether you're planning an exit, seeking investment, or simply wanting to understand your agency's true worth, having an accurate valuation is essential. For years, EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) has been the gold…

Selling a marketing agency can feel like stepping off a rollercoaster you’ve spent years building… thrilling, nerve-wracking, and bittersweet all at once. The marketing services world is booming, with projections estimating a global market size of $786.2 billion by the end of the year. For agency owners thinking about retirement, a career shift, or taking…

Introduction In the dynamic world of marketing agency valuation, relying solely on EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) often fails to capture an agency's full worth. While EBITDA provides a useful directional guide, today's diverse agency landscape demands more nuanced approaches. EBITDA-based valuations fall short for several reasons: they undervalue agencies investing in…

In the fast-paced world of marketing agencies, mergers and acquisitions have become a common growth strategy. Whether it’s a larger agency absorbing a boutique firm with specialized capabilities, a private equity rollup of multiple agencies, or a strategic merger between complementary service providers, the success of these transactions hinges on what happens after the deal…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

☠️ 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…

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…