Sell-Side M&A Advisory

Advisory Services Built for Staffing Founders

Two services. One industry. Every engagement shaped by 18+ years of staffing M&A experience and an unwavering commitment to your outcome.

Service One

Sell-Side M&A Advisory

Full-service representation for founders ready to sell their staffing or recruiting company. We manage every aspect of the transaction from preparation through closing—so you can keep running your business while we run your deal.

Selling a staffing company is not the same as selling any other business. Buyer motivations differ by segment. Margin profiles tell different stories depending on whether you’re placing contractors or permanent hires. Client concentration means something different when your top account is a Fortune 500 MSP versus a regional employer. We understand these nuances because it’s all we do.

As your exclusive sell-side advisor, we handle the heavy lifting: preparing your business for market, crafting positioning materials that highlight your company’s strengths, identifying and engaging the right buyers, managing the competitive process, negotiating deal terms, and coordinating due diligence through closing.

Our buyer relationships run deep. After 18+ years focused exclusively on staffing M&A, we don’t just know the active buyers in this space—we have direct access to decision makers. They answer our calls. When we bring an opportunity to market, it gets the attention it deserves from the people who matter. View our track record →

  • Comprehensive business assessment and EBITDA normalization
  • Anonymous teaser and Confidential Information Memorandum preparation
  • Targeted outreach to strategic and financial buyers
  • Management presentation coaching and support
  • LOI negotiation and deal structuring
  • Full due diligence coordination through closing

M&A Advisory

We exclusively represent sellers. No buy-side engagements. No conflicts of interest. Our success is measured entirely by your outcome.

6–8
Month Process
18+
Years Experience
100%
Sell-Side Focus
$1B+
Transaction Value
Service Two

Valuation Advisory & MAVO

Before you can make the biggest financial decision of your career, you need to know what your company is actually worth. Not a generic formula—an industry-informed opinion grounded in real staffing M&A data.

Our Marketability Assessment & Valuation Opinion (MAVO) is a comprehensive analysis of your staffing company’s market value. Unlike generic business valuations, the MAVO is built on our direct experience in staffing transactions and access to current market intelligence—including comparable deal data that most appraisers simply don’t have.

The MAVO goes beyond a number. It assesses your company’s marketability, identifies the factors that are driving or suppressing your value, and provides a clear-eyed view of how buyers would evaluate your business in today’s market.

Many founders start with a MAVO 1–3 years before they plan to sell. It gives you a roadmap: what to improve, what to protect, and what timeline makes sense.

Complimentary preliminary valuations are available for prospective advisory clients.

What’s Included in a MAVO

Marketability Assessment & Valuation Opinion
1

Financial Analysis & EBITDA Normalization

Detailed review and adjustment of your financials to reflect true economic earnings

2

Comparable Transaction Analysis

Benchmarking against recent staffing M&A transactions in your segment and size range

3

Multiple Assessment

Determination of the appropriate EBITDA multiple range based on your company’s specific profile

4

Marketability Factors

Evaluation of value drivers and risk factors: customer concentration, revenue mix, growth trajectory, and more

5

Written Valuation Report

Comprehensive document suitable for partner discussions, estate planning, legal, or tax purposes

Our Process

The Journey from Engagement to Close

A typical sell-side engagement spans 6–8 months. Here’s what happens at each phase—and what you can expect along the way.

Phase 1
Discovery & Engagement
Weeks 1–2

Confidential introductory conversation to understand your business, goals, and timeline. We conduct a preliminary valuation assessment and, if there’s mutual fit, formalize the engagement with clear terms and expectations.

Phase 2
Preparation & Positioning
Weeks 3–8

Deep-dive into your financials, operations, and competitive positioning. We normalize EBITDA, prepare the anonymous teaser and Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM), and develop a targeted buyer list tailored to your segment and goals.

Phase 3
Market Outreach
Weeks 8–14

Confidential, targeted outreach to qualified strategic and financial buyers. We manage all communications, field initial interest, distribute materials under NDA, and coordinate management presentations with serious parties.

Phase 4
Offers & Negotiation
Weeks 14–20

We receive and evaluate Letters of Intent, negotiate deal terms and structure, and help you select the right partner—not just the highest number, but the best overall fit for your goals, employees, and legacy.

