Before looking at listings, define your "Ideal Firm Profile" to avoid mismatched acquisitions that lead to high client churn.

: Secure pre-approval. Expect down payments of 10–20%, with the remainder often covered by bank loans or seller notes. 2. Deep Due Diligence

: If the current owner is the sole point of contact for major accounts, retention risk skyrockets. Look for firms where staff already manage relationships.

: Ensure no single client represents more than 5% of total revenue. A 90%+ annual retention rate over three years is the industry benchmark for healthy firms.