The 4th session of ExitCon 2024 hosted by Devin Rose, with Guest Speakers:
ExitCon is an online event designed to provide MSP Owners with the knowledge and tools they need to plan a successful exit strategy. This conference features industry experts who will share their insights and experiences on navigating the complexities of selling an MSP.
The session focuses on strategies for achieving post-close success in MSP acquisitions, emphasizing employee retention, cultural integration, and maintaining customer relationships. Key points include the importance of clear communication, addressing employee concerns proactively, and aligning technology stacks to support long-term growth and integration.
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The 3rd session of ExitCon 2024 hosted by Hartland Ross, with Guest Speakers:
ExitCon is an online event designed to provide MSP Owners with the knowledge and tools they need to plan a successful exit strategy. This conference features industry experts who will share their insights and experiences on navigating the complexities of selling an MSP.
The discussion revolves around the valuation and market dynamics of MSP businesses, highlighting factors such as market consolidation, valuation metrics beyond EBITDA, and the importance of clear financial transparency and standardized accounting practices to attract potential buyers and optimize business operations. Key insights include the impact of acquisition trends and the necessity of preparing comprehensive financial documentation for effective decision-making and successful transactions.
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The 2nd session of ExitCon 2024 hosted by Hartland Ross, with Guest Speakers:
ExitCon is an online event designed to provide MSP Owners with the knowledge and tools they need to plan a successful exit strategy. This conference features industry experts who will share their insights and experiences on navigating the complexities of selling an MSP.
The discussion focuses on preparing an MSP for sale, emphasizing the importance of having long-term, stable client contracts and implementing best practices to maximize the business’s value. Key reasons for selling include focusing on another business, retirement, and burnout, while challenges such as ensuring cultural fit and maintaining transparent financials are highlighted. Proper due diligence and understanding the buyer’s strategy are crucial for a successful sale.
Got more questions? Contact us now!
The 1st session of ExitCon 2024, hosted by Hartland Ross.
ExitCon is an online event designed to provide MSP Owners with the knowledge and tools they need to plan a successful exit strategy. This conference features industry experts who will share their insights and experiences on navigating the complexities of selling an MSP.
The session discusses key considerations for MSP owners contemplating a sale, including reasons for selling, such as retirement and burnout, as well as the impact of COVID-19. It highlights the importance of setting expectations, understanding valuation, managing customer concentration, and documenting revenue trends. Additionally, the role of intermediaries in facilitating better buyer-seller matches and smoother transitions is emphasized.
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Our Team’s Hartland Ross recently joined Tim Fitzpatrick on the Realto Marketing podcast. In this engaging episode, Hartland delves into the complexities of M&A, offering invaluable insights for anyone considering buying or selling a business. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced professional, this podcast is a must-listen.
Establishing trust early in the negotiation process is crucial. Hartland emphasizes the importance of rapport-building from the first interaction, whether through Zoom calls or in-person meetings. This trust lays the foundation for a smooth transaction.
The diligence process is where the buyer evaluates the opportunity. Hartland highlights that the speed and accuracy of information exchange can significantly impact the buyer’s confidence and the overall success of the deal.
Hartland advises buyers to focus on deal-killer issues that can make or break a transaction. Identifying these early can save time and resources for both parties.
One of the most common deal-breakers is a mismatch in valuation expectations. Hartland explains the importance of realistic valuations based on market standards and not personal financial needs or aspirations.
Having the right legal and financial advisors familiar with M&A processes is essential. Hartland shares examples where incorrect advice from inexperienced advisors led to complications, stressing the need for specialized expertise.
Prolonged negotiations can lead to deal fatigue, where parties lose motivation to close the deal. Hartland stresses the importance of sticking to agreed timelines and maintaining momentum to avoid this pitfall.
Hartland Ross’s insights are not only profound but also practical, providing a roadmap for navigating the often-turbulent waters of M&A. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the industry.
Tune in to the full podcast episode here and elevate your understanding of mergers and acquisitions today!
Hartland Ross joined Adam Morris and Daniel Welling in the latest episode of “It’s a Numbers Game,” chatting about marketing as well as mergers and acquisitions for MSPs.
Discover effective marketing techniques for organic growth, learn the ins and outs of M&A in the MSP space and get tips on preparing your MSP for a successful sale.
