What does Lion Group do?

Lion Group is a founder-led business builder that partners with ambitious individuals and teams to build, acquire, or invest in businesses across industries. We provide comprehensive support including recruitment, marketing, finance, and strategic guidance.

How can I partner with Lion Group?

We offer multiple partnership opportunities including co-founding roles for operators, expert partnerships for industry specialists, business acquisition for owners looking to sell, investment partnerships, and employment opportunities. Visit our Partner With Us page to explore options.

Lion Group is a founder-led business builder and strategic partner. We partner with ambitious individuals and teams to build, acquire, or invest in businesses across industries.

Does Lion Group acquire businesses?

Yes, we acquire exceptional service businesses with growth potential. We look for profitable businesses with recurring revenue, strong market positions, and opportunities for scaling. We provide both full acquisition and strategic partnership options.

Hayder Hafid is the Founder & CEO of Lion Group. He's a strategist and entrepreneur with extensive experience in building and scaling businesses across multiple industries. He founded Lion Group to partner with outstanding operators and provide the infrastructure needed to build world-class companies.

How do I know if my business is ready to sell?

Your business is typically ready to sell when it has consistent revenue streams, documented processes, a strong management team, clean financial records, and growth potential. Key indicators include: recurring revenue, profitable operations for at least 2-3 years, systems that don't rely solely on the owner, and a clear value proposition. We offer a free business readiness assessment to help you determine if now is the right time.

What is my business worth and how is it valued?

Business valuation depends on multiple factors including revenue, profit margins, growth rate, market position, and industry multiples. Service businesses typically sell for 1-5x annual revenue or 3-8x EBITDA, depending on the sector and growth potential. We use comprehensive valuation methods including comparable sales, discounted cash flow, and asset-based approaches to determine fair market value.

How long does it take to sell a business in the UK?

The typical timeline for selling a business in the UK ranges from 6-12 months, though it can vary significantly. The process includes: preparation (1-2 months), marketing (2-4 months), negotiations (1-2 months), and completion (2-3 months). Well-prepared businesses with strong financials and clear growth strategies tend to sell faster and at better valuations.

What documents do I need to prepare for selling my business?

Essential documents include: 3 years of audited financial statements, management accounts, tax returns, customer contracts, supplier agreements, employee contracts, intellectual property documentation, operational procedures, and legal compliance records. We provide a comprehensive checklist and help you prepare all necessary documentation to present your business professionally to potential buyers.

Should I sell my entire business or just a portion?

This depends on your goals and circumstances. A full sale provides immediate liquidity and complete exit, while a partial sale allows you to retain some ownership and benefit from future growth. Many business owners choose to sell a majority stake (51-80%) to strategic partners like Lion Group, maintaining involvement while accessing growth capital and expertise.

What are the tax implications of selling my business in the UK?

Business sales in the UK may qualify for Business Asset Disposal Relief (formerly Entrepreneurs' Relief), potentially reducing capital gains tax to 10% on qualifying gains up to £1 million. Other considerations include corporation tax on asset sales, VAT implications, and timing strategies. We work with qualified tax advisors to structure transactions tax-efficiently and maximize your after-tax proceeds.

How do you ensure confidentiality during the sale process?

We maintain strict confidentiality through signed NDAs before sharing any business information, using code names in marketing materials, carefully vetting potential buyers, and limiting information disclosure to serious, qualified buyers only. Your business operations and employee morale are protected throughout the process.

What makes Lion Group different from other business buyers?

Unlike traditional private equity or corporate buyers, we're founder-led operators who understand the challenges of building businesses. We provide ongoing operational support, strategic guidance, and infrastructure to accelerate growth. Our approach focuses on partnership rather than just acquisition, ensuring your business continues to thrive under our ownership.

Can I stay involved in the business after selling?

Absolutely. Many of our partnerships involve the founder staying on in a leadership role, whether as CEO, Chairman, or strategic advisor. We value the expertise and relationships you've built and often structure deals that allow continued involvement while providing you with liquidity and growth support.

What types of businesses does Lion Group typically acquire?

We focus on profitable service businesses with recurring revenue, strong market positions, and growth potential. Our portfolio includes marketing agencies, professional services, legal firms, recruitment companies, and technology services. We're particularly interested in businesses with £500K+ annual revenue, established client bases, and opportunities for scaling.

How quickly can you make a decision on acquiring my business?

We pride ourselves on quick decision-making. After receiving your initial information, we typically provide preliminary feedback within 48 hours and a formal indication of interest within 1-2 weeks. Our streamlined process and founder-led approach means faster decisions compared to traditional corporate buyers or private equity firms.

What support do you provide after acquiring a business?

We provide comprehensive support including: recruitment and talent acquisition, marketing and sales optimization, financial planning and management, technology and systems implementation, strategic planning and execution, operational improvements, and access to our network of industry experts and partners. Our goal is to accelerate your business growth, not just own it.

Sell Your Business UK

Looking to exit? Or find a strategic growth partner?

We acquire exceptional businesses and partner with founders who want to scale. Whether you're looking for a full exit or strategic growth partner, we'd love to hear from you.

Sell your business in the UK — what founders ask us

If you are searching for business buyers UK or a private equity alternative, Lion Group offers a founder-led path: we acquire service businesses with strong fundamentals and help you scale with recruitment, marketing, finance, and operational support — not just a balance-sheet exit.

Whether you need a full exit strategy or a strategic growth partner who buys equity and stays involved, we move quickly. Most owners receive preliminary feedback within 48 hours and a formal indication of interest within two weeks — faster than many traditional business acquisition London processes.

We look for profitable UK businesses with recurring revenue, transferable operations, and room to scale. If you want a confidential conversation about business valuation UK and what your company could be worth to a strategic partner, start below — there is no obligation.

What We Bring to Your Business

The infrastructure and expertise to accelerate growth

Recruitment Excellence

Access to top talent and proven hiring processes

Marketing & Sales

Sophisticated marketing systems and sales optimization

Operational Excellence

Finance, IT, and strategic support infrastructure

Strategic Growth

Long-term vision and execution capabilities

Why Partner with Lion Group?

We don't just acquire businesses - we accelerate them. Our comprehensive approach ensures your business reaches its full potential while preserving what makes it special.

Strategic growth acceleration

Operational excellence support

Access to global networks

Technology and systems upgrade

Marketing and sales optimization

Financial planning and management

Talent acquisition and development

Exit planning and execution

Full Sale vs. Partial Sale

Full Sale

Complete acquisition with immediate liquidity and transition support

Partial Sale

Strategic partnership with growth capital and operational support

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about selling your business

Still have questions? We're here to help you through every step of the process.

Get in Touch

Tell Us About Your Business

We'll review your information and get back to you within 24 hours