Professional services businesses in Valencia: buying, selling and valuation
Advisory firms (asesorías), law firms, architecture studios, engineering practices, consultancies and advertising agencies make up the professional, scientific and technical services block. In the province of Valencia it had 26,639 active establishments as of 2025, 55.9% of the whole Valencian Community (Comunidad Valenciana). Here, Valencia means the province of Valencia, not only the city.
Legal and accounting activities account for 10,241 of those premises; architectural and engineering technical services, 6,942; advertising and market research, 3,508; and management consultancy together with head offices, 1,925.
Professional services · Valencia in figures
Active establishments in the province (CNAE activity code 69–74)
26,639
Share of the Valencian Community
55.9%
Active companies in the province (all activities)
186,970
What affects the value of professional services businesses in Valencia
In a professional firm or consultancy, the buyer's big question is whether the clients belong to the firm or to the person. When every client calls the founding partner directly, selling amounts to asking them to trust someone new, and part of that client base may be lost. The more members of the team who regularly serve the clients, the easier the handover.
Recurrence makes the difference between similar businesses. An advisory firm with clients who pay every month for their bookkeeping, payroll or tax returns generates predictable income; a studio that lives off one-off projects depends on winning the next assignment. It is worth showing the average length of client relationships and how many are lost each year.
The team is the main asset and does not appear on the balance sheet. Salaries, length of service, qualifications and each person's intention to stay after the sale are part of the negotiation. In regulated professions (profesiones colegiadas), the buyer will also check who signs off the work and whether the requirements for practising are met.
Systems count for more than it seems: practice management software with each client's history, written procedures and in-house templates reduce the risk of know-how leaving with the seller.
Indicative valuation multiples
| Method | Range | Median |
|---|---|---|
| SDE (small businesses) | 2× – 3.5× | 2.8× |
| EBITDA (medium-sized businesses) | 3.5× – 6.5× | 5× |
Frequently asked questions
With an agreed transition period in which the seller personally introduces the buyer, stays present for a time and communicates the change in an orderly way. It is common for part of the price to be tied to client retention during that period.
Above all the portfolio of recurring clients, the team that serves it and the reputation of the brand. Furniture and IT equipment carry little weight; the premises are valued on the terms of the lease or, if owned, separately.
In some regulated professions there are requirements about who can be a partner in or owner of a professional company (sociedad profesional). It depends on each activity and its legal form, so it is worth confirming this with a legal adviser before opening the process to outside investors.
In very personal businesses, a lot. Your staying on for a time reassures the buyer that clients will not leave. Its duration and your duties are usually agreed, and sometimes part of the price depends on how the client portfolio performs.
Larger firms that want to grow or add a speciality, professionals within the team itself who step up to partner, and companies in related sectors, such as construction firms or technical consultancies, that want to bring that service in-house.
Advisory firms have workload peaks during tax campaigns and year-end closes. The buyer will want to see turnover and workload month by month to size the team. If the peaks are covered by the owner's overtime, that effort will have to be replaced after the sale.
Other sectors in Valencia
HVAC and air conditioningElectrical installationPlumbingCommercial cleaningManufacturing and industryConstruction and refurbishmentDistribution and logisticsHospitality and restaurantsHealth and wellbeingRetailSolar energySecurity and alarmsTechnology and ITProvince of ValenciaWhat is your business worth?
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- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Locales por provincia, actividad principal (divisiones CNAE 2009) y estrato de asalariados
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Locales por CCAA, actividad principal (grupos CNAE 2009) y estrato de asalariados
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Empresas por provincia y estrato de asalariados
Latest official data available on the date given for each source.
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