Buy, Build or Partner: How MSPs Are Growing Through M&A

The MSP acquisition market has never been more active. Private equity is rolling up providers at pace, strategic acquirers are hunting for specialised capabilities in cybersecurity and compliance, and many long-standing MSP owners are having serious conversations about exit for the first time. Meanwhile, some of the most interesting growth stories in the market right now aren’t coming from winning new clients, they’re coming from buying them.

The problem is most MSPs are either not prepared to acquire or not prepared to be acquired. They haven’t thought seriously about valuation, they haven’t done the operational work that makes a business attractive, and they haven’t mapped out what integration actually looks like after the deal closes. When the conversation comes, they’re not ready for it.

In this episode, we’re talking to MSP leaders who have been on both sides of the table. They’ve bought businesses, sold businesses, and in some cases done both. They’ll walk through what actually drives deal activity, what buyers are looking for, and what you need to do now if you want to be in a position to act when the opportunity arrives.

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Key Takeaways

1

Build a Stable MSP Before You Buy or Sell

MSP M&A rewards owners who've already built a process-driven business. Get your operations, finances and team solid first, acquisitions amplify what's there, they don't fix what isn't.

2

Know Your Realistic MSP Valuation

Australian and New Zealand MSPs rarely command US multiples, most land between 2x and 5x. Anchor on a realistic number and get fast agreement on price before emotion takes over.

3

Structure the Deal Around Risk, Not Just Price

Smart buyers don't pay everything up front. Tie part of the price to your biggest risk, like customer churn, so the seller's risk doesn't quietly become yours once the deal closes.

4

Finding Acquisition Targets Is Business Development

There's no broker shortcut to buying an MSP. The owners who acquire treat it like sales, working their network and being openly, shamelessly vocal that they're looking.

5

Integration Decides Whether an Acquisition Works

Winning the deal is the easy part. MSP integration succeeds on focus, clear client communication and strong middle management, not on the spare capacity you think you have.

Featured Panelists
Ryan Spillane 360 Consulting
Ryan Spillane
360 Consulting
Natalia Scheidegger
Natalia Scheidegger
3rdmill
Matthew Bristow
Matthew Bristow
CSP Edge
Alexander Slade, A. Corp Computers
Alexander Slade
A. Corp Computers