M&A Insights for Founders

Normalised EBITDA: what buyers adjust, and how to defend your number

Understand normalised EBITDA before you sell: where price rests on an EBITDA multiple, this financial work materially moves deal value.

Business valuation

UK & European TICC M&A Report 2026

UK & European Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance M&A Published: August 2026 | Reporting period: August 2025 – August 2026 | Deal focus: sub-£100m | Reading time: 9 minutes

M&A activity insights

UK & European Payroll Software M&A Report 2026

UK & European Payroll Software M&A Published: July 2026 | Reading time: 9 minutes

M&A activity insights

Govtech SaaS M&A Insights 2026

The State of Govtech A $20bn Milestone Global govtech deal volume hit $20.5 billion — a new record, surpassing the previous high of $13.1 billion set in 2021 — driven by strategic buyers, private equi...

M&A activity insights

Purpose-driven M&A: Why CapEQ is leading the charge

In the high-stakes world of M&A, "value" is traditionally measured by a single metric: the final exit price. Success is often viewed through a cold, financial lens, where the human element is a se...

B Corp

The business sale process: A step-by-step guide

Selling your business takes six to twelve months across three phases: preparation, active marketing, and negotiation through to legal close.

Business sale process

When should I sell my business? The 3-factor framework

Many founders ask "when should I sell my business?" too late on their journey. Here's a three-factor framework to help business owners find the right time to pass the baton.

Getting exit-ready

Smart capital: When to raise venture debt

Venture debt can be a powerful tool for pre-profit scaleups to fuel growth without diluting ownership, but it’s important to raise it at the right moment.

Growth capital

How to choose the right business funding: a UK founder's framework

Choosing the right funding shapes your company's future. Here is how UK founders weigh equity, debt and growth capital options.

Growth capital

The scarcity premium: why rare businesses sell for more

Some businesses are simply harder to replace than others — and buyers pay accordingly. Here is what creates that scarcity premium.

Business valuation

10 questions to ask when hiring an M&A advisor

The M&A world is rife with sloppy processes and empty promises – making it a tough call to filter good advisors from bad when building your M&A support team. Here are some pointers on what to ...

Business sale process

The synergy premium: how M&A synergies drive a higher business valuation

Understanding why buyers pay a premium starts with synergies — the five types explained plainly, with their real impact on valuation.

Business valuation

Trapped by your own business: what it costs, why it happens, and how to break free

Feeling trapped by your own business? Owner dependency can cost founders 20–40% of their exit price — if they are sellable at all. Here is how to break free.

Getting exit-ready

Resolving shareholder disputes before a business sale

An unresolved shareholder dispute will derail your sale — here is the practical guide to fixing it before going to market.

Getting exit-ready

Is it time to sell? Eight reasons to consider exiting

Eight reasons to sell your business this year The average UK founder exits their business after about 11 years. Considering the survival mode of the early years and the time it took to reach the first...

Getting exit-ready

Exit planning - Your business sale options

Choosing your preferred business exit route early on clarifies the road ahead. Here we discuss the pros and cons of the most common types of company acquisition.

Business sale process

How long does it take to sell a business?

Selling a UK business typically takes 6–12 months, but preparation, complexity, and buyer type all shift the timeline significantly.

Getting exit-ready

The Emotional Impact Of Selling A Business

Roughly three-quarters of founders come to regret selling within a year, and it is rarely the money they miss most.

Getting exit-ready

How to value a business

Valuation methods set the range. Competitive tension sets the price. Here is how business valuation actually works in mid-market M&A.

Business valuation

How To Handle An Unsolicited Offer to Buy Your Business

An unsolicited offer to buy your business is a high-stakes moment under real pressure — here's how UK founders respond well.

Business sale process

Scaling Up Your Business For Sale - Roadmap To Exit

Recent studies have shown a few trends that should perhaps worry CEOs. Firstly, two-thirds of the fastest-growing companies fail. You might think that reaching hypergrowth status puts you on the inevi...

Getting exit-ready

10 Ways To Reduce Business Owner Dependency

Owner-dependent businesses are hard to sell and harder to enjoy — reducing dependency protects deal options and your life outside work.

Getting exit-ready

How To Find The Right Acquirer For Your Business

Choosing the right acquirer can shift your sale price by 20–40% — here's how UK founders run a disciplined competitive process.

Business sale process