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MBO, MBI, Add-On, Roll-Up

Business Acquisition
Finance Australia

Name: Mortgagefy
Address: Sydney, NSW, AU
Telephone: +61432634648
Price range: Free

By the Mortgagefy Team · Credit Rep 532656 of ACL 348324 · Published 2026-10-15 · Last reviewed 2026-10-15

Fund your acquisition of an existing trading business - management buy-out, management buy-in, strategic bolt-on, or multi-entity roll-up. Structured against goodwill + personal guarantees.

Start Your Free Assessment 0432 634 648

Free Business & Commercial Assessment

Takes under 3 minutes. We'll match you with the right lender for your situation.

Who this is for

Buyers of established trading businesses - individuals, management teams or strategic buyers from the same industry.

MBO - management team buying the business from existing owner
MBI - external manager buying their way into a business
Strategic bolt-on - adding a smaller business to your existing one
Succession - family member taking over a parent/sibling's business
Roll-up - building a bigger group through multiple acquisitions
First acquisition for a seasoned operator moving into ownership

The real challenge

Acquisition finance is specialist - lenders assess the target business EBITDA, the buyer's industry experience, the deposit size, and the exit strategy for the acquisition facility. Mainstream banks are selective; specialist acquisition and private credit lenders cover the gap, routinely funding 50-70% of enterprise value with vendor finance and buyer equity covering the rest.

The structure matters: share purchase vs asset purchase, retention and earn-out clauses, warranties, trade creditor positioning. We work with your corporate advisors to structure the deal so the lender approves cleanly.

How Mortgagefy helps

Specialist acquisition lenders who fund 50-70% of enterprise value for established trading businesses.
Vendor finance structuring - common structure where seller takes 20-30% of price as a note repaid over 2-4 years, reducing bank advance needed.
Earn-out structures that align the vendor with handover and reduce upfront capital requirement.
Industry-aware pricing. We know which acquisition lenders currently have appetite for your target industry.

Need to model repayments first? Try our Sydney home-loan calculators for an indicative figure.

How it works

Initial scoping

Target business profile, EV, buyer background, equity, any vendor finance available.

Lender shortlist

2-3 acquisition lenders matched to size, industry and buyer profile.

Due diligence coordination

Facility conditional on satisfactory DD - we coordinate with your corporate advisors.

Settlement

4-8 weeks typical from term sheet to settlement for a mid-size acquisition.

Get a personalised answer in 2 minutes

Free, no obligation. We'll match you with the right lender for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I borrow to acquire a business?

Typically 50-70% of enterprise value for established businesses with 3+ years of consistent EBITDA. Industry matters - professional services and recurring-revenue businesses attract higher LVRs than cyclical or capital-intensive sectors.

What's vendor finance?

Structure where the outgoing seller takes a secured promissory note for 20-30% of the sale price, repaid over 2-4 years from the acquired business cash flow. Reduces the bank advance needed and aligns the seller with a smooth handover.

What's an earn-out?

Deferred payment contingent on the business maintaining agreed revenue, profit or client-retention targets over 2-3 years. Common on acquisitions where buyer wants seller to stay motivated during handover.

Will the deal need my personal guarantee?

Yes - acquisition facilities almost always require personal guarantees from the buyer. Large deals with strong EBITDA and multiple shareholders can sometimes negotiate limited guarantees.

What industries have the best acquisition lender appetite?

Currently strong: professional services (accounting, legal, engineering), recurring-revenue SaaS, healthcare, childcare, logistics. Currently tighter: hospitality, retail, discretionary consumer. We know the current appetite by segment.

How long does the acquisition finance process take?

Typical timeline from term sheet to settlement: 4-8 weeks for mid-size acquisitions ($1m-$5m). Larger or more complex deals (multi-site, carve-out, cross-border) take 10-16 weeks.

Get your free business acquisition assessment

50-70% of enterprise value, vendor-finance structuring, 4-8 week settlement. We know the specialist acquisition lenders.

Start Your Free Assessment Call 0432 634 648

Related guides

Business Loan to Buy Out a Partner

Partner buy-out as a specific acquisition scenario.

Franchise Finance Australia

Franchise acquisition as a specific sub-category.

Multi-Entity Business Loan Structure

Structuring the acquisition entity properly.

Business Loans Sydney

Longer-term facilities post-acquisition.

Commercial Property Loans Sydney

If the acquisition includes freehold.

Development Finance Sydney

Alternative use of acquisition-style structuring.

Information checked October 2026. This information is general in nature and does not take account of your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Business, commercial and development finance eligibility, pricing and documentation varies by lender and changes frequently. Confirm current requirements with your chosen lender and seek professional advice before applying. Mortgagefy — Credit Representative 532656 of ACL 348324.

Business AcquisitionFinance Australia