Intro — Can UK Business Loans help me secure acquisition finance?

Yes. UK Business Loans can match you to lenders and brokers who specialise in acquisition finance for accountancy practices. We make it quicker and easier to get indicative quotes and eligibility checks so you can decide the best way to fund a purchase. Our role is to introduce you to suitable finance partners — the lenders or brokers will handle underwriting, offers and any formal credit checks.

What you’ll learn on this page:

• How practice acquisitions are valued and underwritten
• The types of finance commonly used
• Typical eligibility and documentation
• Practical timescales, costs and next steps

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We act as an introducer only. Offers subject to status. Lenders/brokers may carry out credit checks. Your enquiry is not a loan application — it’s information to help match you with the right finance partners.

Why purchase finance for accountancy practices is different

Buying an accountancy practice is not the same as buying a retail business or a piece of equipment. Lenders look closely at intangible assets, recurring fee income and key-person risk.

Here’s what matters most to funders:

• Goodwill and recurring fees: Most of the value is in client lists and recurring annual fees rather than tangible assets.
• Client retention and concentration: Lenders want evidence that clients will stay after the sale and that revenue is not overly concentrated with one client or partner.
• Key-person risk: If the practice depends heavily on a single partner or director, lenders will want retention plans and contingency measures.
• Transfer of staff/ TUPE: Staff transfer liabilities and continuity of services affect valuation and cashflow forecasts.
• Professional indemnity, contracts & recurring service agreements: Lenders review contract stability and risk exposure.

Indicative valuation examples (illustrative only): many small to mid-sized practices trade on multiples of recurring fees or adjusted EBITDA — multiples vary widely by region, service mix and buyer involvement. Lenders expect clear evidence behind any valuation.

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Types of finance available for practice acquisitions

Bank term loans

Standard term loans for established buyers with strong accounts and security. Typical use: longer-term purchase funding. Loan sizes: often from £50k upwards depending on security. Security: company charges, property or director guarantees.

Specialist practice acquisition loans

These lenders are familiar with underwriting goodwill and recurring fee streams. They can structure deals reflecting client retention and deferred consideration. Typical loan sizes: often £25k–£1m+ depending on the practice.

Seller (vendor) finance

Common in practice sales where the seller takes a secured deferred element (earn-out or vendor loan). This reduces buyer deposit needs and aligns incentives for client retention.

Bridging finance

Short-term funding to secure a deal quickly while longer-term funding is arranged. Fast but higher cost; useful for time-sensitive purchases.

Asset finance

Used only if the deal includes tangible assets (IT systems, office equipment) to fund a portion of the purchase price.

Mezzanine / subordinated debt

Used where buyers want to reduce equity injection — higher cost and typically sits behind senior debt in security ranking.

Invoice finance / working capital

To smooth cashflow after completion as client billing and collections transition.

Each product has different timescales, costs and security profiles. We’ll match you with partners who can advise what’s realistic for your specific deal.

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Who can get acquisition finance? Typical eligibility & what lenders look for

Lenders assess the deal and buyer together. Common underwriting factors include:

• Historic fee income and client retention rates from the seller
• Buyer experience — an existing practice owner/partner often gets better terms than an external investor
• Management accounts and filed accounts (12–24 months)
• Existing company balance sheet strength and existing debt levels
• Personal credit of directors where personal guarantees are required
• A clear transition/retention plan for clients and key staff

Quick checklist to prepare before you enquire:

• 12–24 months management accounts
• Client list with turnover by client and service
• Details of any ongoing contracts or recurring fees
• Draft sale purchase agreement and any proposed earn-outs
• Proof of available deposit / funds for initial deposit (many deals require a minimum buyer contribution)

Note: UK Business Loans typically deals with loans from around £10,000 upwards. If you’re seeking smaller sums, talk to us and we’ll advise whether our partners can help.

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Typical costs, timescales and deal structure considerations

Timescales:

• Bridging/fast specialist lenders: indicative offers within days; funding in 1–2 weeks if documentation is straightforward.
• Bank term funding: can take 4–12 weeks due to credit committees and legal due diligence.

Costs to budget for:

• Arrangement fees and interest on the loan
• Valuation/fee-assessment costs (sometimes a specialist valuation of goodwill)
• Solicitors’ fees for sale and security documentation
• Due diligence and potential professional indemnity checks

Common security demands:

• Company charges over the buying entity
• Personal guarantees from owners/directors
• Fixed charge over assets (and sometimes over goodwill clauses in the purchase agreement)

All figures are indicative — actual terms will depend on lender, deal specifics and buyer profile.

How UK Business Loans helps — our process for accountants buying practices

We make the initial stage quick and low friction so you can focus on the deal. Our usual process:

1. Complete a short enquiry (takes around 2 minutes).
2. We match your case with lenders and brokers experienced in practice acquisitions.
3. Selected partners contact you for a free eligibility check and to request documents.
4. Compare offers and proceed directly with the lender or broker you choose.

Benefits:

• Speed — fewer cold approaches and wasted time.
• Specialism — matched to partners who understand practice valuations and risks.
• No obligation — you choose whether to progress once you have offers.

We act as an introducer only. Offers subject to status. Lenders/brokers may carry out credit checks.

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Practical next steps & a buyer checklist

Follow this sequence to keep the process moving smoothly:

Early stage (prepare)

• Request management accounts and client revenue breakdown from the seller.
• Prepare a short business plan showing retention and growth plans.

Pre-offer

• Agree heads of terms and any earn-out structure with the seller.
• Confirm deposit/working capital needs and solicitor contact details.

Application-ready

• ID documents for directors, proof of funds for any deposit, and 12–24 months accounts.
• Provide prospective lenders with client lists, contracts, and proposed post-sale roles for outgoing partners.

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FAQ — quick answers

Can I get a loan to buy an accountancy practice if I’m not an accountant?

Sometimes. Non-accountant buyers can be funded where they bring strong financial backing, an experienced management team or are willing to provide a larger deposit. Lender appetite varies — we’ll match you to partners who consider non-practitioner buyers.

How much deposit will I typically need?

Deposit requirements vary: some specialist lenders accept lower deposits when there’s vendor finance or strong retention forecasts; others expect 20–40% of purchase price depending on risk. Expect to discuss deposit and structure early in the process.

Will applying through UK Business Loans affect my credit score?

No — completing our short enquiry does not affect your credit score. Lenders or brokers may carry out credit checks later if you choose to progress with an application.

How long until I get offers?

Indicative responses from brokers/lenders are often within 24–72 hours once they have key documents. Formal offers depend on due diligence and can take from a few days (fast specialist lenders) to several weeks (bank funding).

What if the practice has declining fees?

Declining fee income makes funding harder. Lenders will expect a plan showing how you will stabilise or reverse the decline. Some lenders can structure deferred consideration or lower initial lending against goodwill where there is a credible turnaround plan.

Are the lenders regulated?

We work with a broad panel of lenders and brokers. Regulatory status varies by provider. We’ll introduce you to partners best suited to your case and you can check each provider’s credentials during the process.

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Conclusion & next steps

Yes — UK Business Loans can help you secure acquisition finance to buy an accountancy practice by matching you quickly to specialist lenders and brokers. We streamline the early stages so you get clearer visibility of your funding options without needless form-filling.

Ready to explore your options? Complete a short, free enquiry and we’ll match your case to lenders and brokers experienced in practice acquisitions.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

We act as an introducer and not a lender. We do not provide regulated financial advice. Our service is free and no obligation. Offers are subject to status and eligibility. Your enquiry will be shared with selected lenders/brokers who may contact you to discuss options. Lenders may undertake credit checks if you progress.