Phase 5
Due Diligence
Weeks 20–28

We coordinate the buyer’s due diligence process alongside your legal and financial teams. We manage data room requests, address buyer concerns proactively, and keep the process moving toward a definitive agreement.

Phase 6
Closing & Transition
Weeks 28–32

Final agreement execution, closing mechanics, and funds transfer. We remain available through the transition period to ensure a smooth handoff for you, your team, and your clients.

Who We Work With

Our Clients

Staffing Founders

We exclusively represent founders and owners of staffing and recruiting companies. Whether you’re the sole owner, have a partner, or lead a management team—if you built the business, we represent you.

$10M–$100M+ Revenue

Our clients typically generate between $10 million and upwards of $100 million in annual revenue. This range represents the vast majority of privately held staffing companies in North America.

U.S. & Canada

We serve clients throughout the United States and Canada across all major staffing segments: IT, healthcare, life sciences, professional, engineering, finance & accounting, light industrial, and search/perm placement.

Why Momentum

What Sets Us Apart

100% Staffing Focus

We don’t advise tech companies, healthcare practices, or any other industry. Staffing and recruiting is all we do—and it has been for 18+ years.

Exclusively Sell-Side

We never represent buyers. Zero conflicts of interest. Our only goal is maximizing the outcome for the founder we represent.

Deep Buyer Relationships

We don’t just know who the buyers are—we have direct access to decision makers. They answer our calls. When we bring a deal to market, it gets the attention it deserves.

Senior-Level Attention

Akash is personally involved in every phase of your deal. No hand-off to junior analysts. Your transaction gets the focused, senior-level attention it deserves.

Honest Assessments

We’ll tell you what your company is worth and whether now is the right time—even if the answer isn’t what you want to hear. You deserve the truth before making this decision.

Industry Intelligence

Our quarterly M&A reports, proprietary deal data, and constant pulse on the staffing market means your valuation and positioning are grounded in real-time intelligence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Services FAQ

What is a MAVO?
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A MAVO (Marketability Assessment & Valuation Opinion) is Momentum’s comprehensive valuation engagement for staffing companies. It includes a full financial analysis, EBITDA normalization, comparable transaction benchmarking, multiple assessment, marketability evaluation, and a written report. It provides a clear, industry-informed opinion of your company’s value in today’s market.

How long does the M&A process take?
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A typical sell-side engagement takes 6 to 8 months from formal engagement to closing. This includes preparation and positioning (6–8 weeks), market outreach and management presentations (6–8 weeks), offers and negotiation (4–6 weeks), and due diligence through closing (8–12 weeks). Timelines can vary based on deal complexity.

What size companies do you work with?
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We work with staffing and recruiting company founders throughout the U.S. and Canada with annual revenues typically ranging from $10 million to over $100 million. This range represents the vast majority of privately held staffing firms and is where our experience and buyer relationships are deepest.

What does it cost to work with Momentum?
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For sell-side advisory engagements, our fee structure includes a modest monthly retainer and a success fee—the majority of our compensation—earned only when your transaction closes. This aligns our incentives directly with yours. MAVO engagements are available as standalone services with a fixed fee. Complimentary preliminary valuations are available for prospective advisory clients.

Do you work with buyers?
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No. Momentum exclusively represents sellers. This is a deliberate choice that eliminates any potential conflicts of interest. Our sole focus is maximizing the outcome for the founder we represent. We maintain strong relationships with active buyers in the staffing space, but those relationships exist to serve our sell-side clients.

When should I start thinking about selling?
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Many founders begin exploring the process 1–3 years before they plan to sell. Starting early gives you time to optimize your business for maximum value, address any issues that could affect marketability, and move when the timing is right—rather than being forced to react. A MAVO is an excellent first step even if you’re years away from a sale.

Will selling my company be kept confidential?
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Absolutely. Confidentiality is paramount in every engagement. All potential buyers sign NDAs before receiving any identifying information. We use an anonymous teaser during initial outreach, and we control the flow of information at every stage. Your employees, clients, and competitors will not know your company is being marketed.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

Whether you’re considering a sale or simply want to know what your company is worth, every conversation starts confidentially.

Schedule a Confidential Conversation