Staffing Industry Mergers & Acquisitions

Sometimes the next best move for your staffing business is to combine your competencies with another firm. Whether that means buying or selling, it’s a great time to make deals.

Let’s Talk About M&A

Your Strategic M&A Partner in the Staffing Industry

Whether you want to accelerate expansion, plan a seamless exit, or combine strengths with another firm, now is a prime time for staffing M&A activity. Advance Partners is your dedicated, free resource for buyers and sellers—offering expertise, introductions, and support throughout the entire process. As part of our back-office and funding services, our M&A support comes at no extra cost.

M&A Expertise for Staffing Firms

Benefit from 25+ years of proven M&A experience specific to the staffing industry. We connect you with the right partners and support every stage of the deal.

  • 25+ years facilitating staffing firm acquisitions and sales
  • Access to a network of 400+ staffing clients—vetted buyers and sellers
  • Support for deals of any size or niche, including healthcare, IT, education, and more
  • Established partnerships with M&A attorneys, CPAs, and investment bankers
  • Confidential, expert service—free and exclusive to our funded clients
Let’s Talk About M&A

How to Prepare for a Staffing M&A Deal

When it comes to M&A, preparation is key. Six months to a year before you officially start the process, there are steps you can take to prepare your company for a sale.

Get the Right M&A Partner

  • Select trusted advisors in legal, finance, or investment banking with staffing experience
  • Ask for references from owners who have completed staffing industry M&A
  • Avoid generalists—work with specialists who understand agency operations

Start with Valuation

Audit Your Financials

  • Consider an external audit for clean, verifiable financials
  • Ensure transparency and consistency throughout your reporting
  • Set yourself up for success >

Set Realistic Pricing Expectations

  • Price fairly—don’t overinflate or undersell your staffing firm
  • Work with an expert to benchmark your valuation to current market trends
  • Get help valuing your firm >

If Buying, Build a Target List

  • Define acquisition criteria and create your Master List
  • Screen potential firms with due diligence support from M&A professionals
  • Get other buying tips >

Challenges to Expect During a Staffing M&A Process

Staffing mergers and acquisitions bring growth—but also unique challenges. Here’s what you’ll need to manage:

Cultural & Compensation Conflicts

  • Differences in pay, PTO, management style, and perks are common
  • Build integration plans early to set expectations and avoid friction

Communication & Change Management

  • Keep staff informed with regular updates
  • Retain top performers by being transparent, addressing concerns, and providing support

Operational Systems Alignment

  • Carefully plan IT, payroll, and HR policy transitions
  • Create a clear roadmap for merging systems and minimizing downtime

How Advance Partners Supports M&A for Staffing Firms

Our value-added M&A support covers both buyers and sellers in the staffing industry—all included for our funding and back-office clients. Introductions to qualified buyers or sellers in our 400+ client network.

  • Valuation guidance, business prep, and best practice support
  • Confidential communication and assistance throughout the deal process
  • Collaboration with your legal, accounting, and funding advisors—ensuring every detail is covered 
Lets Talk About M&A

Who We Serve

  • Temp and contract staffing agencies
  • Executive search and direct hire firms
  • Healthcare, IT, light industrial, education, and niche providers
  • DEI-certified and minority-owned staffing firms
Book A Confidential M&A Consultation

Ready to Start a Staffing M&A Conversation?

Whether you’re interested in buying, selling, or just exploring your options, Advance Partners is here to help you plan and execute your next move.


Book A Confidential M&A Consultation Explore Our Client Work

Frequently Asked Questions

While individual times will vary based on many factors, the typical time frame of a business sale is 6-12 months.

It depends! On the industry, the type of firm, how long they have been in business, etc. You could be looking at anywhere in the low millions for a small agency or much more for an established business.

There are many methods of valuation. Some common types are:

  • Market Valuation which compares you to similar companies
  • Discounted Cash Flow which determines a business’s value based on its projected cash flow adjusted (discounted) to current levels
  • Asset-Based Valuation which looks at your balance sheet and takes your business’s total net asset value minus liabilities
  • ROI-Based Valuation which determines the value of your company based on your profit and the potential return on investment

Learn more about valuation in the M&A Guide >

Start preparing 6-12 months in advance by getting your financials in order, key staff in place, and focus on growth. Then, contact an expert in the legal or accounting fields to start the process.

You can start by asking around your industry contact or a trusted partner, like us. Then you can contact an investment banker or other M&A professional to help.