Best Business Brokers to Help You Get the Best Deal

With over 4,000 business brokers in the United States, the challenge isn’t finding one but selecting the best.

And your choice can mean the difference between a successful deal and a costly mistake. 

How do you know which broker will understand your needs and help you achieve your business goals of buying, selling, or merging?

You can consider many factors, but you’ll never go wrong with selecting a top-rated business broker with a proven track record of success.

To give you a head start in your search, we’ve compiled a list of the 11 best business brokers in the country.

Our list is based on a rigorous selection process considering factors such as expertise, track record, confidentiality, and reputation.

Choose one that suits you, and you’ll be in good hands!

Overview of the Best Business Brokers

Most business brokers facilitate the buying, selling, and merging of businesses. However, they tend to appeal to one side more than the other. Still, you can find brokers split evenly between buyers, sellers, and mergers.

We’ll highlight which type of entrepreneurs each broker focuses on to help you quickly narrow down your best options.

Here are our top business brokers nationwide:

1. Business Exits: Best Business Broker Overall

Even if your motivation for selling your company is not financial, you should obtain its maximum value.

Since its inception in 2013, Business Exits has built a solid reputation around helping entrepreneurs position their companies for the highest possible sale price.

This is due to the team’s experience as entrepreneurs who have run, purchased, and sold businesses.

Business Exits is ideal for selling businesses with revenues of $2M to $50M.

It has a private database of over 20k premium investors in every industry willing to buy growing and profitable businesses.

Buyers on this exclusive list account for over half of all closed deals.

To increase the number of prospective buyers, the brokerage firm offers a custom marketing plan.

Below is a quick overview of Business Exits’s services and features:

• Free business valuation within 12 hours
• A database of 20k+ buyers
• A custom marketing plan
• 91% success rate of selling within six months
• Made by entrepreneurs with diverse market experiences
• $0 upfront fees

If you’re a buyer, you can browse the business listings on the broker’s website or register for updates on businesses for sale.

2. Synergy Business Brokers: Best for Both Buying and Selling Companies

Synergy Business Brokers was established in 2002 and has sold over 200 businesses to date.

The broker specializes in selling businesses with annual revenues of $700,000 to $70M in the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, services, technology, and transportation industries. 

You can view the companies Synergy Business Brokers has sold in your industry from the website.

With a database of more than 30,000 potential buyers and a comprehensive marketing plan for different sites like Google, YouTube, BizBuySell, etc., chances of a sale success are high.

Your business name and other identifiable details are not placed in Ads, and potential buyers sign a non-disclosure agreement to ensure confidentiality.

When working with Synergy Business Brokers, you won’t pay any fees until your business is sold.

Notably, the broker has a five-star Google rating and is a member of the International Business brokers association.

Synergy Brokers also puts similar effort into helping buyers get business deals, unlike most brokers who overemphasize sellers.

You can view all the businesses available for sale from the broker’s website.

The site allows quick browsing based on industry, location, price, keyword, etc.

If you qualify, the broker can help you obtain financing from several banks.

Here’s a quick rundown of Synergy Brokers’ services and features:

• Over 30,000 potential buyers
• Confidential business sales
• National exposure
• Experienced negotiators and a team of award-winning sales agents

3. Sunbelt Business Brokers: Best for Large and Small Businesses

Sunbelt Business Brokers has a long-standing reputation for helping entrepreneurs buy and sell businesses since 1976.

It has sold thousands of businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, retail, and automotive.

Sunbelt Business Brokers distinguishes itself from the other top-rated alternatives by its willingness to work with companies with lower annual revenue.

It works with businesses with annual revenues ranging from less than $1 million to more than $1 million.

The business broker keeps your crucial business details confidential to help you keep running it smoothly during the whole sale process. 

Sunbelt makes the search process easier if you’re a buyer by allowing you to filter available opportunities based on geography (country, state), industry, and listing price.

