SMB Marketing Due Diligence
Are you acquiring a physical services business that has an online presence? Receive a 20-point marketing analysis report. Our goal is to minimize risks so you get the best deal.
Firms We’ve Helped
Our Due Diligence Service Eliminates Risks
SMBs, such as HVAC, accounting firms, storage, and plumbing, all rely on online traffic via websites, Google Business, advertising, etc., to obtain clients.
We analyze the SMB’s online presence to catch any red flags before you acquire.
What’s Covered?
We perform a rigorous 20-point analysis of your potential acquisition. We deliver a written report outlining our findings with metrics to showcase the pros and cons of the acquisition. Our analysis digs deep into these categories.
Market & Locality Analysis
SMBs rely on local markets for clients. We analyze the local market and its competitors to understand the SMBs’ positioning. We look into:
Market trend and longevity based on competitors
Pinpoint the top 5-10 competitors and compare against SMB acquisition
Website SEO
SEO is a major traffic generation method for SMBs. We are seasoned and practicing SEO experts and can decipher the tactics used by sellers. We look into:
Analyzing on-page and off-page SEO
Analyzing the backlink profile to find any toxic links
Analyzing anchor text usage
Analyzing any 301 redirects from other domains
Traffic History & Trends
The SMB’s past traffic history and trends are extremely important to longevity. We utilize third-party and first-party tools and services to gain a deep understanding of a website’s traffic. We look for:
Verification of daily, monthly, and yearly pageviews
Verification of traffic user metrics (bounce rate, time on page)
Verification of traffic against niche seasonal trends
Website & Domain History
Was the SMB’s website you are looking to buy used for nefarious purposes in the past? Was the domain registered multiple times? These are critical questions to understand the long-term value of the domain. We look to:
Verification of website archive history
Verification of domain registration history
Verification of domain usage history
Google Business Profile
The Google Business Profile is a key factor that brings in new clients when they search for services in their local area. This profile also houses all client reviews that dictate the business’s reputation. We look into:
Analyzing profile history
Analyzing reviews, their frequency, and the method of requesting reviews
Analyzing positioning in the local SEO market
Paid Advertising
Is the SMB running paid advertising through Google PPC, Google Local Search Ads, Facebook, Nextdoor, Thumbtack, etc.? A thorough analysis is needed. We look into:
Analyzing marketing campaigns to check if the structural setup is correct
Analyzing the quantity of leads historically
Analyzing campaign structure and return on ad spend
Social Media
Is the business active on social media? Which profiles bring in traffic and leads? Were the profiles set up correctly? We look into:
Searching for all profiles across the web
Analyzing major profiles that bring in traffic to the business
The Due Diligence Team
Mushfiq Sarker, Lead Analyst
Mushfiq has been buying, growing, and selling online businesses since 2008. He has deep expertise in growing businesses in local markets through SEO, advertising, and other marketing strategies.
To date, he has performed due diligence on well over 1,000 business websites. He has also kept up-to-date with the current industry as an operator running his own holding company.
Testimonials
I engaged WebAcquisition on 3 pieces of work for a business acquisition: marketing and technical diligence, financial diligence, and an opportunity identification and evaluation report (what they call “Easy Wins”). I was very pleased with all three, with the two diligence pieces giving me good comfort, and the Easy Wins report opening my aperture for what was possible after acquisition.
Gold Creek Pond
I hired Mushfiq and his team for their concierge Deal Sourcing service. Over a 8 month period, the team worked to source deals both on and off-market that met my investment criteria. We found a stable $2M eCommerce business that we closed on. They assisted in structuring the deal where we put down 60% and the rest seller financed. They also performed due diligence to ensure it was a stable business. Overall, the service is highly recommended!
Twenty Hours
Mushfiq and team did an outstanding job on their due diligence, identifying a critical element in the business that we were looking at that caused us to back away from the deal. Really appreciate the attention to detail and thoroughness of their evaluation of our potential acquisition target and I definitely plan to use them again.
I purchased a package of five “site reviews” by Mushfiq. I am super impressed with the feedback Mushfiq gives and the value delivered. Even though I have not moved forward purchasing any of the sites I’ve asked Mushfiq to review, I wouldn’t think of buying an online business without getting his take first. I’ve learned a ton from him on each review delivered.
Mushfiq and the team are experts and are always great to work with. Not only do they have a very quick turnaround on Due Diligence reports themselves (I’ve used them twice now for two successful purchases), Mushfiq is always available for follow-up questions. He is also extremely quick to respond. Would recommend.
Paragraph Capital
The WebAcquisition team helped us perform due diligence reviews on multiple Amazon FBA businesses. We received an actionable report with many insights. I highly recommend Mushfiq and his team!
