2026 won't be a boom year, but for disciplined buyers, prepared sellers, and advisors, it could be a prime middle market environment.
As we reflect on 2025, one thing is clear: Clients are leaning on CLA more than ever to navigate complexity, unlock value, and move confidently through critical moments — especially transactions.
With nearly 9,000 CLA professionals serving more than 202,000 clients, our multidisciplinary model continues to deliver insight, efficiency, and clarity at every stage. Discover how many business transitions we performed in 2025 and what the outlook is for 2026.
2025 CLA assisted deals by the numbers
- 757 total deals, across buy-side and sell-side
- 61% buy-side / 39% sell-side
- Deal size ranges across < $2m, $2–$10m, and > $10M EBITDA
- $8B+ in total transaction value
What creates value in business transitions
Effective deal outcomes happen when advisors understand the full personal, financial, operational, and strategic implications of a transaction. CLA’s integrated teams support:
Founders and family-owned businesses
Advising owners to prepare early, understand their walk away number, and align tax, estate, and investment strategies before a liquidity event.
Private equity and portfolio companies
Supporting growth strategies, digital transformation, data readiness, and ongoing operational value creation.
Wealth advisory integration
Helping clients understand and enhance the post-transaction impact on wealth, estate, and investment planning.
Deal services and business transitions outlook for 2026
As we head into 2026, the middle market is signaling something we haven’t seen in years: constructive optimism paired with renewed discipline.
Here are the key themes shaping dealmaking this year:
Add on acquisitions on the rise
PE buyers are prioritizing strategic add ons over new platforms as they seek synergies and faster value creation.
Credit conditions are easing — but underwriting remains tight
Lenders are returning, yet still favor strong fundamentals, recurring revenue, and cleaner balance sheets.
Valuation discipline is here to stay
Premium assets continue to command premium pricing, widening the gap between high quality and average companies.
Smarter deal structures are the new norm
Earnouts, representations and warranties insurance, rollover equity, and creative capital stacks are increasingly essential to closing bid ask gaps.
Sector momentum is shifting
Tech enabled services, health care, fintech, and industrials are expected to drive elevated activity.
AI moves from buzzword to competitive advantage
Deal teams using AI for diligence acceleration, market intelligence, and integration planning will move faster — and smarter — than the market.
Sell side readiness is now a differentiator
With buyers more selective, companies investing early in quality of earnings, tax planning, and operational cleanup will stand out and secure better outcomes.
How CLA can help with business transitions
2026 won't be a boom year, but for disciplined buyers, prepared sellers, and advisors who move with speed and clarity, it’s shaping up to be a prime middle market environment. If you're interested in deeper insights — sector trends, buyer behavior, or readiness strategies, we can help.
