ExitRadar · Insights

UK acquisition intelligence

Market analysis, sector deep-dives, and practical guides for search funds, ETA practitioners, and brokers.

All articles (41)

BADR 18% Rate: What UK Business Owners Do Now | ExitRadar
BADR rose from 14% to 18% on 6 April 2026 — costing £40k more on a £1m gain. We analysed 3.4M UK companies to see how many owners missed the window.
28 April 2026
Why US Searchers Should Buy UK Businesses | The 3.3x vs 7x Arbitrage
UK SMEs at search-fund size trade at 3.3x EBITDA. The Stanford median is 7x. The same business is 53% cheaper across the Atlantic. Here's the math, by sector.
28 April 2026
UK Professional Services Exit Trends 2026 | ExitRadar
493,452 UK professional services companies analysed. Director age, exit signals, regional concentration, sub-sector breakdown. 6,405 score 70+ for exit readiness in 2026.
25 April 2026
How to Buy a Professional Services Business UK | ExitRadar
Acquisition guide for UK professional services. Valuation multiples, deal structures, regulatory considerations, partnership dynamics. 6,405 exit-ready targets across consulting, legal, accounting, engineering.
25 April 2026
UK Logistics & Fleet Services Exit Trends: 1,138 Score 70+
We analysed 71,059 UK logistics and fleet services companies for exit readiness — road freight, warehousing, plant hire, courier, vehicle hire. 1,138 score 70+.
25 April 2026
UK Wholesale & Distribution Exit Trends: 956 Score 70+
We analysed 63,922 UK wholesale and distribution companies — specialised, machinery, food, household, ICT. 956 score 70+ for exit readiness.
25 April 2026
How to Buy a UK Wholesale or Distribution Business (2026)
How to acquire a UK wholesale or distribution business. Working capital diligence, customer concentration, supplier rebates, and data from 63,922 companies.
25 April 2026
UK Automotive Exit Trends 2026: 1,254 Score 70+
We analysed 65,104 UK automotive companies — independent repair garages, dealers, parts retailers, motorcycle. 1,254 score 70+ for exit readiness.
25 April 2026
How to Buy a UK Automotive Business — Garage, Dealer, Parts (2026)
How to acquire a UK automotive business — independent garage, used dealer, parts retailer. Workshop diligence, EV readiness, and data from 65,104 companies.
25 April 2026
How to Buy a UK Logistics or Fleet Services Business (2026)
How to acquire a UK logistics, haulage, warehousing, or plant hire company. O-licences, fleet diligence, and data from 71,059 companies.
25 April 2026
UK IT Services Exit Trends 2026 | MSP Acquisition Data | ExitRadar
126,093 UK IT services companies analysed. MSP roll-up dynamics, director demographics, regional clustering. 1,485 score 70+ for exit readiness in 2026.
25 April 2026
How to Buy an IT Services Business UK | MSP Acquisition | ExitRadar
Acquisition guide for UK IT services. MSP valuations, recurring revenue analysis, vendor relationships, technical due diligence. 1,485 exit-ready targets identified.
25 April 2026
UK Facility Services Exit Trends 2026 | Route-Based Acquisition | ExitRadar
73,316 UK facility and field services companies analysed. Cleaning, security, waste, fire safety. 1,202 score 70+. Director demographics and regional patterns.
25 April 2026
How to Buy a Facility Services Business UK | Route-Based | ExitRadar
Acquisition guide for UK facility and field services. Cleaning, security, waste, FM, fire safety. Valuation, route density, contracts, due diligence. 1,202 exit-ready targets.
25 April 2026
UK Business Exit Hotspots: 49,909 Companies Across 12 Regions
49,909 UK businesses are ready to exit. London and the South East alone hold 40.8%. Regional map of exit-ready companies across 12 UK regions, May 2026.
15 April 2026
Search Fund Deal Sourcing | 3,000 Companies per Acquisition — ExitRadar
Search fund operators contact 3,000+ companies to make one acquisition. 37% never close. We break down the full funnel with Stanford and IESE data.
5 April 2026
1,239 Profitable UK Businesses Closed That Should Have Been Sold
We tracked 1.9 million UK company dissolutions and found 1,239 quality businesses that closed instead of being acquired. Here is what they had in common.
3 April 2026
UK Construction Exit Trends: 5,676 Companies Score 70+
We analysed 344,735 UK construction companies for exit readiness — plumbing, electrical, roofing, joinery, property development. 5,676 score 70+, trade by trade.
28 March 2026
UK Healthcare Exit Trends: 3,628 Companies Score 70+
We analysed 172,757 UK healthcare companies for exit readiness — dental practices, care homes, veterinary clinics, home care, childcare, and more. 3,628 score 70+.
28 March 2026
UK Manufacturing Exit Trends: 3,433 Companies Score 70+
We analysed 129,839 UK manufacturing companies for exit readiness. The oldest ownership base of any sector — 30.6% of directors are over 60. 3,433 score 70+.
