Acquisitiv Target 45 · Sample work

What your business records and weekly update look like.

This sample is built the way we build a real one. It shows what you get in week 2 and every week after. So you can judge the work before you talk to us.

Sample data. The buyer, businesses and numbers here are for illustration. Real records stay private to each client, and we never publish them.

Week 1

The brief we agree with you

We measure everything after this against it. If it isn't written down here, we don't search for it.

BuyerA UK fire and security services group, owner-managed, about £20m turnover, buying its first business outside England.

What to buyFire alarm, sprinkler and security maintenance businesses with accredited engineers (BAFE or NSI).

WhereNorthern England and the Central Belt of Scotland.

SizeTurnover £2m to £8m. Profit (EBITDA) £300k to £1.2m.

Must-havesFounder or family owned. At least half of revenue from recurring maintenance contracts. A second layer of management below the owner.

Deal-breakersMore than 30% of revenue from one customer. Already owned by private equity or another group. Live disputes with a regulator or major customer.

Weeks 1 and 2

The market, mapped: 100 businesses for you to approve

We build a long list from several sources. Then we check every business against the brief. You see what we left out and why, not just what's left.

212

businesses on the long list

131

ruled out by the brief

100

researched and agreed with you (including 19 picked from your own contacts)

Tier A: approach first

Sources: Companies House filings by industry code. The BAFE and NSI lists of approved firms. Trade body and public sector supplier lists. Our own contacts through CDI Global. Ruled out: 74 outside the size range. 31 already owned by a group or private equity. 14 outside the region. 12 with the wrong mix of services.

Part of the shortlist

Business	Region	Turnover (est.)	Profit (est.)	Staff	Repeat revenue (est.)	Fit	Why it's on the list
Business A	West Yorkshire	£5.1m	£720k	48	65%	Tier A	Founder aged 64, no family in the business. Strong maintenance book with housing associations.
Business B	Glasgow	£3.4m	£410k	31	55%	Tier A	Two founders, one stepping back. Gives the buyer a Scottish base and NSI Gold status.
Business C	Teesside	£6.8m	£950k	62	58%	Tier A	Family owned, second generation. Industrial clients the buyer doesn't serve today.
Business D	Edinburgh	£2.6m	£340k	22	70%	Tier A	High recurring revenue. Owner has asked an accountant about succession.
Business E	Greater Manchester	£7.4m	£1.1m	70	48%	Tier B	Good fit on size; recurring share just below the target. Worth a conversation.
Business F	Lancashire	£4.2m	£520k	39	60%	Tier B	Fits on paper. Customer concentration to check before any approach.
Business G	Fife	£2.2m	£310k	18	52%	Tier C	At the bottom of the size range and owner-dependent. Hold for now.

We estimate from filed accounts, staff numbers and typical prices. We update the figures as owners share more.

Checks

What counts as an introduction

To count as one of your five, an owner must:

Fit the brief agreed in week 1, and pass every deal-breaker
Have the right to sell, or speak for the owners who do
Confirm they'll meet you to talk about a sale

An example of one we stopped

Business F, Lancashire. We read the filed accounts and had a first talk. 41% of revenue comes from one housing association contract. That contract goes back out to bid next year. It breaks the 30% deal-breaker. So we advised no further approach and wrote down why. You decide. We give you the reasons.

Every week

Weekly update: week 4

A short written update, then a 30-minute call to agree decisions. This is the week 4 update from the same sample search.

owners approached

replied

talks held

introductions made, of 5

Business	Stage	Since last week	Next step
Business A	Introduced	Founder confirmed he wants to meet. Wants to know what happens to his staff.	Meeting with you next week. Prepare a people plan to share.
Business B	Introduced	Both founders on a call. Open to a sale over two years with a handover.	Meeting with you this week.
Business D	Introduced	Owner confirmed interest after his accountant's advice.	Agree a date for an introductory meeting.
Business C	In conversation	Second-generation owners keen but asking about value first.	Your decision needed (below).
Business E	Declined	Not selling for at least three years.	Diary note to re-approach in 2028.

Decisions we need from you

Business C wants a rough idea of value before meeting. Do we share a range now, or wait for the first meeting?
Approve the follow-up letter to 24 owners who haven't replied.

Next week

Your meetings with Targets A and B
Approaching the other 42 owners
A second talk with Business C, and first calls with two new replies

Your own market

Want to see this for the businesses you'd buy?

Book a free 30-minute Expansion Briefing. We'll talk through what you want to buy and how a search in your market would look.

Book an Expansion Briefing Acquisitiv Target 45