Deal Killers: What Buyers and Sellers Do to Derail a Transaction
Time kills all deals.But so do a lot of other things, and it can be the Buyer or the Seller causing the problem.Understanding why you may be feeling this way,…
Should You Sell Your MSP Now or Wait?
Most MSP owners sit with this question for longer than they will admit. It lives in the back of the mind, surfaces occasionally on the drive home after a long…
Business partnership meeting concept. Image businessmans handshake. Successful businessmen handshaking after good deal
Cultivating Success in M&A with an “Opportunity First” Strategy
Explore Cogent's 'Opportunity First' strategy in M&A for long-term success. Learn about our unique Transaction Analysis Model™ (TAM) and redacted disclosure approach to ensure informed, secure, and effective mergers and acquisitions.
The 5 Things Buyers Look At Before Everything Else
There's a moment early in every acquisition conversation — usually within the first exchange of information — when a buyer has already formed a working opinion. Not a final one,…
The Human Side of M&A: 10 Leadership Essentials for a Smooth Transition
Leading your team through an M&A transition is about more than logistics—it’s about empathy, transparency, and fostering loyalty. Discover how top leaders empower their teams to stay engaged and motivated during times of change.
Keeping Customers Close When Change Is on the Horizon
Mergers require more than reassurance to retain customers—they need proactive trust-building. Involving clients in the process, enhancing service commitments, and offering exclusive post-merger perks can turn transitions into opportunities for stronger loyalty.
Cogent Conversations: The Truth About MSP Valuations & Exit Strategy (EP2)
Valuation talk in the MSP world can feel like a fog machine. Numbers get repeated, benchmarks get thrown around, and someone always has a friend who “got a crazy multiple”…
The Best Buyers Build Fundability First
There’s a moment in a lot of early acquisition conversations where someone says, with total confidence, “We’ll line up funding once we find the right deal.”It’s usually delivered the way…
2026 Look Ahead: The Market Is Moving Again — and the Bar Keeps Rising
Q1 of 2025 felt more sluggish than anyone expected, like the market was still doom-scrolling and people were just starting to return phone calls, unsure what to do next. Q2…
Run It Like You’ll Sell It: Rick Murphy on M&A Discipline for MSPs with Joey Pinz
Revenue can grow while value stalls. In this featured conversation with Joey Pinz, Rick Murphy outlines how tech owners diagnose “Top Line Disease,” align operations to profit, and create the kind of discipline buyers reward. Watch the full episode—embedded here—and take away practical ways to strengthen valuation.
Culture as a Competitive Edge: What Buyers Actually Feel When They Meet Your Team
Culture isn’t decoration — it’s how your business behaves when you’re not in the room. In this new piece, George Sierchio breaks down how culture translates directly into valuation and why buyers feel it faster than they can read a P&L.
The Fourth Quarter Shift: How to Finish the Year Like a Pro
There’s a different kind of pulse that sneaks in around this time each year, and you can always tell who’s running on it. The air gets a little colder, the…
100% Bonus Depreciation Is Back — And It’s Reshaping IT M&A Deals
The best kind of news in M&A is the kind that rewrites the math, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act just did exactly that. With 100% bonus depreciation now…
From Dugouts to Deal Tables: Why the Best Moves Begin with a What If
I spend a lot of time around little league fields in New Jersey, and after a while you start to notice something. The kids who turn into players aren’t always…
Mid-Year 2025 Market Update: A Seller’s Market That Rewards Readiness
The IT M&A market in 2025 continues to reward clarity, maturity, and strong operations. If you’re thinking about selling, here’s what the smartest owners are doing right now.
What Makes a Good Buyer in Today’s IT M&A Market?
In a tight IT M&A market, standing out as a buyer takes more than capital. Learn what makes a good buyer, how to define your target, and why executive engagement is a powerful differentiator.
How Buyers Actually Value Your IT Business (and What You Can Do About It)
Sellers don’t set the value—buyers do. Here’s how to look at your IT business through the right lens and understand what actually drives price in today’s market.
10 Must-Know Shifts Reshaping MSP M&A
MSP M&A is evolving. Discover 10 key shifts influencing valuations, deal structures, and buyer expectations in today’s IT services market.
What Haunts MSPs? The Scariest Parts of M&A Revealed
The M&A process can feel like a haunted house for MSPs, full of eerie surprises like customer churn, cultural clashes, and “zombie” revenue streams. But with proactive strategies—like boosting customer retention, uniting company cultures, and revitalizing services—MSPs can turn these fears into opportunities for growth and resilience.
Ready, Set, Sell: Prepping Your MSP for M&A Glory
When selling your MSP, it’s not just about finding a buyer—it’s about attracting the right buyer. To stand out, you need to position your business as a growth-ready opportunity. Showcase operational excellence, highlight customer loyalty, and emphasize the strength of your team. Diversify your revenue streams and, most importantly, sell a vision of future growth. By preparing strategically, you can transform your MSP from just another company for sale into an irresistible investment.