Finance question
Can I get finance to buy a competitor's book of clients?
Often yes. A client book is goodwill, not a physical asset, so it is rarely the security itself. In practice we fund the purchase with property equity, up to the $5 to 6 million range at single-digit rates, with no financials on many deals. The recurring revenue you are buying strengthens the case.
Get your free rate quote
Tell us a few details and we will come back with your indicative rate. No obligation.
Thanks, we are on it
Your enquiry is in. Our team will be in touch shortly with your indicative rate and next steps.
The short answer
Buy the revenue, fund it against equity
Buying a rival's client book, an accounting or planning practice, a mortgage or insurance trail book, a trades maintenance list or a rent roll, is one of the fastest ways to grow. But the thing you are buying is goodwill and recurring revenue, not machinery. Ventas is a broker, so the question we answer is how to fund an intangible purchase cleanly.
The answer is usually property. Equity in a home or commercial premises supports a facility up to the $5 to 6 million range at single-digit rates, with no financials on many deals and ATO debt workable. That equity secures the purchase, so the deal is not held up by the fact that a client list cannot be pledged the way a truck can.
The recurring revenue helps your case. A book with sticky, repeat income and a genuine handover gives a lender confidence the purchase will pay for itself. We package the numbers, the transition and the security together so the acquisition is judged on its real strength, then advocate it to the right lender.
Do you qualify?
What makes a book purchase fundable.
Equity to secure it
Property equity funds goodwill a client list cannot pledge itself.
Recurring revenue
Sticky, repeat income makes the purchase easier to place.
A real sale agreement
A genuine purchase with a price and a handover behind it.
A transition plan
How clients carry across gives a lender confidence.
Why property funds an intangible buy
Goodwill needs security
A client list cannot be pledged, so equity in property carries the deal.
Revenue pays it down
Recurring income from the book services the facility over time.
Low, long pricing
Single-digit rates suit an acquisition repaid across years, not months.
A real example
An accounting practice owner buys a retiring competitor's client base for $450,000. The list itself cannot be pledged, so the purchase is funded against equity in their own home at a single-digit rate. The recurring fees from the acquired clients cover the repayments as they transition across. Illustrative only, subject to valuation.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can the client book be the security?
Rarely. Goodwill cannot be pledged like a physical asset, so the purchase is usually secured by property equity instead.
Does the acquired revenue count in my favour?
Yes. Sticky, recurring income and a clean handover strengthen the case and help place the deal.
How large a purchase can I fund?
Property-backed facilities reach the $5 to 6 million range, sized to your equity rather than a flat cap.
Do I need financials?
On many property-backed deals, no. The equity carries the deal, subject to lender assessment.