Phase 1 · Discovery · Clarity Begins Here
Target Identification & Screening
The best acquisition target is rarely the one that called you first. It is the one that fits the strategy — and finding it requires a systematic search, not a reactive response.
Target identification and screening is the structured process of identifying, researching, and evaluating potential acquisition targets against the acquisition strategy criteria — building a long list from market research, sector mapping, and proprietary outreach, then screening to the short list that merits detailed evaluation and approach. We build the target pipeline that gives the acquisition strategy the options it needs to find the best fit rather than accepting the first available opportunity.
The Pain We Solve
You may recognise yourself in one of these.
Three audience scenarios · because the same service produces a different transformation depending on where you are in the business journey.
Scenario 1
The business that is reactive in its acquisition search — responding to introductions and inbound approaches rather than proactively identifying the best targets
The acquisitions the business has considered have been the ones that came to it — through brokers, advisors, and existing relationships. The best targets in the sector have not been identified or approached because there is no proactive search process.
Scenario 2
The business that has spent significant time on a target that turned out not to fit the criteria that should have been applied at the screening stage
Six months were invested in a target before the due diligence revealed the problems that a proper screening process would have identified in the first month. The cost — management time, advisor fees, and opportunity cost — was avoidable.
Scenario 3
The business that wants to acquire but does not have the market intelligence to identify which businesses in its target sector are available, performing, and aligned to its criteria
The target sector has hundreds of potential acquisition candidates. The business does not know which are performing well, which have owners ready to sell, which have the capabilities the acquisition strategy requires, or which are already in a process with another buyer.
The Impact It Creates
The Moment You Will Feel the Difference.
Target pipeline built from proactive search rather than reactive response to inbound approaches
Screening criteria applied rigorously so management time is spent on the targets that merit it
Market intelligence developed on the target sector before the first approach is made
Best targets approached on a relationship basis before they enter a formal process
What You Receive
The Specific Deliverables.
Tangible outputs · documented, dated, and yours to keep.
- Target market mapping — sector landscape and potential acquisition universe
- Long-list development — research-based identification of targets fitting strategy criteria
- Screening framework and long-list to short-list prioritisation
- Target intelligence profiles — financial, commercial, and ownership
- Approach strategy — direct outreach or intermediary-mediated introduction
- Target pipeline management and tracking
The Outcome
Where You Will Be on the Other Side.
The business has a prioritised pipeline of acquisition targets that have been systematically identified, screened against strategy criteria, and researched — enabling a structured approach to the best options rather than a reactive response to whatever is currently available.
Primary Focus
Systematically identifying and screening acquisition targets against strategic criteria to build a prioritised pipeline of the best opportunities in the target market.
KPI Measurement
- Target universe mapped
- Long-list to short-list conversion quality
- Targets approached proactively vs reactively
- Pipeline quality score vs strategy criteria
- Time from strategy to first credible approach
Investment & ROI
Pricing Engineered Around the Value You Create.
Every engagement is sized against the value we believe we can create with you · the fee is always a fraction of the outcome. Four tiers · so the investment matches your stage of business.
Tier 1
Foundations
£5,000 – £15,000
Right for
Pre-startup, startup, and micro-business founders ready to build on evidence rather than instinct.
Typical Value Created
£50K – £500K avoided in misdirected launches and bad bets
Engagement
4 – 8 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 2
Acceleration
£15,000 – £50,000
Right for
Growing SMEs and established small businesses ready to scale a working model into the next revenue band.
Typical Value Created
£250K – £2M of better-informed launch decisions and faster market traction
Engagement
8 – 16 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 3
Transformation
£50,000 – £250,000
Right for
Medium enterprises and scale-stage businesses ready to commit to a multi-quarter, organisation-wide shift.
Typical Value Created
£1M – £25M in strategic pivots de-risked and new categories validated
Engagement
3 – 9 months
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 4
Enterprise
£250,000 – £2M+
Right for
Large enterprises, global operators, and complex organisations ready for a multi-year strategic partnership.
Typical Value Created
£5M – £100M+ in optimised market entry, M&A diligence, and category positioning
Engagement
12 months and onward
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Why We Price This Way
Every engagement is sized around the value we believe we can create with you. The fee is always a fraction of the outcome · typically 10 – 20% of the expected first-year return.
This is how we make sure pricing aligns with results. The conversation is never “what does this cost?” · it is always “what is this worth to your business?” We answer that together in the first call, transparently, and decide the right tier from there.
If we cannot articulate a credible 5–10× return for your specific situation, we will tell you in the first call. That honesty is part of why our clients trust us with the work that matters most.
Why This Conversation Matters
“The acquisition market favours the prepared buyer — the one who knows the sector, has identified the best targets, and can approach them with credibility before they become available to everyone. We build the preparation that creates that advantage.”
A 90-minute structured strategy session · produces a usable roadmap whether you engage further or not.
More in Phase 1