Trusted M&A Advisory For Expansion And Divestiture In The Background
Screening Sector
Pre-Employment Screening, Tenant Screening, Drug Testing
and Related Providers
ABOUT THE COMPANY
As Jimmy Dugan (portrayed by Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own) wisely said, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
Over the past 26 years, Berg Consulting Group has served as an M&A advisor dedicated to the background screening industry, completing 83 M&A deals. Throughout the years, we have learned how complex and demanding each M&A deal is and how a deep expertise and passion makes all the difference.
With a career rooted in M&A, we bring a comprehensive understanding of the market’s trends, challenges, and opportunities. This perspective allows us to craft tailored strategies that align with your specific objectives—whether you are pursuing a strategic acquisition or preparing for a successful exit.
Every deal is different. That is why we do not apply a one-size-fits-all approach. We partner with you to navigate the nuances and make the process as seamless as possible.
Berg Consulting Group makes M&A easy.
OUR SERVICES
Interested in Acquiring a Company?
While organic growth is often the preferred path for business owners, the background screening industry has become increasingly saturated and highly competitive. Larger, more established players hold significant advantages in this volume-driven market.
Rather than expending substantial time and resources battling for incremental gains, acquiring an existing business can be a far more strategic and efficient way to accelerate growth and expand market share.
Interested in Selling Your Company?
Are you feeling burned out? Thinking about retirement? Or simply ready for a change in direction?
Regardless of the size of your company, there is always interest from buyers looking to acquire well-run businesses in the background screening industry. If you are considering an exit, Berg Consulting Group can help guide you through the process and ensure a smooth, efficient, and successful transaction.
Let us take the complexity out of M&A and help you achieve the outcome you deserve.
Looking for a Business Valuation?
Have you ever wondered what your company is truly worth? Are competitors expressing interest or making unsolicited offers to acquire your business? If you have received an offer but are uncertain whether it reflects the fair value of your company, a formal business valuation can provide the clarity you need.
Conducting a comprehensive valuation allows you to better understand your company’s market position, financial worth, and strategic potential—empowering you to make informed decisions with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical timeline for buying or selling a business?
Answer: The timeline for completing a business acquisition or sale can vary significantly depending on several factors. These may include the quality and organization of the seller’s financial records, the size and complexity of the transaction, the number of questions that arise during the due diligence process, and the time required for third-party professionals, such as attorneys and accountants, to review and finalize the necessary information and documentation.
While every transaction is different, we generally believe that a well-managed transaction should take approximately 90 to 120 days from the start of going out to market through closing.
When is the right time to sell my company or purchase a company?
Answer: There is no single “right” time to sell or acquire a business, as the decision depends largely on the circumstances, objectives, and readiness of the parties involved.
For a seller, the right time typically comes when the owner has determined that a divestment aligns with their personal and professional goals and is comfortable moving forward with the sale of the business.
For a buyer, the decision generally comes down to whether growth through acquisition is the right strategic approach for the company, as opposed to relying solely on organic growth. An acquisition can provide opportunities to accelerate growth, expand into new markets, add customers, acquire technology or capabilities, and achieve operational efficiencies that may take significantly longer to accomplish organically.
Why is there high buyer interest in screening firms?
Answer: Meaningful organic growth has become increasingly difficult to achieve, particularly at a level that materially impacts a company’s overall revenue and profitability. Building that growth organically can require a significant investment of time, capital, personnel, and other resources, with results often taking years to fully realize.
Growth through acquisition, on the other hand, can provide a much more immediate impact. A well-structured acquisition can increase a company’s revenue, customer base, and profitability from the day the transaction closes, while also creating opportunities for additional efficiencies and synergies that may further improve financial performance.
How can Berg Consulting Group assist my exit or my growth?
Answer: Berg Consulting Group is a leading M&A intermediary specializing in the screening industry, having participated in more than 83 industry-specific transactions. This experience provides us with a unique understanding of the market, its participants, valuation considerations, and the complexities that can arise throughout the acquisition or sale process.
Our philosophy is simple: “You do what you do best, and let us do what we do best.”
As a business owner, your focus should remain on operating and growing your company. You are the expert in your business; our role is to be the expert guiding you through the M&A process. Whether you are preparing for an exit, seeking the right buyer, pursuing an acquisition, or developing a growth-through-acquisition strategy, Berg Consulting Group can manage the transaction process so you can remain focused on running your business.
What is a formal business valuation? Why should I get a valuation now?
Answer: A formal business valuation provides an objective assessment of what your company may be worth in the current M&A market. The process goes well beyond simply applying a multiple to revenue or EBITDA. It requires a comprehensive evaluation of the business, its financial performance, operations, customer base, cost structure, and other factors that may positively or negatively impact value.
As part of the valuation process, we evaluate areas such as staffing levels, Cost of Goods Sold efficiencies, customer concentration, recurring revenue, profitability, and opportunities for operational improvement. We also identify potential adjustments and add-backs, including expenses that may not continue under new ownership, to better understand the company’s normalized earnings and potential value to an acquirer.
Understanding the value of your business is important even if you are not planning an immediate sale. A valuation can identify areas that may be limiting your company’s value today and provide an opportunity to address those issues well before going to market.
If you are considering a sale—or have had interested parties reach out to you—we believe obtaining a valuation from a qualified firm with specific experience in the screening industry is particularly important. Industry knowledge matters. Understanding the multiples, transaction structures, deal terms, buyer expectations, and market conditions specific to the screening industry can provide a much more meaningful assessment of what an acquirer may actually be willing to pay for your business.
How do I know if an offer is fair?
Answer: A successful transaction ultimately requires both the buyer and the seller to believe that the terms of the deal are fair and reasonable. While each party may view value differently, there must be enough common ground for both sides to feel comfortable moving forward with the transaction.
A formal business valuation can provide an important benchmark for evaluating an offer by establishing a reasonable range of value based on the company’s financial performance, operations, industry conditions, and comparable market transactions. However, a valuation is ultimately an informed assessment—not a guarantee of what a buyer will be willing to pay.
The true market value of a business is determined when the company is presented to qualified buyers and the market has an opportunity to respond. Factors such as buyer demand, strategic fit, potential synergies, competitive interest, deal structure, and perceived risk can all influence the price and terms a buyer is willing to offer.
For that reason, evaluating the fairness of an offer should involve more than simply looking at the purchase price. The structure of the transaction, amount paid at closing, contingent payments, seller financing, transition requirements, representations and warranties, and other material terms should all be considered when determining whether an offer represents a fair and attractive opportunity.