28 March 2026
UK Technology Exit Trends: 979 Companies Score 70+
We analysed 78,959 UK technology companies for exit readiness — software firms, data platforms, and telecoms. 979 score 70+.
28 March 2026
UK Education & Training Exit Trends: 754 Score 70+
We analysed 74,969 UK education and training companies — vocational training, driving schools, early years, tutoring. 754 score 70+ for exit readiness.
28 March 2026
UK Business Exit Statistics 2026 | Sale Rates & Succession Data
80% of UK SMEs fail to sell. Analysis of 3.4 million companies reveals exit success rates, succession gaps by sector, and where the real acquisition pipeline sits.
28 March 2026
How to Source Business Sale Mandates UK | Data-Led Deal Origination
162,883 UK business owners are approaching exit with no broker, no plan, no successor. Find them before competitors — using public company data, not referrals.
28 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Financial Services Business (2026)
How to acquire a UK financial services company — IFA practices, insurance brokers, wealth managers. FCA approval, client books, and data from 117,414 firms.
28 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Hospitality & Leisure Business (2026)
How to acquire a UK hospitality or leisure company — hotels, pubs, restaurants, fitness, leisure. Property, licensing, and data from 376,210 companies.
28 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Retail Business (2026)
How to acquire a UK retail company — specialist shops, garden centres, trade counters. Leases, stock, and succession data from 200,813 companies analysed.
28 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Construction Business (2026)
How to acquire a UK construction company — plumbing, electrical, civil engineering. Valuing trades, plant diligence, and data from 344,735 companies.
26 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Healthcare Business (2026)
How to acquire a UK healthcare company — dental practices, care homes, veterinary clinics, pharmacies. CQC regulation, valuation, and succession data.
26 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Manufacturing Business (2026)
How to acquire a UK manufacturing company — precision engineering, food production, plastics. Valuation, plant diligence, and data from 129,839 companies.
26 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Technology Business (2026)
How to acquire a UK technology company — software, SaaS, telecoms, data platforms. MRR, churn, IP diligence, and succession data from 78,959 companies.
26 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Food & Beverage Business (2026)
How to buy a UK food and beverage company — butchers, bakeries, breweries, dairies, meat processors. Thin margins, SALSA, and few exit-ready targets.
26 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Education Business: Acquisition Guide
How to acquire a UK education business — early years, training providers, tutoring companies. Ofsted, funding models, and succession data from 74,969 firms.
26 March 2026
How to Buy a UK Government Contractor (2026)
How to acquire a UK government contractor — framework holders, defence suppliers, public sector IT. Security clearance, frameworks, and due diligence.
26 March 2026
UK Search Fund Debt Memorandum: What Lenders Want
The debt memorandum UK lenders actually want to see. Sections, sources and uses, DSCR modelling, and the language that gets a term sheet.
26 March 2026
UK Food & Beverage Exit Trends: 355 Companies Score 70+
We analysed 18,165 UK food and beverage manufacturers — bakeries, breweries, distilleries, dairy, and meat processors. 355 score 70+ for exit readiness.
22 March 2026
UK Government Contracting Exit Trends: 9,549 Score 70+
We analysed 511,973 UK companies in sectors with significant public sector contract exposure. 9,549 score 70+ for exit readiness.
22 March 2026
UK Search Fund Ecosystem 2026: The Complete Map
The UK search fund ecosystem is growing fast but lacks US-level infrastructure. We map investors, lenders, advisers, and 45,964 exit-ready targets.
20 March 2026
The Great Ownership Transfer: UK Data on 3.4M Companies
McKinsey estimates $5 trillion in US business value is at risk from failed transitions. We analysed 3.4M UK companies. Britain faces the same problem.
17 March 2026
How We Identify 45,964 Exit-Ready UK Businesses
ExitRadar's ML model scores 1M+ UK companies on exit readiness using 7 succession signals. 45,964 businesses are exit-ready today.
15 March 2026
UK Succession Crisis: 808,126 Companies With No Plan
808,126 UK companies have directors aged 60+ with no succession plan. Only 9% have plans integrated. 80% of SMEs that try to sell fail.
27 February 2026