Mandate profile
Family office acquisition search for digital businesses
Buyer profile: a single family office acquiring majority stakes in profitable, founder-led digital businesses and holding them for the long term.
Software, online services, marketplaces and digital brands are all in scope. There is no fixed exit horizon and no pressure to flip.
Mandate profile
Why single family offices buy digital businesses.
- Reference
- AQ-0497
- Sector
- SaaS & software
- Region
- UK, Europe, North America, ANZ
- Last reviewed
Family offices want durable cash flow and are happy to hold for decades. Profitable digital businesses such as niche SaaS, online marketplaces, content brands and tech-enabled services offer exactly that, with low capital needs and steady growth.
This profile covers profitable digital businesses with US$1M to US$15M of EBITDA in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia and New Zealand. Founder-led companies with loyal customers and an owner who wants a long-term home for the business are the core focus.
Buyers here take a majority stake with no fixed exit horizon. Management stays, the culture stays and the family office provides patient capital and board support.
Acquisition criteria
What this buyer is looking for.
The family invests patient capital in durable businesses. Five factors shape the search.
Consistent profits
A record of profitability and strong cash conversion.
Niche strength
A defensible position in a focused market.
People
A founder and team who want to keep building.
Low capital needs
Growth funded largely from cash flow.
Culture
A business the family is proud to own for decades.
Close, but not an exact match? Tell us anyway.
Share an overview
Target financial profile
The numbers this buyer type works to.
Typical ranges for this profile. Businesses outside a range are still assessed on their overall strength.
- EBITDA
- US$1M–US$15M
- Profitability
- Consistently profitable
- Cash conversion
- Strong free cash flow
- Customers
- Diversified and loyal
- Typical valuation basis
- Multiple of EBITDA
- Consideration
- Majority stake, no exit horizon
Deal structure and terms
Structure
Majority stake, founders keep a minority.
Horizon
No fixed exit date: a long-term home.
Governance
Light-touch board and support.
Continuity
Management, brand and culture kept.
What makes a relevant business
Profitable businesses built to last.
What stands out is a business built to last, not to sell.
All of these are welcome
- Software, services or marketplaces
- B2B or consumer
- Founder-owned or family-owned
- Any growth rate with consistent profit
- Any of the listed regions
Recurring or repeat revenue
Customers who come back.
Customer diversification
No single customer dominating.
Reputation
Strong standing with customers and staff.
Succession readiness
A clear plan for the next leadership chapter.
Market drivers
What keeps demand strong in profitable digital businesses, long-term hold.
Patient capital
Families seek long-term, inflation-resilient income.
Digital resilience
Low-capex digital businesses generate strong cash.
Succession
Founders want a long-term home over a quick flip.
How it works
You decide what is shared, and when.
Nothing goes to any buyer automatically. Every step after the first happens only if there is potential fit and you are comfortable going further.
- 1
Share an overview
Send a short, non-confidential summary using the form. Anonymous is fine at this stage.
- 2
Acquiry reviews fit
We compare it with this profile and the buyers we work with, and tell you plainly whether there is a match, usually with a few questions.
- 3
Agree what can be disclosed
If there is potential fit, we agree with you what can be shared, and with whom, before anything moves.
- 4
Detailed discussions
Deeper conversations progress under confidentiality arrangements put in place for that discussion.
Submit an opportunity
Think your business could fit AQ-0497?
Tell us a little about it. A short, non-confidential overview is enough, and you can leave the company name out. We review every submission ourselves and reply directly.
AQ-0497 is a mandate profile, not a named buyer. We match your overview against the buyers we work with and tell you honestly whether there is a fit.
- Reviewed by Acquiry, never sent to any buyer automatically
- Anonymous overviews welcome
- Owners and advisers both welcome
FAQ
Before you send anything.
What does this mandate profile describe?
It sets out what a single family office looks for in an acquisition: the target profile, deal size, structure and regions shown above.
What is Acquiry’s role?
Acquiry works on the buy side. Profiles like this one set out the criteria acquirers in this segment use to assess targets.
Why is a family office different from private equity?
There is no fund life or fixed exit date, so decisions are made for the long-term health of the business.
Can I keep a stake?
Yes. Founders often keep a meaningful minority and stay involved.
What does no exit horizon mean?
The buyer has no plan to sell on, so the business has a long-term owner.
Can founders keep a stake?
Yes. A retained minority stake is common.
Which digital businesses fit?
SaaS, marketplaces, content brands and tech-enabled services.