Selling your business is the most significant decision
of your career

CapEQ combines financial rigour with deep personal insight from advisors who have successfully sold their own businesses. We defend your value AND protect your legacy.

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15+ years M&A experience

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£5m to £100m transaction range

B Corp certified

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What keeps business owners awake at 3am?

Selling your business involves a long, complex decision cycle - often fraught with anxiety, unfamiliarity, and concern for the team and legacy you've built. We don't just manage your deal, we manage the journey.

Leaving value on the table

Without specialist M&A guidance, business owners routinely achieve 20–30% below the premium valuation their business genuinely commands.

Owner-dependency alone can be the single biggest valuation killer for buyers.

Navigating the unfamiliar

Due diligence, letters of intent, earn-outs, warranties and indemnities - the business sale process is complex and emotionally draining. Most owners go through it once.

Our partners have navigated 100+ transactions. 

 

Protecting what you've built

Your team, your clients, your reputation. The legacy that took decades to build can be compromised in a poorly structured handover.

Purpose-driven M&A means protecting all of the above, not just the transaction value. 

Finding the right buyer

Strategic acquirers, private equity firms, and MBO teams each present different opportunities and risks.

Identifying the ideal buyer requires the nuanced judgement formed from our experience on over 100 acquisitions.

We look beyond the price tag to find the partner that offers the highest certainty of completion.

 

Regulatory and tax complexity

Rising tax rates, evolving employment reforms, and heightened due diligence requirements are narrowing the window for an optimal exit. Proactive, informed preparation is now essential. 

We work with trusted lawyers to ensure you don't get tangled up in red tape on your business sale. 

Beyond the spreadsheet

Most M&A advisors have never owned or sold a business themselves - we have.

Clients consistently tell us that they valued our emotional support during the twists and turns of the sale process above all else.

Calm heads keeps your deal on track at the 11th hour.

 

Heads of terms
We’ll work with your lawyers to agree heads of terms. Interpreting this information can impact your transaction value by 10%-30%, so it’s an important step for agreeing terms and milestones.
Due diligence

As lawyers write up contracts and interrogate your business, we’re here to negotiate commercial terms, find solutions to problems that arise, and maintain momentum.

Completion
Nerve-wracking and joyous in equal measure, completion often involves last-minute changes. We’re right by your side to guide buyers and field queries about the business and the terms of sale.

Four strategic advantages. One exceptional exit. This is intelligent M&A

Discover the CapEQ difference
The EQ difference
Every CapEQ client relationship is led directly by a Partner who has successfully owned and sold their own business. This lived experience means we anticipate the emotional milestones of the M&A journey — offering clarity and support when you need it most, not just at the completion table.
Values-led excellence
Our Certified B Corp status is not a marketing badge — it is external, rigorous validation of our commitment to honesty, integrity, and transparency. It assures you that the entire M&A process will be conducted with your values at its core. We are accountable to a standard higher than the deal sheet.
Integrated intelligence
We combine AI-driven market intelligence with the precision of 15+ years of deal experience. Real-time sector scanning, niche buyer identification, and stress-tested financial modelling ensure your valuation is not just defensible — it's optimal. We go beyond generic market data to deliver tailored insight.
Transparent process
We work to a proven, structured methodology designed to minimise disruptions to your core business. From preparation through closing, you have a single Partner-level point of contact who understands both the numbers and the human dynamics — eliminating the anxiety of the unknown.

A clear controlled journey every step of the way

Explore our methodology

When is the right time to start planning my exit?

The optimal answer is: earlier than you think. We recommend beginning formal exit planning 18–24 months before your intended transaction.

This window allows time to address owner-dependency, strengthen management teams, improve recurring revenue ratios, and build the evidence base for a premium valuation.

Even if a transaction is 3–5 years away, a preparation conversation costs nothing and typically adds significant value.

How is my business valuation determined?

Valuation in the UK varies greatly depending on sector, scale, growth trajectory, and risk profile.

Revenue multiples, comparable transactions, and discounted cash flow analysis provide additional triangulation.

Our Integrated Intelligence platform uses AI-driven market data and real comparable deals to build a defensible valuation range — not an optimistic estimate.

What is the difference between a strategic buyer and private equity?

Strategic buyers (trade acquirers) typically pay for synergies — cost savings and revenue uplifts — and often require full integration.

Private equity acquirers are investing in growth potential and management capability, often with earn-out structures that reward future performance.

With PE also active at the sub-£50m end of dealmaking, understanding which buyer type maximises your outcome — and your legacy objectives — is a critical early decision.

How long does the M&A process typically take?

For a well-prepared business, a typical UK mid-market transaction from formal process launch to completion takes 6–9 months.

Including preparation, a realistic total timeline from initial engagement to funds received is 12 months.

Businesses that begin preparation with CapEQ before launching a formal process consistently achieve faster timelines and stronger outcomes.

What does "partner-led" actually mean in practice?

At CapEQ, every client engagement is led personally by a Partner — not delegated to junior associates after the pitch.

Your Partner has 15+ years of M&A experience and, critically, has been a business owner themselves.

They understand the emotional weight of the process from personal experience. You will have direct Partner access throughout the entire journey, from onboarding through closing.

How do changes to tax relief rates affect my business exit timing?

Changes in tax relief rates, such as Capital Gains Tax or entrepreneur-specific incentives, directly impact your total after-tax proceeds, making exit timing a critical factor in maximising your net windfall.

Because even a marginal rate increase on a high-value sale can result in a substantial additional tax liability, it is vital to monitor legislative timelines, model various "net-to-bank" scenarios with your advisors, and maintain a "sale-ready" buffer to act quickly before favorable tax windows close.

Ultimately, since tax laws are highly localised and subject to change, proactivity — including evaluating different deal structures and consulting with regional tax specialists — is essential to ensuring your exit aligns with the most advantageous fiscal environment available. 

Client Perspective

"All advisors have the same process on paper, but I liked the depth of the team who worked on my project as well as their domain experience in the software industry. 
 
I couldn't be more pleased with them!"

 

John Paterson
Founder Really Simple Systems

 B2B Customer Relationship Management 

explore other client successes

Request a private consultation with our senior partners 

Whether you're actively planning a sale, exploring options for the first time, or simple want to understand what your business is worth - speak with one of our senior partners who have been in your shoes

book a confidential exit strategy review