Selling a business is like selling a house. There are surface-level similarities between selling your house and business. An agent helps you list it, you see offers, there’s due diligence, and a closing. But claiming they are the same is like saying the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are alike because they both play baseball. Technically true. Practically? It couldn’t be more off.

In the world of mergers and acquisitions, few strategies stir as much interest, or risk, as the “paperclip rollup.” The rollup strategy approach involves acquiring numerous small businesses within a fragmented industry and consolidating them under one umbrella, often using stock as the primary form of consideration.  The idea? Clip them all together to create something bigger, stronger, and more valuable.

When it comes to selling a middle-market business, owners often face a critical decision: Should they hire an M&A advisor or attempt to sell

Find one-off opportunities with qualified buyers in our database using BuyersDirect — a highlight of global buyers seeking IT businesses and their acquisition imperatives. Submit your interest to Assets@itexchangenet.com. There is no fee associated with starting conversations with these buyers.

Business owners and Private Equity investors have three primary paths: Buying, Building, or Selling. If you're considering an acquisition, DealsDirect is your source for exploring strategic acquisition opportunities in the mid-market IT Services and Digital Marketing sectors. Our platform exclusively features a curated list of IT ExchangeNet clients actively seeking buyers. This free subscription includes blind asset profiles that are distributed on the 15th of each month.

We’re honored to be recognized as the #1 M&A advisor in Axial’s 2025 list of the Top 50 Lower Middle Market Technology firms.

Discover the crucial role of Attorneys in Business Exits. Learn how Attorneys in Business Exits ensure smooth, compliant transitions in M&A.

For over 25 years, IT ExchangeNet has been fostering strong relationships with private equity, family offices, search funds, and strategic b

Find one-off opportunities with qualified buyers in our database using BuyersDirect — a highlight of global buyers seeking IT businesses.

DealsDirect is a consolidated listing of IT ExchangeNet clients by category. This free subscription includes blind asset profiles that are d