ICON DEAL FLOW

Buy a Business That is Right for You

Acquisition advisory and deal sourcing for buyers seeking quality lower middle market businesses. The best opportunities rarely hit the open market.

SHARE YOUR ACQUISITION CRITERIA

Icon Deal Flow: Buy-Side Advisory

Finding the right business to acquire is harder than it looks. Icon Deal Flow connects serious acquirers with quality businesses, including off-market opportunities from our network of 400+ boutique investment banks. We source, screen, and facilitate so you can focus on finding the right fit.

Who Icon Deal Flow Serves

Private Equity & Family Offices

Platform acquisitions, add-on targets, and direct investments. We source opportunities that match your thesis and facilitate introductions with vetted sellers.

Strategic Acquirers

Companies expanding through M&A. We help you identify targets that strengthen your market position, add capabilities, or accelerate geographic expansion.

Search Funds & Independent Sponsors

Acquisition entrepreneurs pursuing their first or next deal. We bring deal flow, introductions, and market intelligence to help you find the right business faster.

How Icon Deal Flow Works

Step 1: Define Your Criteria

We work with you to define exactly what you are looking for: industry, size, geography, deal structure, and investment thesis. This becomes your acquisition scorecard.

Step 2: Deal Sourcing

We tap our network of 400+ boutique investment banks and direct relationships to surface opportunities that match your criteria, including deals that never hit the market.

Step 3: Facilitation

We make introductions, facilitate initial conversations, and help move deals forward. You get qualified deal flow without the noise.

Pricing

Buy-side M&A advisory fees typically range from 2 to 4% of transaction value, paid as a success fee upon closing. We also offer retainer-based engagements for dedicated deal sourcing. Every engagement starts with a conversation about your goals and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find businesses for sale?

Quality businesses are found through M&A advisor networks, industry relationships, and direct outreach. The best opportunities often sell before reaching public listing sites. Working with an advisor like Icon provides access to off-market deal flow.

What criteria should I use when evaluating an acquisition?

Key criteria include industry alignment, EBITDA quality, customer concentration, management depth, growth potential, and deal structure. We help buyers develop a scoring framework that matches their investment thesis. Understanding EBITDA multiples is essential for evaluating acquisition targets.

Can I access off-market deals?

Yes. A significant portion of lower middle market deals are completed off-market. Our network of 400+ boutique investment banks and direct relationships with business owners gives our buy-side clients access to deals that never appear on listing sites.

Related Services

Business Valuation: Data-driven valuation report to understand what your business is worth
Icon Capital: Capital raising advisory for growth, recapitalization, or acquisition financing
Icon Command Center: Seven-day strategic sprint for business clarity and direction

Looking to Acquire?

Tell us what you are looking for. We will let you know what we are seeing in the market and whether we can help.