Selling guide
What a serious buyer looks at when acquiring your service business
Most sellers prepare for the conversation they want to have. Buyers prepare for the conversation they need to have. Understanding what a buyer scrutinises — and why — helps founders prepare properly and avoid surprises.
What Vantix Capital reviews in every acquisition:
Financials:
Three years of P&L, BAS statements, and bank statements. We look for consistency, trend, and owner add-backs. Clean books that match BAS lodgements signal a well-run business.
Client concentration:
Is any single client more than 20–25% of revenue? Concentration risk is the most common reason a deal is restructured or repriced.
Staff:
Who stays post-acquisition? Are there key staff — beyond the owner — who carry critical knowledge? Employment agreements, award compliance, and any outstanding entitlements.
Operations:
How does work actually get done? Is there a system or does it rely on individual judgement? SOPs, job management software, and quality control processes.
Owner dependency:
Can the business operate without the founder for four weeks? This is the single most important variable in valuation for businesses under $5M.