E-Commerce Business Acquisition by a Digital Entrepreneur
£520,000 · 4 years · 8.25% fixed. A digital entrepreneur had identified a profitable e-commerce business selling outdoor equipment with £1.8m annual revenue and £210,000 EBITDA.
The Client
Digital entrepreneur
The Challenge
A digital entrepreneur had identified a profitable e-commerce business selling outdoor equipment with £1.8m annual revenue and £210,000 EBITDA. The asking price was £680,000 - approximately 3.2x EBITDA. The buyer was contributing £160,000 equity and needed £520,000 of acquisition finance. Standard business lenders were unfamiliar with e-commerce business valuation.
Our Solution
Doulton sourced a specialist lender comfortable with digital business assets - domain authority, customer database, brand, and recurring subscription revenue - alongside the tangible stock and equipment. The e-commerce multiple was justified by the business's strong organic search position and customer repeat rate of 64%.
The Outcome
Business acquired. Revenue grew by 18% in year one as the new owner invested in marketing. EBITDA improved to £268,000. Acquisition loan being repaid ahead of schedule. The buyer is already identifying a second acquisition target. Key highlights: Digital business assets - domain, database, brand - assessed by; 64% customer repeat rate supported acquisition multiple; Revenue grew 18% in year one - loan being repaid ahead of schedule.
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