Corporate Planning
Corporate Planning is a London-based, privately-held niche corporate finance advisory firm specialising in off-market deal structuring, company sales, mergers, acquisitions, and turnaround services for UK SMB owners. It operates a referral-only model powered by a 30-year network of introducers and senior sector specialists.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Corporate Planning does
Corporate Planning Financial Services Ltd is a London-based, privately-held niche corporate finance advisory firm specialising in off-market deal structuring and bespoke transaction management for UK SMBs. Founded approximately 30 years ago by Paul Gosling and operating from Cottonworks House in North London, the firm offers eight core services: Company Sales, Corporate Finance, Mergers, Acquisitions, Business Mentoring, Business Plans, Company Valuation, and Turnaround advisory. Its proposition targets business owners with complex or unusual financing needs that mainstream lenders will not address, as well as families navigating the emotional dimensions of selling a business. The firm's client base is described as 100% referral-driven, sourced through a three-decade network of accountants, solicitors, financial professionals, and business mentors.
The business model is fee-based professional services revenue, with no proprietary technology platform, no publicly disclosed pricing, and no external funding. Customer acquisition is entirely offline and referral-based; the firm maintains a small direct marketing footprint via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and an articles-and-insights blog. Sector coverage is led by pharma, technology, and media, supplemented by specialist affiliates covering structured debt, equity, trade finance, luxury assets, and sustainable technologies. Recent operational moves include the January 2025 appointment of Rebecca Gosling as COO alongside founder/CEO Paul Gosling and CFO Matthew Gosling, indicating a transition toward a more formalised management structure within an otherwise family-operated firm.
The competitive position rests on financial independence from any commercial or governmental body, deep affiliate talent sourced from tier-one institutions (Schroder's, Norwich Union, Lloyds subsidiary, Johnson & Johnson, 3i, PwC, Deloitte, SG Investment Bank), and an off-market matching capability that connects buyers and sellers outside conventional channels. There are no disclosed patents, certifications, or technology assets; product launches, acquisitions, or funding rounds have not occurred. The firm is operationally active (recent website updates, 2025 LinkedIn activity) but operates at sub-scale (11-50 employees) with no disclosed revenue, ARR, or financial KPIs.
Corporate Planning firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Corporate Planning
- Legal name
- Corporate Planning Financial Services Ltd
- Website
- https://corpplanning.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Corporate Planning is a London-based, privately-held niche corporate finance advisory firm specialising in off-market deal structuring, company sales, mergers, acquisitions, and turnaround services for UK SMB owners. It operates a referral-only model powered by a 30-year network of introducers and senior sector specialists.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Corporate Planning industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Finance Advisory
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG), Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA)
Keywords
Where Corporate Planning is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Corporate Planning business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Corporate Finance Advisory: Independent financial advice to company owners and investors to raise new finance or improve funding efficiency on balance sheets. Fees generated from transaction advisory services for company sales, mergers, acquisitions, and growth finance.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Corporate Planning product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Corporate Planning is an independent, UK-based financial advisory firm founded in 1994 that specializes in off-market corporate finance transactions. The firm advises business owners on company sales, mergers and acquisitions, growth and acquisition finance, business valuations, turnaround and rescue consulting, raising capital, and management buy-outs/buy-ins, operating on a 100% word-of-mouth referral model without advertising.
Product overview
Corporate Planning is a financial advisory and consulting services firm offering a unified suite of services focused on off-market corporate finance transactions. Their core offerings include Company Sales, Corporate Finance, Mergers, Acquisitions, Business Mentoring, Business Plans, Company Valuation, and Turnaround services. The company operates as a service-based advisory firm rather than a software platform, with all services delivered through their team of experienced professionals and affiliate partners. The services are designed to work together, allowing clients to receive comprehensive support from initial business planning through to exit execution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Company Sales Advisory service for owners looking to sell their businesses, structuring off-market deals to qualified buyers.
- Mergers and Acquisitions Buy-side and sell-side advisory for mergers, acquisitions, and related corporate transactions.
- Growth and Acquisition Finance Advisory on financing options for business expansion, acquisitions, and capital raises.
- Business Valuations Independent valuation of businesses for sale, fundraising, shareholder disputes, or strategic planning.
- Turnaround and Rescue Consulting Restructuring and turnaround advisory for distressed or underperforming businesses.
- Raising Capital Advisory on equity, debt, and alternative capital raises for growth, acquisition, or working capital needs.
- Management Buy-Outs and Buy-Ins Advisory on management buy-outs (MBOs) and management buy-ins (MBIs) including deal structuring and financing.
- Refinance of Existing Debt Advisory on restructuring and refinancing existing debt facilities for improved terms or liquidity.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of clientele acquired through word of mouth or previously satisfied clients
Companies that use Corporate Planning
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Corporate Planning technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Corporate Planning partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Santander Breakthrough Women Business Leaders Mentoring ProgrammecorePaul Gosling has served as an award-winning mentor on the Santander Breakthrough Women Business Leaders Mentoring Programme for 6+ years. The programme matches women business leaders from across the UK with carefully selected mentors to support their business and professional growth. Paul offers mentoring experience gained through this programme to help all business leaders advance their businesses.
- Help to Grow Management Mentoring ProgrammecorePaul Gosling supports the Help to Grow Management mentoring programme funded by HM Government, providing mentorship to business owners as part of this government initiative.
- Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA)minorCraig McLaren, team member, recently joined the board of the Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA) as a Non-Executive Director.
- Moving AheadcoreSantander Breakthrough Women Business Leaders Mentoring Programme is powered by Moving Ahead, which provides the operational platform for the mentoring programme.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Corporate Planning competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Corporate Planning social profiles
Digital presenceCorporate Planning financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Corporate Planning leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Corporate Planning funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Corporate Planning M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Corporate Planning
What does Corporate Planning do?
Corporate Planning is an independent, UK-based financial advisory firm founded in 1994 that specializes in off-market corporate finance transactions. The firm advises business owners on company sales, mergers and acquisitions, growth and acquisition finance, business valuations, turnaround and rescue consulting, raising capital, and management buy-outs/buy-ins, operating on a 100% word-of-mouth referral model without advertising.
Is Corporate Planning a public or private company?
Corporate Planning is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Corporate Planning founded?
Corporate Planning was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Corporate Planning based?
Corporate Planning is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Corporate Planning make money?
One revenue line is on record: corporate Finance Advisory.
Does Corporate Planning have an API?
No public API is recorded for Corporate Planning.
What industry is Corporate Planning in?
Corporate Planning's product category is Corporate Finance Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAGAE, Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps), with a secondary code of BPAHAOAG, Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs). Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.