Most M&A advisors learn about agencies from the outside. We built them, ran them, and sold them — which means we understand the commercial pressures, the founder psychology, and the hidden pitfalls that derail deals before they close.

Our approach is what we call empathetic M&A — transactions that take the human experience of a deal as seriously as the financial outcome. Selling an agency you've built is rarely just a financial event. It involves identity, team, culture, and legacy. Getting that right matters as much as getting the number right.

We work with founders globally across Europe, North America and APAC — on sell-side mandates, mergers, and exit planning — through a process that is faster, more rigorous, and more founder-friendly than traditional advisory.

Why Founders Choose Agency Futures
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Strategic presence in every major market Active relationships with buyers across North America, EMEA, and APAC — including holding companies, PE-backed groups, indie networks, and challenger agencies actively seeking acquisitions.

30,000+ agency buyers in our network Our proprietary database of over 30,000 global marketing services company buyers means we know who is in market, what they are looking for, and what they will pay — before we approach anyone on your behalf.

A process built around your outcome We develop a favorable narrative for your agency, target the right buyers, and manage every stage of the process — so you can keep running your business while we run the deal.

Cultural fit, not just financial fit We have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly impacts of M&A on agency cultures. Our mandate is to find buyers who are right for your people as well as your balance sheet.

From first call to close We stay with you through every phase — from initial valuation through buyer engagement, negotiation, due diligence, and completion. You are never left to navigate the hard moments alone.

How a Sale Mandate Works

Phase I — Business Assessment & Valuation We review your financials, develop a perspective on fair market value, understand your goals, and align on the right path to market. This is also where we identify the buyer categories most likely to move at the right price.

Phase II — Planning & Preparation We develop your positioning strategy, build your Confidential Information Memorandum, identify and prioritise target buyers, and prepare the narrative that will resonate with the right acquirers. Initial market sounding begins here.

Phase III — Buyer Engagement We introduce your agency to buyers in order of priority, facilitate meetings, manage information flow, and work with your legal and accounting advisors through negotiation. We evaluate offers based on a blend of value, speed, and certainty.

Phase IV — Transaction Support & Close We assist with deal structure, review agreements to ensure they reflect what was agreed, provide go-between support between legal teams on sensitive points, and stay with you through completion.

What your agency is worth

Agency valuations typically use Adjusted EBITDA multiples — usually in the range of 3x to 8x for independent marketing services businesses, depending on revenue quality, client concentration, management depth, recurring revenue, and growth trajectory.

The multiple you achieve isn't just about your numbers.

It's about how your agency is positioned, who you're positioned to, and how the process is managed. Founders who go to market without preparation routinely leave value on the table. We exist to prevent that.

We provide indicative valuations as part of an initial conversation — before any engagement is formalised. If you want to understand what your agency might be worth, that's the right place to start. Contact us below to start the conversation.

Recent Transactions

A selection of recent deals Agency Futures has advised on:

Holy Cow! → Hardie Grant Media Sydney-based design firm Holy Cow! was advised by Agency Futures on its acquisition into the Hardie Grant Media stable of agencies.

Catalyst XR → The Many Agency Futures advised on the acquisition of Catalyst XR, an immersive technology business, by The Many.

PinPoint Media → Pretty Green PR Agency Futures advised UK-based PinPoint Media on its acquisition by Pretty Green PR.

Confidential — additional transactions available on request.