We buy SMEs directly in French-speaking Switzerland

We buy SMEs directly in French-speaking Switzerland: a concrete opportunity for business owners who want to sell

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the beating heart of the Swiss economy, representing around 99.6% of the country's businesses and generating two-thirds of all jobs. They are the engine of innovation, job creation and regional prosperity. Yet a major challenge looms on the horizon for many of their owners: business succession.

In French-speaking Switzerland, more than 80% of healthy SMEs struggle to find a buyer when the owner wants to retire or move on to something else. This alarming figure reveals an often overlooked reality: selling a business is a complex, lengthy and emotionally demanding process. It is precisely to meet this need that we offer a direct SME acquisition service in French-speaking Switzerland.

Why is SME succession so difficult in French-speaking Switzerland?

Selling an SME cannot be improvised. Between valuing the business, finding a serious acquirer, negotiations and the legal and tax aspects, the process can stretch over several years. Many business owners underestimate this reality and find themselves at a dead end when the time comes to hand over their life's work.

Several factors explain the difficulties encountered in the region:

• Ageing owners: a major wave of retirements is expected in the coming years among owners of SMEs founded in the 1980s and 1990s.
• A lack of family successors: a transfer within the family or to employees is not always possible or desired.
• The need for confidentiality: it is delicate to announce publicly that a business is for sale without risking weakening relationships with customers, suppliers or employees.
• Often unrealistic valuations: some owners overvalue their business out of emotional attachment, which puts off potential acquirers.
• A fragmented market: serious, available acquirers are not always visible or accessible to an owner acting alone.

Our approach: direct acquisition, without unnecessary intermediaries

Unlike M&A advisory firms that act as intermediaries between a seller and an unknown buyer, we are the acquirers ourselves. This fundamentally changes the dynamics of the transaction.

No file circulating among several unknown candidates. No long periods of uncertainty. No exorbitant brokerage fees. We talk directly with the selling owner, in complete confidentiality, to assess together whether an acquisition is feasible.

The business profile we are looking for

We target established SMEs in French-speaking Switzerland, across a variety of sectors. Here are the general criteria that guide our search:

• Revenue between CHF 500,000 and CHF 10 million
• Business in operation for at least 5 years
• Positive operating result, or slightly loss-making with an identifiable turnaround potential
• A stable and recurring customer base
• Employees in place, ideally ready to support the transition
• Preferred sectors: business services, skilled trades, specialised retail, light industry, health and wellness, technology

We do not rule out special situations from the outset. Every business has its own story, and we take the time to listen before forming an opinion.

The concrete advantages of a direct sale for the business owner

Selling your business directly to an identified acquirer offers many advantages over a traditional sale process through a mandated broker or a matchmaking platform.

1. A fast and efficient process

By working directly with the acquirer, the process is considerably shortened. There is no delay linked to searching for a buyer, successive presentations or internal tender processes. An initial conversation can lead to a letter of intent within a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the case.

2. Total confidentiality

Discretion is paramount during a sale. We are committed to maintaining absolute confidentiality throughout the discussions. Your customers, suppliers and employees do not need to be informed until the transaction is finalised. Your reputation and the stability of your business are protected at every stage.

3. A single point of contact with decision-making authority

In a traditional sale process, the owner often ends up repeating the same information to multiple contacts, some of them poorly qualified. With us, you deal with a single point of contact who can make decisions and move the negotiations forward concretely.

4. A fair and transparent valuation

We carry out our own valuation analysis, based on the company's actual financial data, its market position and its development potential. We are not looking to minimise the value of your work, but to offer a fair price, built on solid foundations and acceptable to both parties.

5. Post-sale support

We understand that handing over a business you have built can be a delicate, sometimes even painful, moment. That is why we systematically offer a supported transition period, during which the seller can pass on their know-how, networks and vision. Your entrepreneurial legacy is in good hands.

The steps of a successful direct acquisition

To help business owners visualise the process, here are the main stages of a direct sale as we practise it:

• Step 1 – Initial contact: a confidential conversation to understand your situation, your expectations and the characteristics of your business.
• Step 2 – Preliminary analysis: review of basic financial data (balance sheets and income statements for the last 3 financial years) and of the company's structure.
• Step 3 – Letter of intent: if our analysis is positive, we formalise our interest through a non-binding letter of intent setting out the basis of our offer.
• Step 4 – Due diligence: an in-depth audit of the business (accounting, legal, operational) to confirm the information provided and refine the valuation.
• Step 5 – Negotiation and final offer: discussion of the price, payment terms, warranties and transition conditions.
• Step 6 – Signing and transfer: legal formalisation of the acquisition and transfer of ownership, supported by our legal and tax advisers.
• Step 7 – Transition period: support from the seller for 3 to 12 months to ensure operational continuity and reassure stakeholders.

Why act now rather than wait?

Many business owners put off thinking about the succession of their company, often for lack of time, out of emotional attachment or fear of the unknown. Yet anticipation is the key to a successful sale.

A business sells better when it is healthy and the owner still has all their energy to support the transition. Waiting until you are exhausted, unwell or in financial distress considerably reduces the perceived value of the business and your negotiating power.

Here are some signs that it may be time to start thinking about it:

• You are approaching sixty or want to change direction in the next few years
• Your business is profitable and well positioned, but you no longer have the desire to plan for the long term
• No natural successor (family, partner, key employee) has been identified
• You want to realise the value of your years of work before an unfavourable economic climate sets in
• You want to make sure your employees will be taken on and treated well after you leave

Our commitment to French-speaking Swiss SMEs

We believe deeply in the value of French-speaking Swiss SMEs and in the importance of preserving their economic fabric. Every business we acquire represents years of effort, local jobs and valuable know-how. Our ambition is not to break up companies to extract short-term value, but to sustain, develop and enhance what you have built.

We commit to the following principles:

• Total transparency in our discussions and in our valuation process
• Respect for the work accomplished by the founding owner and recognition of the human value of the business
• Preservation of jobs and continuity of employees' working conditions
• Long-term development of the acquired business, respecting its DNA
• Absolute discretion at every stage, even if the discussions do not lead to a deal

Get in touch: a conversation commits you to nothing

The first step in a successful sale is often the hardest: daring to talk about it. We invite you to start a confidential conversation with our team, with no obligation on your part.

Whether you are actively considering a sale or simply curious to know the approximate value of your business, we are available for an initial phone call or an in-person meeting in French-speaking Switzerland.

Handing over your business is a significant act that deserves proper support. We are ready to listen to you, advise you and, if the conditions are right, take over your SME with all the seriousness it deserves.

Because your business deserves a future as bright as its past.