Marktlink → Sectors → Services → Professional Services

  • Updated February 27, 2026

Professional Services
Firm Sell

The biggest risk when selling an advisory firm? You. As founder, you’re often the brand, the network, the reason clients stay. Buyers know this — and price it in. What we see in our deals: firms with a second management layer consistently achieve 0.8–1.0x higher multiples. Not because they’re bigger, but because they’re transferable.

Jan Dijkmans

Sector Lead Services • 15 years • 95+ transactions

“The biggest risk when selling an advisory firm? You. If you are the brand, the network, the reason clients stay — buyers know, and they price it in. Firms with a second management layer consistently achieve 0.8-1.0x higher multiples.”

Sector at a Glance

  • Updated March 2, 2026
VALUATION RANGE

0.0x – 0.0x

↑ +0.4x vs 2024

EBITDA Multiple
Deals in 2025

0

Active Buyers

0+

Enter your figures → see your position instantly

Valuation Development

How EBITDA multiples in Professional Services have evolved. Digital consulting peaked in 2021, rate hikes compressed in 2023, and PE-driven demand is now pushing premiums above pre-COVID levels.

5-Year Multiple Range

2021 PEAK

0.0x avg

Digital transformation consulting surge post-COVID

2023 DIP

0.0x avg

Rate hikes + corporate budget freezes, -13% correction

2025 NOW

0.0x avg

PE platforms driving premiums above 2021 levels

Subsegment Analysis

The widest multiple spread in Services. A generalist consultancy and a specialized advisory firm in the same revenue bracket can differ by 3-4x in valuation.
Specialism and transferability are everything.

Consulting & Advisory

[XX] deals in 2025

Multiple Range

0.0x  – 0.0x

+0.4x
Buyer Mix
PE 50% • Strategic 35%
Key Valuation Driver
Specialism depth & recurring clients
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Accounting & Audit

[XX] deals in 2025

Multiple Range

0x  – 0x

+0.5x
Buyer Mix
PE 55% • Strategic 30%
Key Valuation Driver
Recurring revenue & client retention
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Legal & Compliance

[XX] deals in 2025

Multiple Range

0x  – 0.0x

+0.2x
Buyer Mix
PE 30% • Strategic 50%
Key Valuation Driver
Regulatory complexity = sticky clients
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Staffing & Recruitment

[XX] deals in 2025

Multiple Range

0.0x  – 0.0x

+0.3x
Buyer Mix
PE 40% • Strategic 45%
Key Valuation Driver
Niche specialization & temp margin
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Buyer Landscape 2025

Overall Buyer Type Distribution

  • What drives premium valuations

Second management layer (non-founder)

+0.0x to +0.0x

Recurring/retainer revenue >40%

+0.0x to +0.0x

Low founder dependency (<30% personal revenue)

+0.0x to +0.0x

Vertical specialization

+0.0x to +0.0x

Revenue per FTE >€120K

Premium range

Which of these buyers match your firm?

BuyersChecker analyzes your profile against our active buyer database.

Recent Transactions

Four anonymized deals from 2024-2025 with full details on valuations, buyers, and key learnings.

Specialism Premium

Management Consultancy

Boutique strategy consulting firm specialized in healthcare transformation

REVENUE

€0.0M

EBITDA

€0.0M

MARGIN

0%

RECURRING

0%

MULTIPLE

0.0x

DURATION

0 months

Healthcare vertical
55% retainer base
Strong management layer

Key Insight

Healthcare vertical specialization was decisive. The firm’s deep domain expertise made it the perfect bolt-on for a PE platform building a healthcare advisory group. The second-layer management team clinched the deal.

Recurring Revenue

Accounting Firm

Regional accounting practice with 1,200+ SME clients and advisory services

REVENUE

€0.0M

EBITDA

€0.0M

MARGIN

0%

RECURRING

0%

MULTIPLE

0.0x

DURATION

0 months

82% recurring
96% retention
1,200+ clients

Key Insight

82% recurring revenue made this a PE favourite. The high client retention rate (96%) and diversified base meant predictable cashflows — exactly what PE platforms look for in roll-up strategies.

Scale & Niche

IT Staffing Specialist

Specialist IT staffing firm with 180+ contractors placed at enterprise clients

REVENUE

€0.0M

EBITDA

€0.0M

MARGIN

0%

RECURRING

0%

MULTIPLE

0.0x

DURATION

0 months

IT niche focus
180+ contractors
Framework agreements

Key Insight

Despite lower margins typical for staffing, the IT niche and framework contracts with blue-chip clients provided stability. The buyer gained instant access to 180+ placed IT professionals.

Regulatory Scarcity

Compliance Advisory

Financial services compliance and regulatory advisory firm

REVENUE

€0.0M

EBITDA

€0.0M

MARGIN

0%

RECURRING

0%

MULTIPLE

0.0x

DURATION

0 months

Licensed specialists
EU regulatory expertise
24% margin

Key Insight

Post-Brexit regulatory complexity created demand from UK firms wanting Dutch/EU compliance capability. Scarcity of licensed compliance specialists drove competitive bidding from 10 parties.

Recognize yourself in these cases? Compare your situation.

Market Trends 2025

PE activity at record levels

In the UK, 47% of M&A advisors cite Business Services as the #1 sector for deal growth in H2-2025. PE platforms are aggressively building professional services groups across Europe.

Source: Dealsuite UK&I Monitor Aug 2025

0%

expect deal increase

AI creates a new premium tier

Firms that have integrated AI into service delivery — not just internal operations — are commanding higher multiples. Buyers see AI-augmented advisory as a scalability unlock.

Source: RSM M&A Trends 2025, Source Global

+0–0%

AI-enabled premium

Accounting consolidation wave

The accounting sector is experiencing unprecedented PE interest. Platforms are rolling up mid-size firms to create national networks with shared back-office and technology.

Source: RSM Netherlands 2025

0%

PE-led in accounting

Cross-border demand rising

Nearly one-third of buyers come from outside the Netherlands — primarily UK, Nordics, and DACH. Dutch professional services firms are valued for their English proficiency and EU gateway position.

Source: Dealsuite H1-2025

~0%

international buyers

What does this mean for your firm?

The market data above shows what’s possible. These tools show where you stand.

30 sec

Marktlink Multiple

Your estimated valuation

Direct: Indicative multiple

Portal: Detailed range + comparable deals
+ factors breakdown

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30 sec

BuyersChecker

How many buyers match you

Direct: Number of matches

Portal: Buyer profiles + alerts when
new buyers match

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30 sec

Benchmark Tool

Your performance vs sector

Direct: Position indication

Portal: Full benchmark report
+ quarterly updates

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30 sec

Buyer Appeal Scan

Which buyers want you

Direct: Top buyer type

Portal: All buyer types ranked + appeal factors
+ matching profiles

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1 min

Timing Scan

Market timing analysis

Direct: Timing score

Portal: Detailed timing report
+ market alerts

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2 min

Sale Readiness Test

How prepared are you

Direct: Readiness score

Portal: Full assessment
+ personalized action plan

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Industry Report 2025

Everything on this page, plus: 12 additional deal cases, detailed subsegment analysis, and 2026 outlook.

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