Toptal has an exclusive network of on-demand, rigorously tested and vetted high-caliber talent. Every candidate goes through a screening process that ensures only the top 3% of M&A consultants make it into the network. World-class financial consultants from Toptal possess hard-to-find skills and provide flexible and scalable services to help value your business, complete due diligence, and seek offers. With Toptal, you’ll have access to expertly matched consultants within 24 to 48 hours, and at no risk (you’ll get a trial period with the M&A consultant and pay only if satisfied with their work). Toptal’s M&A consultants have unique professional experience working with leading corporate and enterprise clients.
A Comprehensive Guide to Hiring Freelance M&A Consultants
As a business owner, you want to hire only the best talent to help grow your company. This hiring guide can help you understand how to find the right freelance M&A consultants to meet your needs.
What Do M&A Consultants Do
Mergers and acquisitions consultants are independent professionals who work with a business to guide them through the merger process. They oversee the purchase of another company or the consolidation of assets from the initial talks until the final merger takes place. Acquisitions are a key factor in business growth, making it critical to hire M&A consultants with the right experience and skills.
The demand for freelance experts is high, and the talent pool is quite diverse. It’s essential that you identify your exact needs to simplify and streamline the hiring process. When you use a reputable online talent service, you can connect with thousands of promising candidates immediately. AI matching technology speeds up the process, so you can get a qualified freelancer into the position in days, rather than weeks or months.
Why Hire an M&A Consultant
Selling a business is a serious matter for all parties involved. It takes a lot of time and effort. Hiring a consultant dedicated to the task ensures that you have someone with the right skills who is available to take on the work. They also reduce the risk to your business, leveraging their existing professional relationships for your benefit and giving you confidence.
5 Reasons To Hire M&A Consultants
The best M&A consultants help your business identify targets and provide insight into the value of the opportunities they present. You’ll get support from an M&A consultant in these key areas:
- Business valuation: Assessing the business, identifying its value, and getting all documents in order for the acquisition.
- Acquisition process and strategy: Developing the strategy to successfully acquire the target company.
- Planning process: During acquisition planning, finding and identifying the best targets and beginning to negotiate prices.
- Due Diligence: Once the target is identified and informed of your intent, analyzing the target’s assets and finding any weaknesses to clarify the financial picture before entering into an official and legal sale contract.
- Integration after the deal is finalized: Integrating the two companies.
Acquisitions and mergers are complicated. The right M&A consultant helps to minimize the risk to your business, while providing the guidance and knowledge you need to make informed, smart decisions that lead to growth.
The Difference Between M&A Consultants and Advisors
The main difference is that an M&A consultant is a highly specialized professional who provides expertise to a business or corporation during a merger or acquisition of another company. Their involvement is short-term and focused on a specific problem or situation, such as a sale process, transaction obstacles, or acquisition issues.
In contrast, an advisor typically has a long-term work arrangement with individuals and businesses. Advisors have industry-specific knowledge and skills that they use to provide continued support for the business to reach long-term goals and targets.
How To Hire the Right M&A Consultant
The first step in hiring the best M&A consultant is to identify what you need. Is broad support sufficient, or would an industry-specific consult provide more value? Consider how long you require help and if you’ll need a full-time employee available or just short-term advice from an hourly contractor.
You can typically get the best value and customized service from a highly rated freelancer. The benefits of hiring freelancers and remote talent include:
- Access to a broader talent pool with specialized skills
- Candidates who are not limited by geographical location
- Simple and fast hiring process
- Lower costs by only paying for the services you need
- Project-based talent available on demand
- No long-term commitment
- Flexible and scalable solutions
These are all compelling reasons why you should consider freelancers the next time you need to hire M&A consultants.
What Skills to Look for When Hiring M&A Consultants
Understand the responsibilities that an M&A consultant has so you know what skills and requirements are essential for the right candidate to possess. Look for the following:
- Thorough understanding of the company’s operations
- Problem-solving skills
- Analytical mind and strategic thinking
- Effective communication
- Interpersonal skills
- Financial acumen
- Eye for detail AND the big picture
- Organizational skills
- Motivational skills
In addition to the market trends and your acquisition targets, the exact requirements necessary to perform well depend on your project and business needs. It’s important to review all potential candidates and take time to interview them and learn about their capabilities.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire Top M&A Consultants
When you have a professional M&A consultant on retainer, you could pay thousands of dollars a month just for the retainer fee. Freelance consultants are more affordable and typically charge by the hour, with costs ranging from $50 per hour to upwards of $200 per hour. The pay per hour varies widely and depends on the skills and experience you require.
How To Find Great Freelance M&A Consultants
Each of the sites and online platforms listed here has its own benefits and advantages. The right one for you depends on your situation, preferences, and requirements. Help make the search faster and easier by following these guidelines:
- Get specific in your job description
- Review candidate backgrounds
- Conduct a meeting to get to know potential hires
Identify the type of talent you seek. For instance, are you looking for someone with experience in investment banking, with above-average work experience in the finance and acquisition strategy space? Some sites are highly specific in their skill sets, while others have broader terms.
If you are in a hurry or if you have little prior experience with M&A consultants, you may want to choose a site that vets all candidates before allowing them access to employers. This is a good way to ensure that whomever you end up selecting is trustworthy and has the required industry experience, knowledge, and credentials.
Each site has a different way to post jobs and interact with candidates and hires. Browse the site to get an understanding of the platform and make sure you are comfortable using it before committing to it.
Finally, it’s usually best to choose a site that has the resources and tools available to make the hiring process easy. Look for a site that helps you screen candidates and communicate with them throughout both the interviewing and work stages.
Things To Consider Before Hiring
Buying or merging companies is a huge undertaking, and the M&A consultant you hire must possess the skills and temperament to work with your internal team and get the job done. Consider the following characteristics of proficient M&A consultants to help you make a confident choice:
- Trust: It’s essential that your consultant is trustworthy. Take time to speak with potential candidates to make sure they understand your business and your goals, have the right experience, and communicate clearly.
- Transparency: All successful professional relationships are based on transparency. Select a consultant who is straightforward and transparent about every step of the process. A candidate that follows a diligent process and way of working will help you close potential targets and add value to your firm.
- Experience: M&A processes are often overwhelming, especially when you are occupied with other business tasks. Hiring someone with plenty of industry experience and a good track record to deal with complex processes, transaction obstacles, and transactions can ease some of your stress and provide maximum value.
- Chemistry: Positive chemistry and understanding are other factors to consider. The right person for the job should understand your business goals and also mesh well with your personality, company culture, and internal team.
Hire M&A Consultants Now
Choosing the right freelance M&A consultant for your project is essential for a streamlined and successful acquisition. Use this detailed guide and list of reputable sites or check out Toptal’s #1-ranked platform for finding M&A consultants to kick-start your selection process.
