Expanding your business through acquisition is a powerful strategy, especially in the professional services sector, where reputation, relationships, and recurring revenue hold substantial value. For accountants, solicitors, consultants, and other service-based professionals, acquiring another practice or client portfolio can lead to significant growth, efficiency and long-term profitability.
At Howe Commercial Finance, we specialise in providing bespoke business acquisition finance solutions for professionals looking to scale. Whether you’re buying out a retiring partner, acquiring a competitor’s client base, or expanding into a new location, we understand how to structure finance around your goals, while considering the regulatory, operational and cash flow demands of your profession.
Why Acquisition Finance Is Vital for Professional Growth
Acquiring a business is often quicker and less risky than growing organically. However, professional acquisitions come with their own set of financial and regulatory complexities. That’s where tailored acquisition finance becomes essential.
Why professionals pursue acquisitions:
- To grow market share quickly
- To expand service offerings
- To enter new geographical markets
- To enhance their brand and client credibility
- To gain operational efficiencies and cost savings
But acquisitions in the professional sector often involve more than just purchasing physical assets — you’re also investing in goodwill, intellectual property, client relationships, and specialist staff. That’s why having the proper financial structure in place is crucial.
Business Acquisition Finance Tailored to Service-Based Professionals
Professional practices aren’t like typical high street businesses. You deal in knowledge, trust, and long-term client relationships — and your acquisition finance needs to reflect that. At Howe Commercial Finance, we understand how these businesses work and how to fund them appropriately.
We’ve supported:
- Accountants acquiring client books or merging practices
- Solicitors expanding their firms through acquisition
- Consultants and advisers taking over niche practices in HR, marketing, architecture, and more
Key challenges we help you overcome:
- Valuing goodwill in a service-led business
- Managing regulatory requirements (such as SRA or ICAEW compliance)
- Structuring repayments around seasonal or project-based cash flow
- Securing lender confidence without tangible assets
Our team works closely with you and your advisors to craft a deal that’s not just fundable, but also financially sustainable.
How Business Loans Support the Acquisition Process
Securing the right business loans is often a crucial step in completing your acquisition. These loans may be used to fund part or all of the purchase price, as well as operational costs during the transition period.
Uses of business loans in acquisitions:
- Purchasing equity in an existing practice
- Funding goodwill when acquiring a client portfolio
- Covering legal and advisory costs
- Providing working capital for onboarding new clients or staff
- Bridging short-term cash flow gaps post-acquisition
Through our established lender panel, we can help you access:
- Secured loans: Supported by commercial or personal assets
- Unsecured loans: Based on your trading history and future projections
- Hybrid finance packages: Combining multiple forms of funding for flexibility
Our role is to ensure the structure meets your specific needs and that the lender understands the full potential of your acquisition.
Structuring Your Acquisition Finance: What We Consider
Not all deals are the same, and a “one size fits all” funding solution won’t work when acquiring a professional services business. We assess the commercial, financial, and strategic aspects of every deal to provide the best fit for your goals.
Our key considerations:
- Valuation: How has the target business been valued, and does evidence support that valuation?
- Cash flow: Will the combined business have sufficient cash flow to meet loan repayments?
- Regulation: Are there industry-specific compliance issues that impact the acquisition?
- Succession: Will the outgoing owner stay on temporarily, and how will that impact the transition?
- Client retention: What guarantees or forecasts exist around ongoing client income?
We translate these factors into a compelling case for lenders, providing you with access to more competitive terms and increased lender confidence.
Benefits of Using Specialist Commercial Finance Brokers
Acquiring a business is one of the most significant steps a professional practice can take to achieve its goals. Trying to secure the right finance without expert support can lead to delays, rejections or unfit terms that hinder your future growth.
Why choose Howe Commercial Finance?
- Specialist knowledge: We understand regulated industries and their financial requirements
- Lender access: We work with a broad range of lenders who fund professional service acquisitions
- Hands-on service: From the first conversation to deal completion, we manage the entire funding process
- Tailored terms: We structure deals that suit your cash flow, ambitions and exit strategy
Most importantly, we act as your advocate, presenting your acquisition case in the strongest possible way to lenders who are genuinely interested in supporting your vision.
Common Funding Scenarios for Accountants, Lawyers & Professionals
To illustrate how business acquisition finance works in practice, here are a few typical scenarios we support:
For Accountants:
- Buying the client base of a retiring local firm
- Merging with another practice to offer wider services
- Expanding geographically by taking over an office in another region
For Solicitors:
- Acquiring a family law or conveyancing specialist to broaden offerings
- Partner buy-ins for junior lawyers taking equity in the firm
- Merging with another SRA-authorised firm for strategic growth
For Other Professionals (Consultants, Surveyors, Engineers, etc.):
- Acquiring a smaller consultancy to expand project capacity
- Taking over a niche firm to offer complementary services
- Buying out a co-founder or a silent partner
In each of these cases, we help structure acquisition finance that reflects the value of intellectual property, client relationships, and future income, not just tangible assets.
Speak to Us About Business Acquisition Finance
If you’re actively planning an acquisition or even just starting to explore the idea, we’re here to help. At Howe Commercial Finance, we believe that successful growth starts with smart funding. Our team is ready to support you with clear advice, access to trusted lenders, and a funding solution that’s tailored to your profession and your goals.
Expert-led advice from specialists in the professional sector of finance
Access to competitive business loans from a wide lender panel
Proactive support from enquiry through to completion
Ready to explore business acquisition finance?
Visit our Acquisition Finance page to learn more or get in touch for a confidential chat about your plans