Tune in here.
Unlock the secrets to driving valuations higher through the power of data in our recorded webinar, “How Data Drives Valuations Higher,” featuring the expertise of special guest Larry Cobrin from MSPCFO.
In this insightful session, Larry Cobrin, a seasoned industry expert, delves deep into the crucial role data plays in enhancing business valuations. Whether you’re a business owner, investor, or data enthusiast, this recording offers a wealth of knowledge to help you harness the full potential of data for elevating valuations. Watch it here.
If you enjoy this video, you might also want to check our previous interview with Dave Sobel where we discussed trends in managed services. Watch it here!
The Host Broker offers a free evaluation for owners of IT services businesses considering exiting. Learn about the acquisition process and find out what your company may be worth on the market.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
In this podcast episode, Joe, Jeff, and Hartland Ross discuss the importance of having an exit strategy and processes in place for MSPs to avoid burnout and increase the value of their business. He also highlights the benefits of acquiring and growing a book of business and advises sellers to understand the limitations of their business and what it is worth. The conversation also touches on the emotional process of selling a business, and how one may want to consider what they plan to do once the business is sold.
What questions should an MSP owner consider before selling their business? Find out in a webinar presented by The Host Broker and eBridge Marketing Solutions with special guest, Josh Peterson, the CEO of Bering McKinley and BMK Community.
The first question to consider is: what valuation does the owner need to achieve their goals? We emphasize the importance of considering this question early on and not waiting until the owner receives an offer or lists the business for sale. We also mention the personal and financial factors that should be taken into account when determining the valuation and the need to consult with a CPA to understand the tax implications of the transaction.
The second question is about the financial metrics that should be focused on to increase the valuation of a managed service provider (MSP) for sale. The valuation methods for an MSP are related to cash flow and net profit. Recurring revenue is another metric that can increase valuation. For smaller MSPs, attaching a cost of goods sold to each item of revenue and knowing where the profitability comes from is essential.
The third question is whether having a sales team in place can increase a company’s valuation. Having a sales team shows maturity and planning, and gives buyers confidence that the company has a system and process in place that will continue to produce growth. However, the assumption is that the sales team is productive and can justify their cost. Relying solely on word of mouth and referrals is not unique and will not increase valuation. Overall, having a sales team can help increase valuation, but it’s important to ensure that the team is effective and can produce results.
We also discuss whether an MSP’s clients are month-to-month, or have break-fixed contracts, that can be converted to longer contracts. There can be a healthy mix of recurring, project, and hourly revenue. But it is important to realize that buyers are looking for certainty in revenue streams and a customer base that will be with them long term. MSPs whose clients are on shorter term contracts may require a greater earn-out component.
The company culture and employee morale are also important factors for sellers to consider when preparing for an acquisition. Buyers will want to make sure that there is a cultural fit, and if the company is a bad place to work, it will be a red flag that will impact the valuation of the business. A good way to measure employee satisfaction is through the employee net promoter score (eNPS), which can help identify areas for improvement. A positive company culture will make employees more likely to stay, which will make the business more valuable to buyers. Remote work can also increase employee satisfaction, especially in areas with traffic congestion and long commutes, and can make the business more attractive to buyers from other regions.
The technology stack and infrastructure are also very crucial when selling an MSP. Sellers benefit when their CRM and PSA tools are similar to those of potential buyers to make integration easier. Having a better-built stack makes a business more attractive to buyers.
The next question is “What % revenue is associated with the top 5 clients?”, where we discuss the issue of customer concentration and its impact on a potential buyer’s perception of a business. For example, having a single client representing over 20% of a company’s revenue or the top five clients representing over 40% is seen as risky. However, sometimes there isn’t much an MSP can do about a situation where a large client grows substantially, in which case a buyer may wish to structure the deal with an earn-out or retention strategy to mitigate the risk.
Lastly, we discuss the cost of replacing the owner’s role in a business, which is an adjustment made to the profit and loss statement (P&L) when calculating adjusted EBITDA. The cost of replacing the owner depends on their role and geography, and it affects the valuation of the business.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Jost James sits down with Hartland Ross to talk about Mergers and Acquisitions. Check out the full Podcast episode below or click this link to listen.
Do you have any questions of your own about selling your IT service provider? Please contact us today.