For Sellers
Thinking about what happens next with your business?
If you have built an IT or technology business over the last decade or two and you are starting to think about what the next chapter looks like — stepping back, bringing in a partner, or an outright sale — you are probably not looking for a process run by advisers. You are looking for someone who will deal with you directly.
Who we buy from
We have a tight, published set of criteria — not a broad mandate to buy anything. If a business fits, we can move quickly and speak knowledgeably from the first conversation.
| Sector | IT services / MSPs, software & SaaS, digital agencies, AI-enabled or AI-adjacent businesses |
| Turnover | £1m – £4m (SME bracket, typically 10–50 staff) |
| Ownership | Founder-led or founder-majority; sole or family ownership |
| Business shape | Recurring or repeat revenue, loyal client base, healthy margins |
| Trigger | No clear succession plan; approaching retirement; recent tax-rule change; growth plateau |
| Geography | UK & Ireland priority |
You do not need to be in crisis to talk to us. Most conversations start with an owner who is not in a hurry but is thinking clearly about the future. Recent changes to Business Property Relief have prompted many to think about timing — if that applies to you, earlier is better.
What we do differently
Principals, not process
You deal with Paul Carroll and Alex Porter directly — not a junior team, not an adviser acting as a relay. Two people who have done this before, at NASDAQ scale.
Your team stays
We are operators, not asset strippers. We buy businesses to grow them — which means we need the people who built them. We have a clear track record of keeping teams intact through transitions.
Client relationships protected
Client relationships are how a services business retains its value post-acquisition. We manage transitions carefully and do not do anything that puts long-standing client relationships at risk.
Fit, not auction
We are not the buyer who pays the most and worries about it afterwards. We want businesses that fit our operating group and where we can genuinely add value after the deal closes.
"We have done this at scale. Integrity Software brought together 13 technology companies under a single operating group — different products, different codebases, different cultures, different client bases — and took the combined entity to NASDAQ in 2000. That experience shapes everything we do."
How it works
- 01
Enquiry
You reach out — by form, phone, or email. Confidential. No obligation. We respond directly, usually within one working day.
- 02
Discovery call
A short conversation to understand your business and your situation. We are straightforward about whether it is the kind of business we are looking for.
- 03
NDA
If there is mutual interest, we sign a mutual NDA before anything sensitive is shared.
- 04
Information exchange
You share financials, contracts, team structure and customer information. We share our process and how we value businesses.
- 05
Indicative offer
We put an offer in writing — indicative at this stage, subject to due diligence. We explain our valuation clearly and without jargon.
- 06
Transition
Post-completion, we work with you on the transition — customers, team, systems — at a pace that protects the business.
What joining Hoki looks like
The team stays
No outside restructuring imposed from day one. Experienced people remain in place, doing the work they are good at.
Clients are looked after
Relationships built over years continue without disruption to how the business serves them. Client communications are planned carefully — nothing goes out without your involvement.
Capital and backing to grow
Investment in delivery capacity, technology and modernisation — without the personal financial risk that comes with running the business as a sole owner.
Less to carry alone
Group support functions — finance, back office, operational oversight — reduce the burden on owners and leadership. You focus on what you do well.
Common questions
What will happen to my team?
They stay. We are not restructuring your business from day one — we are running it. The people who built the business are the ones who know how it works. We have a clear record of keeping teams intact through acquisitions.
How do you value a business like mine?
We use a multiple of maintainable earnings — adjusted EBITDA — which is the standard approach for businesses of this size. We adjust for owner salary, one-offs, and recurring versus non-recurring revenue. We explain the number clearly; we do not hide behind process.
What about my clients — will they know?
Not until you choose to tell them. We keep acquisitions confidential during the process. Transition communications to clients are planned carefully, with timing and messaging that you are involved in.
Do I need to use a broker or adviser?
No. You can come to us directly. Many sellers prefer it — it keeps the process simpler and the conversation cleaner. If you have an adviser you trust, we work with them too.
I am not ready to sell yet — is it worth talking?
Yes. Many of the most useful conversations happen before the seller has a fixed timeline. Understanding how your business would be valued, and what a sensible timeline looks like, costs nothing and changes the decisions you make now.
Start a confidential conversation
Book a 30-minute call directly. Everything you share is treated in confidence. Alternatively, call us on 0330 088 2646 or email paulc@hoki.com.