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Everybody Exits. One day you will step away from your business, either through sale or succession. We understand the mix of excitement and uncertainty this brings because we’ve been there ourselves. We support owners of financial planning firms to Exit Right; at the Right Time, in the Right Way, to the Right Buyer.

Who we are
and what we do

We’re independent, seller-focused exit specialists. Our job is to be your confidant, broker and project manager all rolled into one. We’ll guide you through what can be a complex process and make it feel manageable.

We’ve grown and exited our own businesses, so we know exactly what you’re facing. That’s why we focus on culturally aligned sales that protect what you’ve built.

With our structured approach, we take the weight off your shoulders, handle the detail, and give you the clarity and support you need from start to finish.

Why working for sellers creates better outcomes

We only act for sellers. That means no conflicts of interests or hidden agendas. We provide unbiased support and access to the whole buyer market. We represent you with professionalism, handle the negotiations, and guide the process so you get a smoother exit, with better alignment and less stress along the way.

How much is your business worth?

8 simple questions to find out how much your business is worth today*
How many households do you provide an ongoing review service to? Please count husband/wife, couples, etc as one.
What is your current value of Assets Under Advice (AUA) attracting an Ongoing Adviser Charge (OAC) or pre RDR commission? Please include both pensions and investments.
£
What is your total annual revenue? Please include turnover from all sources.
£
What is your current recurring revenue each year? Recurring revenue could come from Ongoing Adviser Charges (OAC), pre RDR commissions, direct fees etc? Please include both pensions and investments.
£
What is the average age of your clients? Please exclude anyone under the age of 18.
Do you have other staff members who ideally would remain after the business has been sold?
Is it important to you that the current office location is retained after the business has been transferred?
Do you have any advisers who would remain with the business after the business has been transferred?

From the information you have provided so far, we believe that it is likely your business will be valued based on a multiple of recurring revenue, instead of a multiple of adjusted profit.

We believe that the value of your business is likely to fall into the following range.

£0
Low
£0
Typical
£0
High

If you would like to gain a more accurate valuation please contact is on 0113 4656 111 or email hello@melo.co.uk

*Our calculator is designed to give you an indication of value, not a formal valuation. The true figure will depend on the buyer, their strategy and current market conditions. Valuations also change over time. Each buyer will look differently at a business, which can result in very different offers. This is why we provide a range rather than a single figure.

The valuation method used also matters. Smaller business or client banks are often valued on a multiple of recurring revenue, while larger firms, or those with staff and premises, will probably be valued on the multiple of adjusted profit method.

Finally, remember that your personal objectives are just as important, if not more so, than the headline number. Higher offers can come with tougher terms and the right offer for you may not be the highest.

From the information you have provided so far, we believe that it is likely your business will be valued on a multiple of adjusted profit, adjusted for certain factors. To calculate an approximate valuation for your business, we need you to answer a few more questions.

Most businesses are valued as a multiple of EBITDA. This stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation. The valuation will be based on a multiple of ADJUSTED profit. This is the profit the acquirer is expecting post-sale.

To work out the adjusted profit figure, you will need to take your current profit figure and apply ‘add-backs’. These include:

  • One-off expenses – for example, you paid for a new website, you took legal advice that year, etc.
  • Director costs – you will no longer own the business, therefore remove all costs relating to the directors including salaries, pension contributions, PMI, car leases etc.
  • Anyone else exiting the business – you can remove their costs.

You will also need to apply ‘take-offs’ – a take-off is a new expense not included in your accounts, but that will be included in a buyer’s future P&L.

Take-offs will include:

  • If you and or the other owners are remaining in the business, what are fair market salaries for your roles? Bear in mind employer NI, pension contributions and other benefits.
  • If other advisers are exiting, do these need replacing? Include fair market salaries for these. Bear in mind employer NI, pension contributions and other benefits.
  • Does the business need other resource, are you currently running the firm overly lean? You need to include any other costs here.

Note – this is for illustrative purposes only. All acquirers will have their own calculation for adjusting the EBITDA based on their business and the cost base, and what they deem are fair market salaries.

Please tell us what your EBITDA was for the last year you have figures. This is your company's profitability of the operating business, so before any interest, tax, depreciation or amortisation
£
Please tell us what your 'add backs are' for the same period (these are one off exceptional expenses, that don't recur) plus the retiring adviser's salaries, pension contributions and other expenses directly related to them
£
Please tell us what the 'take-offs are' for example salaries for ongoing advisers not in the P&L plus their pension contributions
£
Adjusted EBITDA
£

We believe that the value of your business is likely to fall into the following range.

£0
Low
£0
Typical
£0
High

If you would like to gain a more accurate valuation please contact is on 0113 4656 111 or email hello@melo.co.uk

*Our calculator is designed to give you an indication of value, not a formal valuation. The true figure will depend on the buyer, their strategy and current market conditions. Valuations also change over time. Each buyer will look differently at a business, which can result in very different offers. This is why we provide a range rather than a single figure.

The valuation method used also matters. Smaller business or client banks are often valued on a multiple of recurring revenue, while larger firms, or those with staff and premises, will probably be valued on the multiple of adjusted profit method.

Finally, remember that your personal objectives are just as important, if not more so, than the headline number. Higher offers can come with tougher terms and the right offer for you may not be the highest.

What does an exit journey with Melo look like?

Every exit is unique, but the process shouldn’t feel uncertain. With Melo, you’ll follow a clear, structured exit journey designed to fit your business and your goals. Our 10 stages keep everything on track. From first chat to completion, you stay in control, avoid surprises, and move forward with confidence.

Client Stories

We think Melo is pretty cool, but we're probably a bit biased! Here's what our clients say about working with us…

Play

Unividual is a family-founded financial planning business. Established by John Baxter over 25 years ago, daughter and son took over the leadership of the business in 2015. Cherie-Anne and Lewis grew the firm to three offices; in London, Edinburgh and Bath, advising £200m across 1,000 clients, over half of whom were women, giving the business a unique market position.

View Full Story

Our Exit Team

Victoria Hicks

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Tom Wotton

Finance Director & Exit Partner

Cherie-Anne Baxter-Blyth

Exit Partner

Stephen Ford

Exit Partner

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