Maximise Your Enterprise Value Before You Sell
We help £1M–£20M UK businesses increase enterprise value, prepare for exit, and execute transformation before sale, recapitalisation, or acquisition.
Most founders build great companies but never prepare them for acquisition. They leave millions on the table because their businesses lack the institutional infrastructure that acquirers demand. We work exclusively with ambitious founders 12–36 months before a transaction to systematically eliminate structural gaps, double EBITDA quality, and prepare your business for an institutional exit at maximum value.
30 Years Experience
Advising ambitious business leaders on enterprise value and institutional transformation
Measurable Framework
12-Pillar Enterprise Value Index (EVI) provides objective measurement and tracking
Institutional Approach
We build businesses worth buying, not just advise on transactions
The Cost of Waiting
Industry data reveals the true cost of delaying enterprise value acceleration
The UK SME M&A market is robust for high-quality assets. According to the 2024 SME Valuation Index, the median EBITDA multiple for UK SMEs stands at 5.4x, with upper-quartile businesses commanding multiples of 6.0x to 8.0x+. However, this dispersion reveals a critical truth: businesses with strong structural foundations, recurring revenue, and low founder dependency command premium valuations, whilst those lacking these attributes suffer significant discounts or fail to transact entirely.
The difference between a baseline multiple and an upper-quartile multiple is not incremental, and the difference is transformational. A £2M EBITDA business at 5.0x is valued at £10M. That same business at 7.0x is valued at £14M. The £4M difference is not a negotiation outcome; it's a structural outcome.
Most founders discover this gap when they're already in the market. By then, it's too late to fix the underlying issues. Buyers have already identified the structural weaknesses. The valuation discount is already baked in.
Value Left on Table
Founder-dependent businesses receive valuations significantly below market comparables
Deal Failures
Caused by structural issues uncovered during due diligence
The 12 Pillars of Enterprise Value
Our proprietary framework ensures your business is structurally flawless before you sell
Leadership & Culture
Decentralised leadership and autonomous execution
Financial Strength
Clean controls, accurate reporting, cash management
Growth Engine
Predictable revenue and scalable acquisition
Governance
Board structure and decision-making frameworks
Operations
Documented processes and operational resilience
People Systems
Talent retention and institutional knowledge
Customer Value
Concentration, lifetime value, relationship quality
Technology & Data
Systems integration and data maturity
Risk & Resilience
Compliance, legal structures, continuity
Strategy
Market positioning and competitive advantage
ESG & Sustainability
Environmental, social, and governance maturity
Founder Independence
Reducing key-person risk and institutional value
Our Services
Four specialised enterprise value acceleration programmes
Enterprise Value Scorecard
Your foundational diagnostic assessment
Enterprise Value Diagnostic
Comprehensive structural analysis and roadmap
Transformation Sprints
Focused implementation of structural improvements
Institutional Transformation Programme
Long-term retained advisory partnership
Thought Leadership
Deep insights on enterprise value, founder psychology, and exit preparation
Why Documentation Is the Fastest Path to Higher Valuation
How documented processes and playbooks increase exit multiples and reduce buyer risk during due diligence.
Read More →The 12 Pillars Explained: Your Enterprise Value Roadmap
A deep dive into each pillar and how institutional buyers evaluate structural maturity.
Read More →Why Most UK Founders Leave 20–40% on the Table
The structural weaknesses that cause valuation discounts and how to identify them before buyers do.
Read More →Common Mistakes in Pre-Acquisition Preparation
The five most costly errors founders make 12–36 months before selling, and how to avoid them.
Read More →The Enterprise Value Index: A Founder's Guide
A comprehensive guide to the twelve pillars that determine whether your business commands a premium exit multiple or a discounted one
The Enterprise Value Index: A Founder's Guide to Building a Business Worth Buying
Understand precisely how sophisticated acquirers assess your business, and what you can do now to maximise your exit multiple
Why Choose Solomon Apex Group
Specialisation in Your Market
We focus exclusively on UK SMEs with £1M–£20M turnover. We understand your market, your buyer profile, and your exit options.
Timing Advantage
We enter 12–36 months before you sell, when maximum value can still be created. Not when it's too late to fix structural issues.
Institutional Expertise
30 years of business advisory experience. We know what institutional buyers want and how to build it systematically.
Measurable Results
Our 12-Pillar Framework provides objective measurement of enterprise value. You can track progress and see exactly where you stand.
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