Start up,
Scale up,
Sell up.
S-Cubed help business owners, start up, scale up and eventually sell up. We offer expert business advisory services to help them navigate the business journey from start to finish, or at any point in between.
We are with you every step of the way, no matter where you are in your business growth cycle.
Why use S-Cubed?
We have over 300 years combined commercial SME experience and between us have been responsible for over 350 successful merger and acquisition transactions. These includes business exits, acquisitions, MBOs/MBIs and investment fund raising.
Through our business advisory services, we have not only helped scores of clients achieve their goals and objectives, a number of us have also successfully gone through business exits, acquisitions and capital raising in our own businesses. This means that we completely understand the challenges and decisions that need to be made to achieve success.
We are business owners, just like you!
Looking to buy
Looking to buy
Acquiring Businesses
An attractive alternative to rely on organic growth, that is, selling more of your products and services to the market, is acquiring businesses. It can “leapfrog” growth substantially overnight. Looking to scale
Looking to scale
Growing Businesses
Not only do we help business owners acquire new businesses we also work with them to help them grow organically. This is achieved in two ways, business mentoring and/or investment raising. Looking to sell
Looking to sell
Selling Businesses
There are only three basic exits in business, selling your business, winding up a business or candidly, dying in office! We focus purely on the first alternative.Looking to Buy
Acquiring businesses brings with it the opportunity to achieve economies of scale, cross selling and upselling opportunities. A well thought through and executed “buy and build” strategy can transform one single successful business into a much larger group of inter-related companies acting as one. In this instance, 1+1 can equal 3 if not 4 or more!
Through our expert business advisory services, we support clients in navigating this growth strategy effectively. One of our acquirer clients is currently on the acquisition trail. They turnover c£10m and employ 30 staff. Within a year, the goal is to acquire five other complementary fit businesses and establish sales revenues of £20m+ and a workforce of 80+ people.
Our client’s intention is to become the market dominant player in their sector. Their expectation is that this should provide their team, both old and new, with enhanced career and promotion prospects.
Once engaged, the process of us identifying target acquisitions, approaching them all, negotiating deals that work for both parties and completing all transactions takes a year. As part of our business advisory services, we can provide advice on what options are available for a suitable group structure, and will work closely with our client’s Accountants and Lawyers, to ensure it’s robust and tax efficient.
One key benefit of buying a business is that when the time comes for you to eventually sell, you will understand the mindset of an acquirer, having been on the other side of the table. You will know what a buyer is looking for, and conversely, what they are not looking for. This means that you can prepare your business for sale in the most attractive way.
If you would like to accelerate the growth of your business through acquisition, then get in touch now for a confidential chat.
Looking to scale
Growing a business in the “right” way is essential for future shareholder value. Too many businesses are owner reliant, client reliant, lack of robust financial reporting or have structural issues that make them unattractive to buyers. Through our business advisory services, we help businesses address these challenges and build a strong foundation for long-term success. Preparing your business for sale is essential to future value, even if it’s many years from now.
We always take the approach of making a business “sale ready”, even if there are no plans to sell up – you never know when your ideal buyer might contact you out of the blue to enquire if you would like to sell to them. They will not wait for you to get your house in order, they will simply move on to the next opportunity. This is why we have a dedicated Business Mentoring programme which is delivered either through a small group chat forum, or if preferred, on an individual basis. Either way, you will receive input, guidance and advice from someone who has been there and worn the proverbial t-shirt!
Investment fund raising for clients is another facet of how we support our clients through our business advisory services. Often, ambitious growth plans can use up valuable working capital and so attention turns to external funding, either debt or equity-based solutions. This requires careful thought. Business owners often focus too much on just securing funding, rather than considering which funding option is best, and most appropriate, for their business.
We not only provide the advice, but also approach lenders and/or investors from our extensive network, via our investment fund raising service. Part of that support to clients is creating a compelling investment deck, and putting our clients through their paces by coaching them on how to make the perfect pitch. You may be surprised how many business owners fall into the many pitfalls when presenting their business and the investment opportunity. The majority of investment pitches never succeed; but, with our help, guidance and support, you can avoid being disappointed.
In the run up to your first investment pitch, we can arrange a specific half-day training course delivered by a high profile actor from the world of TV and Film. This course is designed to:
- brush up and/or improve your presentation skills
- teach you how to respond in the moment
- show how you make a lasting and positive impression in a meeting
All the skills you need to make an impact in your investment pitch.
If you’re looking to scale up, to enhance shareholder value, and feel that you might need some help, please get in touch to arrange a confidential chat.
Looking to sell
Our Chairman, Rob Goddard, has been successfully selling client businesses since 2002. Several hundred completed deals, with a total transaction value more than £2bn. The average multiple achieved by Rob throughout his career is 9.3 times adjusted EBITDA, the highest being 26 times.
Where your business might sit within that range is something we can explore through our business advisory services. We take the time to understand your business and financial model, and examine your industry multiples. We will then provide a written report as to what your business might be worth from three different viewpoints. This will then provide you with an independent report and information for you to decide whether the timing is right to sell now or wait for a while until it reaches your aspirational price – what we refer to as your “magic number”.
Timing is everything with a business sale. Sadly, there are some business brokers and advisors out there that will tell you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear. They will take businesses to market that are not saleable, and certainly not at the price the owner is hoping for.
Our commitment to you is that we will provide you with an honest and candid appraisal of what your business is likely to be worth. If that falls short of your aspirations, we would be more than happy to work with you via our cohort-led business mentoring groups, or on a 121 basis with our Head of Mentoring, Philip de Lisle, as part of our business advisory services.
You don’t even need to have a business that is profitable for us to sell it. We have years of experience of selling companies that are distressed and/or in need of re-structuring, or sometimes new ownership. 70% of start ups never see their 10th anniversary, so this situation is not uncommon. The important thing is to act decisively in the best interest of staff, clients, creditors and then, of course, you and your fellow shareholders.
If you are curious as to what your business might be worth and what your options might be, get in touch now for a confidential chat.
Client Testimonials
Upcoming Events
3 dates set for our regular SME workshops for 2025
11th April 2025
44 Great Cumberland Place, Marylebone, London, W1H 7BS
Meet the team
Our Partners
Giving back
Life is more than just business success, it’s also about giving back into society and help those in need of help, support and care.
S-Cubed Advisory are honoured to support and promote two extremely worthwhile charities;
Elimtia Ltd
Eliminating dementia through prevention, founded by Tanya Franks, a well-known British Actress. Imagine a world free from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, this is the primary goal of this non-profit organisation.
My Cancer My Choices
This charity offer free complementary therapies such as Acupuncture, Massage, Reflexology, Mindfulness and Yoga to people who have been given a diagnosis that has devastated their world.
My Cancer My Choices has been operating since 2015 and recently was awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. An amazing achievement and testament to all the volunteers and staff that deliver over 1,500 treatment every year.
Further information
Books worth reading
*All profits go to charity
And if you prefer video rather than the written word, check out our Chairman’s YouTube channel
100+ videos to help any business owner, start up, scale up or sell up.
