You want to sell your secondment agency? Then it is good to know what the acquisition market in the field of secondment agencies looks like. The labor market is changing, as we are diligently searching for the perfect balance between flexible work and security. Because secondment agencies guarantee security for both parties, without the burden of an indefinite contract, this is a future-proof market.
There was an exorbitant increase in the number of consolidations in the acquisition market until the global pandemic, but since then it has been flat for a while. The industry is recovering, but not quite the same yet.
There are many ways to value a business. A common method of expressing the value of a business is "a factor x gross annual profit." This factor is also called multiple and another designation for gross annual profit is EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization).
In the business services sector - to which a secondment agency belongs - an indicative EBITDA multiple range of 4.6 to 5.5 is currently used, according to the Brookz Takeover Barometer. The average EBITDA multiple across all SME sectors is 4.90.
The valuation of a business is often the starting point for negotiations between buyer and seller. The outcome of these negotiations is the final sales price. So valuation and price are two different quantities. Besides valuation, the price is also determined by possible scarcity in the market, bargaining power of the parties, the strategic value of the business for the buyer and possible synergy effects for the buyer (cost savings, purchasing advantages).
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Do you want to buy a business or sell a business in the business services sector? With this Brookz Sector Monitor, we want to present buyers and sellers with facts, figures and an outlook that provide insight into the number of transactions, the value development of businesses and the latest trends and developments in the business services sector. Because in every buying or selling process, thorough preparation gives peace of mind, overview and structure.
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There are many startups in the market every year, and small-scale organizations, which means that the number of businesses with one person working is relatively high.
In figures, the number of secondment agencies in 2024 looked as follows(CBS):
With this online training from Brookz you are optimally prepared to largely sell your business yourself: 25 Powerpoint videos, a comprehensive valuation report, legal model contracts, handy templates, checklists and expert support. Plus 50% discount on listing your business on Brookz!
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A number of trends and developments will inevitably cause changes in the coming years, but also offer wholesalers many growth and acquisition opportunities:
Employees are becoming more steadfast and no longer hesitate to voice their opinions. Not only do they not shy away from discussion, but they feel that their employer should also show color. Working for a business with which you do not share your ideals is no longer acceptable.
We have a knowledge economy, in which we increasingly need specialists in science and technology. Jobs will disappear because of robotization, but new jobs will also be created. There will be a shift from general posting to specialist posting.
The current generation of young people has flexible working at the top of their wish list. More and more opportunities are being created with the emergence of new platforms in social media, networking and data. By being associated with a secondment agency, young people retain freedom, but still have a form of security.
