M&A Advisory for A/E Firms
Professional guidance for buying and selling A/E firms
Whether you are buying or selling an architecture, engineering, or land surveying firm, we are the M&A advisors who work exclusively in your industry. We understand professional licensing, project-based revenue, and the client relationships that drive value.
Generic business brokers do not. We do, and that focus is what gets deals valued correctly, financed, and closed.
Why A/E Firms Need Specialized Advisors
Project revenue and goodwill are valued differently
Generic brokers do not understand professional licensing requirements, project-based revenue, or the client relationship dynamics that drive value in A/E firms. We work exclusively with architecture, engineering, and land surveying businesses.
We understand billing cycles, cash flow, and overhead rates, and how to properly value firms with significant goodwill. That is the difference between a deal that closes at full value and one that stalls in due diligence.
Our Process
A four-stage process from planning to close
Pre-sale planning
We prepare your firm for sale or acquisition to ensure maximum value: valuation against A/E benchmarks, a Banker's Analysis Report, an offering summary, and a readiness assessment.
Strategic marketing
For sellers, targeted outreach to our proprietary database of A/E buyers built over years at industry conferences. For buyers, our Buyer's Broker Program locates firms that match your criteria.
Expert negotiations
An initial offer is just the beginning. Negotiations and due diligence can run for months. We act as your fiduciary advisor and protect your interests throughout.
Financing solutions
Our commercial lending backgrounds let us speak the banker's language. We arrange SBA financing and other structures under the current SBA program so your deal reflects the latest rules.
For Sellers
What we do on the sell side
Valuation and analysis
A professional Opinion of Value using industry multiples, a Banker's Analysis Report comparing you to similar firms, and the value drivers to improve before you sell.
Confidential marketing
Targeted outreach to pre-qualified A/E buyers, custom video presentations of your firm's strengths, and a confidential process that protects employees and clients.
Transaction management
Offer evaluation and negotiation strategy, due diligence coordination, and closing support through documentation.
For Buyers
What we do on the buy side
Buyer representation
Target identification against your acquisition criteria, market and opportunity assessment, and seller approach with initial negotiations.
Acquisition financing
SBA loan structuring and application support, bank relationship management, and deal structuring for optimal terms.
Due diligence support
Financial analysis and risk assessment, regulatory compliance review, and integration planning.
The Banking Difference
Why banks trust the deals we bring them
There is a third path beyond selling to strangers or carrying the note yourself. The Step-Up Legacy Plan lets your employees preserve your legacy while a bank ensures your financial security.
We prepare loan packages that get approved, maintain strong relationships with SBA-preferred lenders, understand A/E cash flow patterns, and know how to value goodwill in professional services. That is why our deals move.
Industries We Serve
Architecture, engineering, and land surveying
We focus exclusively on the three disciplines we know best, so we understand exactly what makes each kind of firm valuable.
Architecture firms
Residential and commercial design firms, landscape architecture practices, and planning and urban design consultancies.
Engineering companies
Civil, structural, and mechanical engineering, environmental and geotechnical consulting, and transportation and infrastructure firms.
Land surveying businesses
Boundary and topographic surveying, construction staking and layout, and geographic information systems (GIS).
Common Questions
What buyers and sellers ask us first
- How long does it take to sell an A/E firm?
Selling to key employees usually takes 3 to 6 months. Selling to an outside third party is normally 6 to 12 months from listing to closing, influenced by location, size, type of work, market conditions, and buyer financing.
- What is my business worth?
Value is based on the cash flow your business generates for the owner, the size of your firm, and the type of work you perform. A rule of thumb is 2 to 3 times Seller's Discretionary Earnings or 5 to 6 times EBITDA.
Banks will not accept the discounted cash flow method, because it relies on projections. They always look at historical cash flow. It is highly recommended that you have a professional value your business.
- How much money do I need to buy a business?
Generally a down payment of around 15 percent of the purchase is sufficient, and additional money for working capital helps. Every transaction is different, and the banks we work with frequently include working capital in the acquisition loan.
- Is bank financing available for purchasing a business?
Yes, in most cases. We work only with architecture, engineering, and land surveying businesses, and we have relationships with banks that want to finance our clients.
- Are there benefits to using bank financing?
Absolutely. The bank puts more money into the transaction than either the buyer or seller, and conducts extensive due diligence through specialists. The bank also requires an outside third-party valuation, which aligns the buyer's interest with the bank's and lets the seller get paid at closing.
- Do I need an attorney?
We strongly recommend hiring an attorney experienced in business transitions rather than a generalist. We compare it to having a podiatrist work on your heart. Both are doctors, but their expertise is in entirely different areas.
- Should I buy a business or start one?
Roughly half of all businesses fail within two years, usually from a lack of cash flow. Buying an established firm gives you immediate cash flow from existing customers, trained staff, and a far easier path to bank financing.
- What is goodwill?
Goodwill is the value of the business beyond its physical assets. If a firm is worth $1,200,000 and its physical assets are valued at $500,000, the excess value of $700,000 is goodwill.
Getting Started
Ready to discuss your goals?
Whether you are considering selling your firm or looking to acquire one, we give honest, unbiased advice with no pressure. The best time to start planning a sale is 3 to 5 years before you want to retire.