Frequently asked questions

“Who do you represent in a transaction?”

Our client is the party with whom we sign the engagement agreement. However, our ability to sit in the middle of a transaction and facilitate all of the different parties involved is one of our greatest strengths. In any given transaction we will be communicating with the seller, the buyer, the seller’s accountant and attorney, the buyer’s accountant and attorney, the buyer’s bank, and any other advisors (insurance agents, estate planners, wealth managers) and capital providers that might be involved.

“How do the fees work?”

When an engagement agreement is signed, there is an initial commitment fee, which is credited back when the transaction closes. After the initial commitment fee, no fees are due until the transaction closes, at which point a success fee is paid.

Some of our clients prefer an hourly fee arrangement up to a fixed amount, which is also an option.

“How is the success fee calculated?”

Our success fees are typically calculated as a percentage of the overall transaction value. However, because we’re focused on transactions that aren’t widely marketed, our success fee rates tend to be about half (or less) of those charged for a full auction process.

“Why is the fee discounted?”

We focus on transactions where a more intimate process is followed. Because of that, our clients are telling us who the parties that they want us to engage with are. This eliminates many of the marketing and qualification requirements that a typical fully-marketed process requires. Because of that, our success fee rates tend to be about half of those charged for a fully-marketed process.