How O’Brien Media Grows Through Web Design Acquisitions

At O’Brien Media, we’ve always believed in growing not just as a business, but as a community. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of expanding our team and service offering by acquiring small web design businesses across the UK. But what does that actually mean? And more importantly, why does it matter to you as one of our valued customers, or as someone considering working with us?

Let’s take you behind the scenes on how acquisitions fit into the O’Brien Media way of doing things.

Acquisitions That Put Customers First

For many small web design businesses, running every aspect of the company can become overwhelming – from development work and client management to hosting, security, and ongoing support. Often, these talented designers and small agencies build up fantastic client bases but reach a point where they need a partner who can take their business – and their customers – to the next level.

That’s where we come in.

We work closely with business owners to ensure a smooth transition for both them and their clients. Our aim is simple: to make sure that every customer receives the same high level of service that they’ve come to expect — and even more. Every acquisition is carefully planned to respect the original business while introducing the added benefits of O’Brien Media’s resources, systems, and wider team.

Our Phased Revenue Share Approach

One of the key ways we’ve made acquisitions work so well is through our phased revenue share model. Rather than a one-off handover, this approach allows both parties to benefit proportionally over a set period.

For the first few years following an acquisition, revenue generated from the acquired customer base is shared — and this includes not just existing revenue, but also any new revenue generated from those customers. This means that the original business owner continues to benefit from the growth and ongoing success of the client base they worked so hard to build, while giving them the flexibility to step back from day-to-day operations.

It’s a fair, transparent model that rewards everyone involved, supports long-term customer satisfaction, and creates a genuine partnership throughout the transition.

What Clients Gain from an Acquisition

When a customer’s web design provider becomes part of O’Brien Media, they’re not just getting “more of the same” — they’re gaining:

• Access to our full in-house team of developers, designers, and digital marketers
• Broader expertise across platforms like WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, Webflow and more
• Our in-house hosting platform, built for security, stability and performance
• Ongoing maintenance, updates, and proactive support
• SEO, social media marketing, and digital advertising services
• Access to tools like Elementor for easy site management without needing to hire a developer every time they want to make a change

We understand that trust is vital when changing providers, which is why we always ensure open communication, personalised support, and a seamless experience throughout the entire process.

It’s All About Long-Term Relationships

Our approach to freelance website design business acquisitions is always built around long-term relationships. We don’t believe in short-term gains — we’re focused on delivering consistent, reliable service for every customer, and providing a stable home for the businesses we acquire.

At the heart of every web design agency acquisition is our customer-first mindset — we’re not here to take over or replace, we’re here to enhance and support.

Looking Ahead

As O’Brien Media continues to grow, we’re always open to new conversations with web design business owners considering their next step.

If you’d like to find out more about how we approach acquisitions take a look at our dedicated website design company acquisitions page, feel free to get in touch at [email protected] or call us on 01793 239239. We’d love to chat.