Acquirers pay more for firms that look institutionalized.
And one of the cheapest ways to look the part costs less than your current benefits stack.
What acquirers actually ask in diligence
Who runs HR and compliance?
If the answer is "the founder," it costs you on the multiple.
What if the principal steps away?
Founder-dependent firms get a discount. Systems-dependent firms get a premium.
Can your benefits compete for talent?
You're competing against PE-backed firms with full benefits stacks. That's the new normal.
Josh Curtis
Founder & Principal, EQB Strategy
I'm at the table when acquirers buy RIAs.
PEO infrastructure comes up in almost every deal.
It's the cheapest lever I see firms wishing they'd pulled earlier.
Worth two minutes?
The fit check tells you if Buoy makes sense for your firm.
No call required.
Josh Curtis is a Certified Reseller with MyGig. Referral compensation may apply. © EQB Strategy