Do you charge any upfront fees to sell my security business?

No. The free calculator and your first conversation cost nothing. Any paid work is on a fee agreed in writing before we start.

How do you maintain confidentiality during the sale process?

Confidentiality is the foundation of our process, not a feature. We use anonymised teasers when approaching buyers, staged information disclosure, and NDAs at every stage. Your staff, clients, and competitors will not know you are considering a sale unless you choose to tell them.

Why should I choose a specialist security sector broker over a generalist?

A generalist broker sells businesses across every sector and is unlikely to understand SIA Approved Contractor status, NSI Gold or SSAIB accreditation, BS 7858 staff vetting, recurring monitoring revenue, or which private equity platforms are actively acquiring security businesses. Sector expertise means we position your business correctly and attract the right buyers, which directly affects the price you achieve.

How many buyers can you generate for my security business?

Our buyer register is open to buyers seeking security business acquisitions, including private equity platforms, national security groups, regional trade buyers, and qualified individuals. Our structured process is designed to create competitive tension by generating multiple interested parties. Competition between buyers is the most effective way to maximise your sale price.

What makes us different.

The questions you should ask any broker, and why our answers matter.

Six things we offer security business owners.

Dome CCTV camera mounted on a commercial building

Sector Expertise

Our Security division works only with security businesses. We understand SIA licensing and the Approved Contractor Scheme, NSI Gold and SSAIB accreditation, BS 7858 staff vetting, recurring monitoring revenue, manned guarding versus electronic systems, and the TUPE-stable contracts buyers look for, where officers would move across to a new provider on their existing terms if a contract changed hands. This knowledge means we position your business correctly and attract the right buyers.

Active Buyer Register

Our buyer register is open to buyers seeking security business acquisitions: groups owned by private equity firms, which buy companies to grow and sell on, national security groups, regional security firms looking to grow, and qualified individuals. We do not advertise your business on public listing sites.

Free Initial Consultation

The initial consultation is free and completely confidential. Any paid work is on a fee agreed in writing before we start.

Competitive Tension

We do not find you one buyer and hope for the best. We create a structured process that generates multiple interested parties. Competition between buyers is the single most effective way to maximise your sale price.

Complete Confidentiality

Your staff, clients, and competitors will not know you are considering a sale. We use anonymised teasers (short summaries that do not name you) and release information in stages. Buyers sign NDAs, which are confidentiality agreements, at every stage. Confidentiality is not a feature of our service. It is the foundation.

Process Clarity

We tell you exactly what happens at each stage, what documents you will need, how long each phase takes, and what to expect. No surprises and no ambiguity.

Simon Read

Ask for Simon. Your first conversation can be with Simon or Emily, and decisions on the sale are made with Simon. He understands your industry, has access to the buyer network and leads your sale.

For owners a few years from selling, the Reads Pre-Sale Programme sets out what to work on first and who helps with each part.

Questions to ask any broker.

1 Do you specialise in my sector, or do you sell all types of businesses?

2 How well do you know the buyers active in the security sector, and how many are looking right now?

3 Will my business be advertised on public listing sites?

4 Do you charge any upfront fees, retainers, or marketing costs?

5 How many interested buyers can you typically generate for a business like mine?

6 Who will manage my sale day to day? Will I deal with a senior person or a junior?

7 What is your average time to completion?

8 Can you explain exactly how you maintain confidentiality at each stage?

We are happy to answer every one of these questions in detail. If a broker cannot, or will not, that tells you something.

See the difference for yourself.

Tell us about your business and we will be in touch within two working days.

Thank you for getting in touch.

Simon Read will be in contact within two working days. Direct conversation, not a sales team. Everything you have shared is treated in the strictest confidence.