You’ve already made history. Now it’s time to make your future.

Selling your business is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. We know this process deeply — the preparation it demands, the emotions it stirs, and what it takes to get to the right outcome.

When it’s time to move on, it’s time for Portage

Portage advises across the full transaction lifecycle — from pre-market readiness and risk reduction to disciplined M&A execution and acquisition support. We work with owners over time, often beginning well before a transaction, building the clarity and preparation that leads to stronger outcomes when the moment arrives.

We are a relationship-led firm. We do not sell isolated reports or one-off services. Every engagement is designed to inform the next decision and build toward a clean, well-run transaction.

How we work

Our work is structured across two areas. Value Creation engagements, including ExitProof™ and Commercial Due Diligence, prepare owners and buyers before a transaction begins. M&A Advisory engagements guide both sellers and buyers through disciplined, well-run transaction processes.

These are not separate services. They are a connected system designed to improve decision-making, reduce risk, and drive better outcomes across the transaction lifecycle.

A true partner needs to be a friend with the expertise to lead the process. That’s Portage.

We help clients prepare before capital is committed or a process begins.

Through ExitProof^TM owners prepare for a future sale by reducing diligence risk, strengthening their positioning, and gaining clarity on timing and options.

Through Commercial Due Diligence, buyers gain evidence-based commercial insight, testing investment theses, assessing revenue durability, and identifying the risks and assumptions that matter before moving forward.

Finding the best business isn’t always an easy road. An expert guide is a must. That’s Portage.

We guide clients through the transaction process with structure and discipline.

On the sell-side, we deliver disciplined execution for owners preparing to go to market, managing the full process from positioning and buyer outreach through negotiation and closing, with a focus on credibility, preparation, and protecting outcomes. On the buy-side, we support strategic and private equity buyers with selective acquisition advisory, from thesis validation through to execution and closing.

Our Services

ExitProof^TM

A structured pre-sale readiness program for founders who want to prepare deliberately, not reactively. ExitProof^TM reduces diligence risk, strengthen buyer-ready financials, and create early clarity on valuation, positioning, and transition options before going to market.

Commercial Due Diligence

Evidence-based commercial insight for private equity and strategic acquirers. We test investment theses, assess revenue durability, and identify the risks and assumptions that matter before capital is committed.

Sell-Side Advisory

Disciplined sell-side execution for owners preparing to go to market. We manage the full process from positioning and buyer outreach through negotiation and closing, with a focus on credibility, preparation, and protecting your outcome.

Buy-Side Advisory

Selective acquisition support for strategic and PE buyers. We assist from target identification and thesis validation through valuation, diligence coordination, and close with discipline, clarity, and control.

Well it’s been a journey! We can honestly say that the journey would not have been as calm and successful without the steady influence of Jim Friesen and Thomas Bevilacqua of Portage M&A.

Portage M&A Advisory did an excellent job selling my business. They not only made it easy for me but they also made it easy for the buyer, which is the hardest part of the transaction.

I absolutely would recommend Portage when selling a business. From day one, it was nothing but smooth sailing, in what could have been a very stressful time.

Portage did an amazing job for me when it came time to sell my business. Thomas and Jim provided all of the skills required to understand and create a thorough Information Circular and were always available to offer calm and re-assuring support during the process, even when Covid through a major wrench into things.

Rob and the team are very diligent, thorough and very knowledgeable with all aspects of M&A. They were fantastic in offering unbiased advise, being available immediately to tackle any challenges.