Diligence

What Diligence does

Diligence is an independent M&A advisory firm founded in 1998 and headquartered in Veenendaal, Netherlands, operating under Diligence Services B.V. as the central organization with individual partner offices functioning independently under the Diligence brand. The firm specializes in business transfer advisory for Dutch SME entrepreneurs, offering a full lifecycle of services including buyer-seller matchmaking, business valuation (DCF and EBITDA multiples), due diligence coordination, financing advisory (vendor loans, bank, mezzanine), deal structuring, negotiation support, and post-sale coaching. Its core technology is human advisory expertise combined with a proprietary deal database and a cross-office network model where one specialist's buyer or seller search is activated firm-wide across all 13 regional offices.

The firm is privately held, has no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing, and employs 13 senior advisors — all BOBB-certified members — who manage the entire sales process from initial consultation through closing. Revenue is generated through professional advisory fees plus success fees (succesvergoeding) per engagement, with each mandate bespoke and non-recurring by nature. The customer base spans at least 18 industries (telecom, medical devices, healthcare, IT/online, electronics, automotive, wholesale, manufacturing, petrochemical, hospitality, furniture, e-commerce, and others) with no single client representing meaningful revenue concentration; segments include SME sellers, SME/MBI/MBO buyers, and private equity or strategic acquirers pursuing buy-and-build strategies.

Diligence distributes its services through a multi-channel model anchored by a website content hub, the 'De Stand van Zaken' newsletter reaching approximately 20,000 subscribers, regional Masterclass sessions, LinkedIn and YouTube presence, whitepaper and e-book lead magnets (e.g., 'Groei door Buy & Build', 'Eerste Hulp Bij Overnames', 'Waarde Van Je Onderneming In Beeld'), and media/speaking engagements. Internationally, the firm cooperates with partner organizations in Germany and Belgium to support cross-border M&A activity. The firm has completed over 676 acquisitions across its 27-year history, with typical sales processes averaging 9–12 months per transaction.

Name

Diligence

Legal name

Diligence Services B.V.

Website

https://diligence.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Diligence is an independent Dutch M&A advisory firm founded in 1998 that guides SME entrepreneurs through business acquisitions and sales, operating 13 regional offices with 13 senior advisors and a 20,000-subscriber newsletter.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Veenendaal

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. M&A Advisory and Transaction Fees: Diligence charges professional fees for M&A advisory services including business valuation, deal structuring, due diligence coordination, and negotiation support. The firm's fee structure includes both standard professional service charges and a success fee (succesvergoeding) component, as referenced in its code of conduct.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Diligence is an independent Dutch M&A advisory firm that guides SME entrepreneurs through the full lifecycle of buying, selling, merging, or finding an investor for a business. Services include buyer-seller matchmaking, business valuation, due diligence coordination, acquisition financing advisory (vendor loans, bank and mezzanine financing), negotiation support, documentation preparation (IM, LOI, purchase agreement), and post-sale coaching. The firm operates through a nationwide network of regional offices staffed by senior BOBB-certified acquisition specialists.

Product overview

Diligence is an M&A advisory firm (not a software company) offering human-led business acquisition and sale services. The core offering consists of acquisition and sale advisory services including company valuations, due diligence support, and financing advisory. The portfolio includes supplementary educational resources such as whitepapers ('Groei door Buy & Build', 'Eerste Hulp Bij Overnames', 'Waarde Van Je Onderneming In Beeld') and a free e-book, along with assessment tools (VerkoopScan and business checklists) that help entrepreneurs prepare for transactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Acquisition Advisory Services Comprehensive M&A advisory guiding entrepreneurs through acquiring a business, from target identification and matchmaking through deal management, due diligence, financing, and post-acquisition support. Available to Dutch SME entrepreneurs, including MBI and MBO candidates.
• Business Sale Advisory Services End-to-end guidance for SME owners selling their business, including valuation, identification and activation of multiple qualified buyers to drive competitive tension, due diligence coordination, negotiation, documentation preparation, and post-sale coaching. Available to Dutch SME owner-managers.
• Company Valuation Services Independent business valuation services using DCF, EBITDA multiples, and other relevant benchmarks to assess strategic position, competitive environment, and financial transaction possibilities. For SME owners, buyers, partners, and investors needing a defensible valuation.
• Due Diligence Support Coordination and execution of the due diligence process, including collection, analysis, and presentation of financial, legal, operational, and commercial information for buyers and sellers during an M&A transaction.
• Acquisition Financing Advisory Advisory on financing structures for business acquisitions, including vendor loans, bank financing, and mezzanine financing solutions. For SME buyers and MBI/MBO candidates structuring acquisition capital stacks.
• Participation and Investor Matchmaking Advisory Guidance for SME owners seeking a participant, investor, or merger partner, including identification, structuring, and negotiation of partial-investment or merger transactions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 676+ acquisitions completed
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BOBB (Beroepsorganisatie voor Specialisten in Bedrijfsoverdracht)coreOthersAll Diligence advisors are members of BOBB, the professional organization for specialists in business transfer. BOBB functions as a quality seal and knowledge network (www.bobb.nl). Membership is described as a marker of professional standards in M&A advisory for business transfers.
• International Partner Organizations (Germany and Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiligence cooperates internationally with partner organizations in Germany and Belgium, enabling cross-border M&A advisory for clients active in or expanding to those markets.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Oaklins: Oaklins is a global mid-market M&A advisory with strong presence in the Netherlands, competing for the same SME and lower mid-market mandates with a comparable full-service advisory model.
• Clairfield International: Clairfield International is a global mid-market M&A advisory with a Dutch team, providing comparable sell-side, buy-side, and financing advisory to SME clients.
• IMAP: IMAP is an international M&A advisory organization with Dutch coverage, providing mid-market transaction advisory services that directly overlap with Diligence's core offerings.
• Lincoln International: Lincoln International is a global mid-market M&A advisor operating in the Benelux region, competing for SME and mid-market sell-side and buy-side mandates.
• Marktlink: Marktlink is one of the leading independent M&A advisors for Dutch and Belgian SMEs, directly competing with Diligence in the same mid-market segment with comparable full-service advisory across buy-side, sell-side, and financing.

Broad incumbents

• KPMG Corporate Finance (Netherlands): KPMG's Dutch deal advisory practice provides M&A and transaction services across the SME and mid-market space as part of its broader professional services offering, overlapping with Diligence's mandate profile.
• Grant Thornton Netherlands: Grant Thornton's Dutch advisory practice includes M&A and transaction services for SMEs as part of its broader accounting and advisory portfolio, overlapping with Diligence's market.
• Deloitte M&A (Netherlands): Deloitte's Dutch M&A and consulting practice advises SME and mid-market clients on transactions as part of a global Big 4 advisory franchise, providing overlap in deal advisory services.
• BDO Corporate Finance: BDO's Dutch corporate finance practice offers M&A advisory alongside broader audit and tax services, competing for SME mandates as part of a wider professional services portfolio.

Regional players

• Overname.nl: Overname.nl is a Dutch-focused online platform for buying and selling SMEs, representing an emerging digital channel that partially substitutes for traditional M&A advisors like Diligence in the lower end of the market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmV8PvMuBROfOsswSRekvbg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dupont-business-solutions
• Xx.com/intermediairs
• Facebookfacebook.com/Diligence-100066942077298

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diligence