It’s flattering when a buyer approaches you out of the blue to acquire your business. It feels like validation. Proof that the blood, sweat and strategic thinking you’ve poured into your business is being noticed.
But beware—the unexpected approach may not be as good as it seems.
Too often, business owners in the marketing communications sector get drawn into conversations that are time-consuming, distracting, and ultimately lead to suboptimal outcomes.
Why? Because not all buyers are equal—and neither are their intentions.
- Some buyers blanket the market, hoping to catch an owner on a bad day and strike a deal below market value.
- Others may be strategically aligned—for them—but not for you. What’s a smart move for their portfolio may be a poor outcome for your legacy.
- And crucially, owners often get approached when they’re not truly ready to sell—personally, professionally, or structurally.
These one-on-one discussions can drag on, leaving the seller with limited options and weakened negotiating power.
Instead, a structured process offers a better path:
- Multiple buyers can be evaluated side-by-side.
- You’ll likely identify a buyer who truly “gets” your business—who sees the synergies, shares your values, and can pay a premium.
- Most importantly, you stay in control of the narrative and the timing.
At M&A Advisory, we often help businesses who’ve received that unexpected approach. Sometimes, we’ll work with the original buyer—but we also introduce others to ensure a competitive dynamic and a better result.
In the marketing communications space, if one buyer is interested, there are always more.
As a founder, you’ve built something valuable with vision, grit and sacrifice. When it comes to selling, don’t take a transactional approach to something that deserves a strategic one.
AdvertisingBrandingBusinessClient servicesContentCreativeDesignMarketing
M&A Advisory
M&A Advisory is a central London based mergers and acquisition specialist advising on company sale and acquisition in the global PR, marketing communications and Martech sectors. With a 25-year heritage, the practice is built upon excellent market knowledge, sound business experience and the highest possible deal completion rates. The team are all experienced professionals and business practitioners who deliver a high quality, cost-effective advisory and execution service. There is a focus on maximising value by ensuring a strong cultural fit and an outstanding business proposition.
M&A Advisory can advise on the right timing, find the optimum partner, consider all cultural and business issues, and recommend the best path to value. Whether there is a need to establish how much a business is worth, how much value can be added before a sale, what buyers are looking for, or deal with unsolicited approaches, M&A Advisory can help.
Visit profile
