Buy and build vs roll up?

Does a "buy and build" strategy mean the same thing as a "roll-up"?

Please explain this to me like I'm a fifth-grader.

Cheers.

535 WSO Academy Private Equity Session Reviews: 4.82/5

Anahuac University

Class of '18 Nov 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Private Equity Full Resume Review

“Rachel helped me through the very beginning and we had several iterations that were crucial to the development of a better and great CV for applications. I appreciate her patience and puntual feedback every single time. Also the response time was very short and kept me aware of any delay. It kept me on line for what I had to do and some areas to focus that I didn't knowe before, and some of them honestly I didn't have any idea. Very well all around work”

Class of '24 Dec 2025 Cohort

5.00/5

Private Equity Mock Coffee Chat

“Julius was extremely helpful in breaking down the accounting concepts, especially allowing me the opportunity to walk through a question step by step on how the three financial statements are impacted across income, cash flow and balance sheet along with figuring out the mental math for it all. The concept for Equity Value to Enterprise value and bridging between the two were fairly straight forward. Along with the networking advice on reaching out to potential recruiters for Investment banking roles and how lateral recruitement is happening year end vs going into Q1 next year.”

See All 11,791 WSO Academy Reviews

2 Comments

lalagunaseca

IB

5y

Funniest

Yes, they’re the same thing. Unless of course the rollup is of the fruit variety, in which case it is an unhealthy snack that you, being a fifth grader, would likely enjoy very much.

Reply

Quote

Report

Other

westcoastmonkeyfr

PE

5y

Qui est rerum deleniti enim modi. Cumque minus enim amet iste sint nihil perspiciatis. Consequatur voluptatum ullam ullam repellat cum reiciendis quia.

Ipsam tenetur aut accusantium alias ab ad commodi molestias. Recusandae nemo accusamus neque debitis. Molestiae dolor voluptatem minus recusandae. Minima sed omnis unde officiis. Corporis eum hic et fugiat assumenda soluta aut. Magnam libero officiis quod voluptates.

Reply

Quote

Report

Other

Authored by: Certified Private Equity Professional - 2nd Year AssociateCertified Private Equity Pro

+78	Those unemployed in PE 3+ months, how do you make progress every day?	33	2h
+25	Is it possible to get no comments as an analyst?	8	57m
+18	Friend considering moving from the US to Hong Kong for an IR Role – How difficult would it be to return?	1	2d
+13	London PE Secondaries / Co-Investment Comp	4	1d
+10	Why is BX trimming analyst/sa headcount?	6	10h
+9	Arcline thoughts?	7	3d
+9	Lending to PE/VC	1	8h
+9	JPM PB to Institutional Capital Raising	1	6d
+8	PE to L/S Equities	9	1d
+6	What kind of bear is best?	2	9h

1	redever	99.2
2	BankonBanking	99.0
3	Secyh62	99.0
4	kanon	99.0
5	DrApeman	98.9
6	GameTheory	98.9
7	dosk17	98.9
8	Betsy Massar	98.9
9	CompBanker	98.9
10	Mimbs	98.8

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Buy and build vs roll up?

Score Breakdown

Feedback

Score Breakdown

Feedback

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Buy and build vs roll up?

See All Comments - 100% Free

Trending Content - Private Equity Forum