You can also find your local Sunbelt Broker location to get deals before they’re advertised on the internet.

Sunbelt is a franchise that allows you to evaluate and secure different franchise opportunities.

Here’s what you can expect from Sunbelt in a nutshell:

• An extensive network of potential buyers
• Qualified brokers with expertise in various areas
• 1,000+ agents in 150+ offices
• A generic business listing

4. Transworld Business Advisors: Best for Buying a Franchise

Transworld Business Advisors is a well-established business broker franchise with over 40 years of experience, 10,000+ businesses sold, 600+ qualified brokers, and 250+ offices worldwide.

The business broker specializes in the sale of businesses, mergers, and franchises in multiple industries.

Transworld gives equal weight to sellers and buyers.

The broker provides advice, business search help, and guidance for qualified buyers throughout the transaction process.

If you want to sell your business, you’ll complete a simple seller registration form, and a broker will contact you for a free consultation. 

Transworld represents about 200 franchises, making it ideal if you’re looking to own a franchise.

You’ll get free franchise consultation to help you find suitable opportunities, a list of best matches, and guidance on due diligence. 

5. Woodbridge International: Best for Selling a High-Revenue Business Quickly

Founded in 1993, Woodbridge International has built a solid reputation in the Mergers and Acquisitions space.

If you like the idea of selling your business through competitive bidding, you’ll have a lot to love about this broker. 

Woodbridge believes getting the best sale price is possible through generating demand for your business via auction and selecting the highest and most fitting buyer. 

The broker handles the difficult work, including creating a marketing video for your business and identifying the most fitting buyers.

Each deal gets an average of 15 bids.

Your company must have an annual revenue of $5M to $150M to be considered. 

Here’s a highlight of Woodbridge International’s services and features:

• Time-based auction for quick and high sales prices
• An average of 15 bids
• An appealing marketing video

6. Calhoun Business Brokers: Best for Buying and Selling Established Businesses

Established in 1908, Calhoun has been serving entrepreneurs for over a century.

With its rich history and deep roots in the business brokerage industry, Calhoun has built a reputation for providing high-quality services to its clients and consistently achieving successful outcomes.

The broker works with small to midsize companies in different industries.

However, the broker has in-depth experience selling businesses in the commercial real estate space.

It offers a range of buying, selling, and leasing commercial real estate services.

Calhoun has 23 qualified brokers, zero upfront seller fees, and an average of 63 businesses sold annually.

It’s a member of IBBA, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, M&A Source, and the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota.

As a buyer, you can filter the businesses available for sale by industry, state, cash flow, keyword, and listing price.

The company boasts an average of 150 active listings annually, so you’ll most likely find one suitable for your needs.

Calhoun brokerage services and features include:

• Zero upfront fees
• Affiliations to reputable organizations like Better Business Bureau
• An average of 63 businesses sold annually
• Buyer and seller support throughout the process

7. First Choice Business Brokers: Best for Businesses With Revenue Under 100M

First Choice Business Brokers business brokers is a reputable company that has been in business since 1994.

It’s accredited by the Institute of Business Appraisers, the International Business Brokers Association, and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

First Choice Business Brokers keeps your business sale private by requiring potential buyers to sign a Buyer Confidentiality Agreement (NDA) before providing the details.

The broker advertises your business on reputable websites to generate demand for it and handles all inquiries, vetting, and negotiations for you. 

First Choice Business Brokers has agents nationwide, making the chances of finding a suitable one in your area high.

The best part is the brokerage company conducts business valuations, finds the best buyer, and handles all transactions at no cost to you until the deal is closed.

The services and features you can expect from this brokerage firm include:

• Private business sale process
• Affiliations to trusted organizations
• Offices nationwide
• Free business valuation and zero upfront fees

8. Website Closers: Best for Selling and Buying Online Businesses

If you want to sell or buy a digital company, Website Closers can help.

Its primary customers are tech and internet companies in various niches worth $50,000 to $200M. 

