AUDIOLOGY
M&A

M&A advisory services for

audiology business owners

OVERVIEW

Audiology is an increasingly active area of UK healthcare M&A. Demand for hearing services continues to rise with an ageing population, growing awareness of hearing loss, and increased consumer willingness to pay privately for faster access and premium hearing aids. Consolidation is accelerating, driven by private equity-backed platforms and strategic buyers expanding their clinic networks.

Key market dynamics include:

Demographic demand – an ageing UK population, combined with earlier diagnosis, is fuelling demand for audiology services.
Private-pay growth – long NHS wait times and limitations on NHS hearing aid provision are pushing more patients into the private-pay market.
NHS community outsourcing – ss hospitals increasingly focus on complex cases, there’s rising reliance on community-based audiology. Independent providers, operating in both medical and high-street settings via Any Qualified Provider (AQP) contracts, are positioned to fill this gap. Yet with less than half of England’s 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) having commissioned full-area community audiology services, the opportunity remains significantly under-exploited.
Retail & medical crossover – high-street optical chains and independent medical groups are expanding into audiology, strengthening referral and operational synergies.
Consolidation drivers – private equity-backed networks, strategic acquirers, and hearing aid manufacturers are building national clinic platforms through acquisitions.
Technology partnerships – Relationships with major hearing aid manufacturers (e.g., Sonova, Demant, GN Hearing) can significantly influence buyer attraction and valuations.

If you are considering selling your audiology business or seeking private equity investment, the Eclipse team can help you maximise value while ensuring a smooth and confidential process.

As chartered accountants with significant investment banking experience, we differentiate ourselves from generalist advisors by providing a hands-on, end-to-end approach - from preparation and valuation through to negotiation and completion.

Our latest insights into M&A in the sector can be found below.

View our market insights

WHY ECLIPSE?

The Eclipse team supports audiology business owners in realising the value they have built through successful company sales or by taking on private equity investment
We have completed transactions across the clinical services sector in areas such as clinical insourcing, physio, ophthalmology, dermatology and audiology, spanning both private and NHS services
This has helped numerous founders reap the rewards of their hard work through successful exits, providing them with the financial freedom to retire, "de-risk" or plan for whatever comes next
We are not a high volume firm - this allows us to spend more time producing higher quality, tailored marketing materials and provide a greater level of support throughout the sale process
Our experience advising on varied and complex deals of up to £100m gives us significant expertise in running smooth and efficient processes, ensuring that value is protected through to completion of the transaction
Our fees are transparent and directly linked to the valuation achieved

VALUATION

EBITDA multiples generally fall within the 3x to 8x range, depending on scale, location and business model:

Single independent clinic (£200k EBITDA): 3–4x, with deferred consideration for founder reliance
Regional multi-site groups (£500k–£1m EBITDA): 5-6x given diversified revenue sources
Large groups (£2m+ EBITDA): 7-8x, due to scale, with a premium where there is an private/NHS patient mix.

View our detailed physio valuation guide below:

View our audiology valuation guide