Don't Sell Your Company Without Help!

Buyers Don't Want You To Use An Advisor

1. Higher Sale Prices

• Studies show that businesses represented by professional M&A advisors sell for 20–40% higher valuations compared to those sold directly by owners.

• The Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Project found that owners who used advisors achieved higher multiples and greater closing certainty.
  👉 Reason: Advisors create competitive tension by running a structured process and bringing in multiple buyers.

2. Faster Deal Completion

• The average business sale takes 6–12 months; without an advisor, many sales drag on or stall completely.

• IBBA/M&A Source Market Pulse reports that deals with advisors close 3–6 months faster on average.
  👉 Reason: Advisors streamline due diligence, prepare documentation (CIMs, financials, NDAs), and keep momentum with buyers.

3. Dramatically Higher Success Rates

• Roughly 70–80% of owner-led attempts to sell fail before reaching closing.

• By contrast, deals led by M&A advisors have a success rate of 50–65%, depending on deal size.
  👉 Reason: Advisors qualify buyers, manage negotiations, and resolve deal-killers before they derail the transaction.

4. Confidentiality Protection

• According to the IBBA, over 80% of owners say confidentiality is a top concern in selling their business.

• Advisors put NDAs, buyer vetting, and blind listings in place—reducing the risk of employees, customers, or competitors finding out too early.
  👉 Reason: A leak can damage relationships and lower business value; advisors minimize this risk.

Buyers want off-market deals because they are cheaper, less competitive, more flexible on terms and often include hidden gems that never hit the open market. A conservative estimate puts the global spend on off-market deal sourcing in the ballpark of multiple billions of U.S. dollars per year—likely between $5B and $10B+. You probably received at least one call or email this week asking if you want to sell your company.

5 Reasons Why You Need An Advisor

5. Better Deal Terms

• About 75% of sellers underestimate the complexity of deal structures (earnouts, seller financing, working capital adjustments, reps & warranties, etc.).

• PitchBook research shows that advisor-led deals secure more favorable non-price terms (shorter earnouts, less seller financing, better indemnification).
  👉 Reason: Price isn’t everything—advisors negotiate the fine print that protects your financial and legal interests.

Advisor Types

Investment Banker

Business Broker

M&A Intermediary

M&A intermediaries operate in the lower to middle-market space, typically working with businesses generating between $5 million and $100 million in annual revenue. Their role is more sophisticated than a business broker’s, with services tailored to help owners maximize valuation and navigate more complex transactions.

Business brokers typically serve smaller companies that will likely sell to an individual buyer (vs. a corporate or institutional buyer). The types of businesses they usually service are hair salons, franchises, gas stations, dry cleaners, convenience stores, small service businesses, single location restaurants, etc..

Investment banks work primarily with upper-middle-market to large enterprises, generally those with $100 million+ in annual revenue or enterprise value. These institutions provide a wide range of financial services beyond M&A, including raising capital, debt advisory, and public offerings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Advisor Chooser work?

We connect company sellers with the right M&A advisors by matching your submitted information with advisor profiles. After completing your profile, you’ll receive a curated list of advisors best suited to your needs. From there, you can either reach out directly or let our platform generate personalized email introductions on your behalf.

How much does this cost?

This is a free service for those looking for Advisors. Advisors pay us a small yearly fee which allows us to provide this service.

What information do I need to provide?

You will be asked to provide your and your company contact information. You will also be asked your annual revenue, industry, and a general description of your business. We will not ask for any proprietary information.

What information do Advisors provide?

We screen Advisors intensely and they must be licensed if required by law. Advisors also provide contact details, industry specialties, deal sizes, number of completed deals, 5 references, and any relevant information for potential sellers. You will see all of this information on our matches for you.

What happens to my data?

We delete all of it after you leave the site. We only share your information with an Advisor if you ask us to make the introduction.

What should I ask Advisors?

Check your email! Along with your Advisor matches we will send you an email with 5 questions you should ask an Advisor and 5 questions you should be prepared to answer.

Do Advisors charge fees?

Yes. Fees are usually a percentage of your sale price and range widely based off your company size. Often there will be up front fees for valuation, document creation and go to market strategy. Up front fees are usually deducted from success fees when a company is sold.

What is CIM Amplify?

www.CIMAmplify.com is our sister site where advisors can post deals and enhance your visibility to matched potential buyers. If an Advisor uses CIM Amplify you will see an image of megaphone guy in the top right corner of your matches.