Trusted Advisors to the AEC Industry
AEC Management Solutions partners with architecture, engineering, and construction firms to deliver expert business valuations, ownership transition strategies, and M&A advisory — so your life's work is properly valued and your legacy secured.
Our Services
Certified, defensible valuations for A/E and construction firms. Accepted in buy-sell agreements, ownership transfers, and legal proceedings.
Internal succession or external sale — we architect a transition plan that protects your firm's culture, clients, and financial value.
Buy-side and sell-side representation for AEC mergers and acquisitions. We know the buyers, the market, and the process.
AIA-approved continuing education seminars on firm financial management, cash flow, valuation, and leadership.
How We Work
We learn about your firm, your goals, and your timeline.
A clear scope, timeline, and fee — no surprises.
Financial review, market positioning, and valuation modeling.
A defensible report and ongoing advisory support.
Client Testimonials
Herbert brings to the strategic planning process a practiced ability to balance his role as listener and facilitator with that of a leader and implementer.
Excellent facilitator; enabled the firm to focus our attention and set a course of action.
Very clear action plan & now we are challenged to fulfill the vision!
Herbert was very knowledgeable. I would be willing to take 4 days for the course!
Herbert M. Cannon took all the mystery out of professional firm financial management.
This will pay for itself 10x in fiscal 2012 and be an annuity.
Expert guidance at every stage of your firm's lifecycle.
Service
Who needs it: Firm owners planning for ownership transition, partner buyouts, litigation, or simply wanting to know their firm's true worth.
What we deliver: A certified valuation report using NACVA methodology, accepted in legal and financial proceedings across all 50 states.
Key differentiator: We know the AEC market — revenue multiples, backlog quality factors, utilization benchmarks, and the real-world drivers of firm value that generalists miss.
Certified Valuation Report
NACVA-compliant · AEC-benchmarked · Legally defensible
Transition Roadmap
Custom timeline · Candidate assessment · Financial modeling
Service
Who needs it: Founders planning to exit in 1–10 years, or firms without a documented succession plan.
What we deliver: A written transition roadmap including candidate assessment, financial modeling, timeline milestones, and governance structure.
Service
Sell-side: Preparing your firm for market, finding qualified buyers, structuring the deal, and managing the process through closing.
Buy-side: Identifying acquisition targets, conducting due diligence support, and developing integration planning strategies.
Market Context
AEC M&A activity remains strong in 2025–2026, with strategic acquirers and PE-backed platforms actively seeking specialty firms with clean backlog, repeat clients, and leadership depth.
M&A Deal Management
Buy-side & sell-side · Buyer vetting · Deal structuring
Service
AIA-approved continuing education for architecture, engineering, and construction professionals. Topics include firm financial management, valuation fundamentals, cash flow & collections, ownership transition, and strategic planning.
Virtual · 3 AIA CE Hours
Comprehensive overview of valuation methodology, transition planning milestones, and deal structuring for AEC firm owners.
Virtual · Register for Next Cohort
Proven strategies for reducing receivables, improving cash flow cycles, and building collection processes that preserve client relationships.
Confidential listings of AEC firms actively seeking acquisition partners. All inquiries handled with full discretion.
Architecture
Services
Markets
Government, K-12 Education, Multi-Family, Religious, Industrial, Custom Residential
Established reputation, diverse public-sector client base, strong PM capabilities.
Architecture
Services
Markets
K-12 Education, Charter Schools, Higher Education, Police/Fire Stations, Municipal/Federal, Historic Renovation
Education-sector specialist, repeat public clients, experienced team.
Engineering · MEP
Services
Markets
K-12 (primary), Healthcare, Industrial, Religious, Residential, Retail
Deep K-12 expertise, diversified secondary markets, clean revenue base.
Engineering · Civil
Services
Markets
Owners, Developers, Public Entities
Full-service civil+survey, strong developer relationships, SoCal market.
We represent sellers with full discretion, strategic positioning, and access to a vetted buyer network. Schedule a confidential conversation today.
Expert analysis and guidance for AEC firm owners.
Understanding your firm's value isn't just for exit planning — it's essential for partner agreements, financing, and strategic decisions.
Read More →From choosing the wrong successor to underpricing shares, these common mistakes can derail even well-intentioned transitions.
Read More →Five proven strategies to stop unpaid scope creep and improve your firm's financial performance without losing clients.
Read More →The average A/E firm carries 66+ days of sales in receivables. Here's how to systematically cut that number in half.
Read More →Strong backlog, repeat-client revenue, technical scarcity, and clean earnings — a guide to what acquirers pay premiums for.
Read More →Why most A/E succession plans fail, and what the firms that get it right do differently.
Read More →A successful sale doesn't begin the day you call a broker — it begins two to three years earlier, with deliberate operational, financial, and leadership preparation.
Read More →Specialized advisory. Industry expertise. Personal attention.
Herbert M. Cannon
Principal & Founder
Principal & Founder
Business Advisor · Valuation Specialist · AEC Industry Expert
Herbert M. Cannon is the founder and principal of AEC Management Solutions, LLC — a specialized advisory firm exclusively serving architects, engineers, and construction professionals across the United States.
With decades of experience inside the AEC industry, Herbert has guided hundreds of firm owners through business valuations, internal ownership transitions, external sales, and merger and acquisition processes. His approach combines rigorous financial analysis with deep knowledge of how AEC firms actually operate — their billing structures, client relationships, backlog dynamics, and partnership cultures.
Herbert is an AIA-approved continuing education provider and a sought-after speaker at industry conferences including AIA, ACEC, and SMPS. He is also the author of AEC Management Blog, a trusted resource for A/E/C firm owners.
Our Approach
We work exclusively with AEC firms. Our advice is grounded in sector-specific data, benchmarks, and deal history — not generic consulting frameworks.
Herbert personally leads every engagement. No handoffs to junior staff, no boilerplate reports, no assembly-line process.
We measure success by your outcome: a defensible valuation, a completed transition, or a closed transaction — delivered on time and with full transparency.
Let's discuss how we can help your firm.
Website
www.aecmanagementsolutions.com
Coverage
Serving AEC Firms Nationwide
Office Locations
Singer Island, FL · 561-231-5384
Forked River, NJ · 732-705-5098
San Francisco, CA · 415-462-0840
Las Vegas, NV · 702-944-0364
Ready to Talk?
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your firm's needs.
Thank you! We'll be in touch within 1 business day.
Why Firm Owners Choose Us
AEC-Exclusive Focus
We work exclusively with A/E/C firms. No generalist consultants.
Principal-Led Engagements
Herbert M. Cannon personally leads every client engagement.
Nationally Recognized
Featured expert at AIA, ACEC, and SMPS conferences.