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Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition

Acquire a business.
Build your future.

The complete toolkit for acquiring entrepreneurs: evaluate targets, model your deal, and prepare your integration. France & Switzerland.

JD
ML
PB

Built for acquiring entrepreneurs in France & Switzerland

Target Score — Acme ServicesIllustrative
78
Sector
Dependency
Recurrence
Growth
💰 Projected IRR 32.4%
📈 5-Year MOIC 3.2x
7Weighted Criteria
5 YrsFinancial Projections
7Downloadable Resources
100%Free & Confidential

Evaluate your acquisition target

Rate the target on 7 weighted criteria and get an overall score with recommendations.

Scoring Criteria (1 = Critical flaw  ·  3 = Average market  ·  5 = Category leader)

🏭Sector Attractiveness18%

Is the sector growing, fragmented, and attracting acquirer interest?

👤Owner Dependency Risk18%

Does the business operate autonomously? 1 = highly dependent, 5 = autonomous.

🔄Quality of Recurring Revenues16%

Recurring contracts, subscriptions, maintenance — what is the level of predictability?

📈Growth Potential14%

Are there clear growth levers (geography, product, digital)?

🤝Succession Readiness13%

Is the seller prepared, with a transition plan and realistic expectations?

💰Valuation Realism11%

Is the asking price in line with market multiples?

📋Seller DD-Readiness10%

Quality of financial records, audit status, litigation exposure, and off-balance-sheet liabilities.

Model your deal economics

Calculate IRR, MOIC, and DSCR over 5 years. Test different financing structures.

💼 Deal Parameters

🏦 Financing Structure

📈 Growth Assumptions

Is your deal financeable?

Before modeling returns: will a lender actually fund this? Get a verdict against current FR/CH market norms and a suggested structure.

Key considerations for cross-border deals

Important tax and currency factors for France & Switzerland acquisitions.

💱EUR/CHF Currency Risk

Cross-border acquisitions between France (EUR) and Switzerland (CHF) carry foreign exchange risk. The EUR/CHF rate can fluctuate ±5–8% annually, directly impacting:
Debt service — if revenues and debt are in different currencies
Exit valuation — currency translation gains/losses on repatriation
Working capital — mismatched payables/receivables

Mitigation: Consider natural hedging (match revenue/cost currencies), forward contracts, or structuring debt in the operating currency.

⚖️Share Deal vs Asset Deal — Tax Overview

France:

  • Share deal: 0.1% registration duty (capped at €500). Capital gains taxed at flat 30% (PFU) or income tax for individuals. Corporate sellers: standard 25% CIT.
  • Asset deal: Registration duties 3–5% on goodwill (above €23k). Buyer can amortise goodwill (tax deductible). VAT applies on some assets.

Switzerland:

  • Share deal: No federal transfer tax on unlisted shares. Participation relief may apply (if ≥10% stake). Capital gains tax-free for individuals (if private wealth).
  • Asset deal: No general transfer tax, but cantonal stamp duties may apply. Goodwill amortisation deductible over 5–10 years. VAT on qualifying assets.

⚠️ This is general guidance only. Consult a qualified tax advisor for deal-specific structuring.

Your complete toolkit

Download our guides, templates, and methodologies to structure your acquisition journey.

🌍

ETA Landscape — France & Switzerland

Search fund structures, deal profiles, financing norms, and market dynamics.

Read briefing →
🎯

Why Value Bridge Partners for ETA

Our network, methodology, tools, and dedicated advisor support for acquiring entrepreneurs.

Read one-pager →
📋

ETA Buyer Profile Template

Standardised template to define your acquisition criteria, financial capacity, and deal preferences.

Request via intake form →
💎

Valuation Methodology

Normalized EBITDA, sector multiples, seller financing, earnouts, and cross-checks.

Request via intake form →
📊

Deal Economics Model

Calculate IRR, MOIC, and DSCR over 5 years with different financing structures.

Use the tool ↓
🚀

90-Day Integration Playbook

Structured guide for the first 90 days: communication, quick wins, and strategic foundations.

Download PDF ↓

Tell us about your project

Fill out this form and a VBP advisor will be in touch within 48h to discuss your acquisition project.

Ready to acquire your business?

VBP supports you from the first search to your 100th day as an owner-operator.