They provide a wide range of services to help clients buy or sell a business, including valuation services and assistance with the sales process.

The brokerage handles everything from valuation to negotiation at no cost to you until your company sells. 

Website Closers boasts more than 800,000 buyers in its private database.

It also offers a detailed marketing strategy to generate a buzz around your business. 

The team includes serial entrepreneurs, attorneys, accountants, and consultants, so you’ll have every necessary help during the sale process.

Established in 2010, the company has been in business for a long time, making it a reputable broker for buying and selling online businesses.

Some of the companies sold include websites and domains, technology and IP companies, advertising and marketing services, SEO firms, Amazon and e-commerce businesses, etc.

Website Closers features and services include:

• Diverse industries
• A private database of over 800,000 buyers
• A detailed marketing strategy
• $0 upfront fees

9. Peterson Acquisitions: Best for Mergers and Acquisitions

Chad Peterson, an entrepreneur, author, and business broker, founded Peter Acquisitions in 2005.

Peterson Acquisitions can help you buy, sell, or merge a business.

Not all top-rated business brokerages offer merging and acquisitions services, so we’ll have to give Peterson Acquisitions extra points for this.

The company boasts a one-click 24hr company valuation, exclusive buyers list of 3,000+, a 4.9 Google rating, and a 90% closing rate.

Working with Peterson is quite straightforward.

All you have to do is complete the valuation form, and an agent will respond within 24 hrs with an accurate valuation.

To protect your business, the brokerage requires potential buyers to sign a bulletproof non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and requests financial information to ensure they can purchase it.

Peterson Acquisitions serves different industries and with varying annual revenue.

Whether your company is a foundation repair contractor with a revenue of $225,000 or a digital marketing agency with a revenue of $2M, you’ll have a place with this broker.

Below is a summary of Peterson Acquisitions firm features and services:

• A 90% closing rate
• A one-click 24hr company valuation
• 3,000+ buyers list

10. Murphy Business & Financial Corporation: Best for Commercial Real Estate, Machinery, and Equipment Spaces

Since its establishment in 1994, Murphy Business Brokers has built a steady track record of closing deals with a high success rate.

Over the years, Murphy has completed over $2 billion in business transactions. 

Murphy helps businesses in different industries, from healthcare to construction, manufacturing, food and beverage, and retail.

However, the brokerage focuses more on smaller companies in the commercial real estate, machinery, equipment, and franchise sectors.

Here’s an overview of the services offered by Murphy:

• Confidential business listing
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Franchise sales
• Business valuations
• Machinery & equipment appraisal
• Commercial real estate sales
• Business Consulting

11. VR Business Brokers: Best for Selling Privately Held Businesses

VR Business Brokers opened its doors to entrepreneurs in 1979 and has generated over 70,000 sales.

It has offices scattered in the US and Canada.

The brokerage offers business sales, mergers & acquisitions, and other related business intermediary services, such as business valuations and consulting.

VR Business Brokers focuses on selling privately held small and midsize businesses looking for an exit strategy.

The firm prefers to set up the initial meeting in your establishment to give a better feel of the overall business. 

After the meeting and free market evaluation, VR gives you a written proposal with a pricing strategy, marketing details, and broker information.

The company doesn’t list your business until you approve the marketing materials, which is crucial if you want confidentiality or your business to appear in a specific way.

For buyers, VR offers advanced search features to help you browse through the available listings conveniently.

You can narrow down the business for sale search by industry, business size, revenue, earnings, and state or county. 

When you express interest in purchasing a business, VR requires you to sign a confidentiality agreement and provide information that indicates you’re financially qualified to complete the acquisition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Word on the Best Business Brokers

Choosing the right business broker is critical in selling or buying a business, and it’s important to take the time to find the right fit.

Each top-rated business brokerage firm has its strengths, weaknesses, and features, making them ideal for different types of entrepreneurs.

The right broker for you will depend on various factors, such as your company size, revenue, and preferences.