Venturr.io
“Mushfiq & his team did a great job with the full due diligence report… Not only did he look at the financials but did a full analysis on domain history, website history, market analysis, traffic, SEO, backlink, projections, valuation & deal structure and more. This is what I needed to make an informed decision and to acquire the business… I would definitely hire him again to do my M&A due diligence.”
Jon Kong
WebAcquisitions was fast, responsive, and most competitively priced. Turning around my report in only 5 days, they are one of the few firms that do a thorough SEO assessment as well as validating revenues. Mushfiq’s experience allowed us to catch things that weren’t on our radar.
Jasmine Grainger
I hired the WebAcquistion team to perform due diligence on a few content, Shopify, and newsletter businesses. Their deep expertise in operating such businesses definitely shows in the reports. Recommended!
Indexsy
We hired Mushfiq’s team to perform due diligence on various content sites. Their reports were extremely thorough and pointed out insights that helped us make an acquisition decision.
Scott Oldford
The Wisdom Group
WebAcquisition team performed a due diligence review of a content website we wanted to acquire from Empire Flipper’s brokerage. They reviewed everything related to the website and provided insights that have helped us make a decision. Recommended!
My consultation with WebAcquisition was very valuable and insightful. I was seeking feedback on potentially merging two sites into one and the conversation helped determine the best path forward, but also covered some other things like better monetization techniques. Extremely knowledgeable and experienced
Bryan May
I was very happy with the [Amazon KDP] report as it opened my eyes and without question prevented me from making a big mistake.
The report covers everything and makes your decision a lot easier, the money is well spent.
I highly recommend WebAcquisition.
Henrik H.
The DD report was very informative, detailed, and expertly put together.
It was a valuable tool to help inform my decision on the [YouTube channel] business I was looking to acquire. It was money well spent considering the cost of the business I was looking to buy. I highly recommend their services.
Brian Alper
It’s always a good idea to have another set of eyes review a deal, regardless of size. I’ve worked with Mushfiq, David and their team a few times now on pre-deal due diligence services. It is clear that they are very knowledgeable about the ecommerce space, highlighting the pros and cons of each deal and providing a thorough review of potential acquisitions, including any potential red flags. I would not hesitate to hire them again.
Andrew Valen
Mushfiq has done a few due diligence reports for me and they were all excellent.
He is very thorough in his analysis and review of the business and industry. He found some red flags that I never would have found and likely saved me from some bad acquisitions. I also did a consulting call with him to help with my acquisition strategy. The call was great and he helped me refine my strategy and focus. I would definitely recommend Mushfiq.
Andy Edler
Common Questions
Why do I need a marketing due diligence review?
We’ve previously worked with many acquirers, searchers, and private equity firms. The commonality is that they “overlook” the online presense of a SMB acquisition.
The focus when doing due diligence is primarily the financials, team structure, market, and services. However, most SMBs generate the majority of their revenue through online marketing (SEO, ads, social media, etc). The due diligence on marketing is usually a secondary thought.
Our marketing due diligence reports examine the potential acquisition’s online footprint to provide insights into how the business generates new clients.
We catch red flags that others miss.
I only hired QoE firm. Isn’t that enough?
QoE examines the business’s historical financial metrics. Marketing due diligence examines the acquisition’s historical online presence and whether any nefarious tactics were used to grow the business that could harm its longevity.
We perform a technical analysis, not financial.
Seasoned finance/CPA experts do QoE. Our analysis is done by a team of marketing experts who know how to grow local businesses.
You need both types of analysis to understand the business acquisition fully.
Who is this due diligence service for?
This service is perfect for searchers, individuals, and private equity firms acquiring a small or medium-sized physical services business. These businesses can include HVAC, plumbing, storage, electrical, accounting, consulting, etc.
Do I need to have a Letter-Of-Intent (LOI) on an acquisition?
No, you do not need to have made an offer or have an LOI on an acquisition. We can perform due diligence before you make an offer.
What is the turnaround on the due diligence?
After we’ve received access to what we need to perform the due diligence, the turnaround time is within 7-12 business days. If the turnaround time is longer, we will communicate that with you.
Can I get a faster turnaround on the report?
Yes. On a case-by-case basis, we can expedite a report depending on what other projects we have in our pipeline. There is an additional fee for quicker turnaround.
How is the report delivered?
A link to download your written report (PDF) will be sent to the email address used to purchase.
Pricing & Next Steps
Due Diligence Report: $2,490+
Our advisors will perform an 20-point analysis of your potential acquisition. You will receive an in-depth PDF report.
Final pricing is dependent on the number of locations and online profiles generating leads.
We deliver the results within 7-10 business days.
Fill out the contact form with basic details of the business you would like to acquire. We will follow up in less than 24 hours if we can perform the due diligence review.
Other Services
Are you looking to acquire a different type of business? We have due diligence services for the following:
