Finding deals · Topic guide
Brokers
Intermediaries who help sellers find buyers, buyers find businesses, or borrowers find lenders.
The word broker covers different jobs. A sell-side broker represents an owner seeking a buyer. A buy-side broker helps an acquirer find targets. A debt broker helps identify lenders and assemble a financing process. Knowing which role someone occupies explains what information they need, whose objectives they prioritize and how their remuneration could influence the conversation.
In the collection, sell-side access improves when a buyer demonstrates credible preparation and an ability to execute. For borrowing, a broker can translate financial information into approaches to lenders whose appetite fits the transaction. The broker does not replace the lender’s credit decision. Distinguish an introduction, an indicative response and a committee-backed proposal before reporting progress to a seller. Watch source Watch source
Check fees and responsibilities in the actual engagement. Sey discourages inexperienced buyers from spending scarce search runway on lengthy buy-side retainers, but that is a judgment about affordability rather than proof that retained search has no value. His separate claim that lenders pay debt brokers should not become a universal zero-fee assumption. Watch source Compare the cash cost, success conditions, exclusivity and scope of each engagement. The useful result is a better qualified process, not merely a longer list of names. Watch source
Follow the connections
Sourcing · Bank debt · Debt pricing.
Continue in the course: Building a deal pipeline.
Numbers in context
- Buy-side broker fee · £1,500–£2,000/month; ~£24k–£30k over year/15 monthsRule of thumb
Monthly buy-side search retainers illustrate a cost of outsourcing target sourcing.
This service differs from a debt broker reportedly paid by lenders; historical quotes are not current prices.
- Buyside broker cost · £1,500–£2,500/monthRule of thumb
A monthly retainer range illustrates paid acquisition sourcing.
The estimate is not a current service quotation.
- Valuation base sensitivity · 3x 2024 earnings = 4.4x 2023–2024 averagePersonal experience
A broker conversation shows how switching the earnings period changes the quoted multiple.
Underlying accounts are unavailable, so the calculation cannot be independently reconstructed.
- Cleaning target range · £1m–£5m earningsPersonal experience
Broker feedback suggests few commercial-cleaning targets meet the requested earnings scale.
This is a sourcing anecdote, not a complete market census.
- Broker marketing fee · £10k–£20k upfront, £15k exampleRule of thumb
Upfront fees are used to explain one possible sell-side broker business model.
The amounts are examples, not a current fee schedule or universal practice.
Sources & further viewing 5 videos
The explanations on this site are independent synthesis. Follow each original for full context. A reported experience is not independent proof of a transaction.
- Educational Credit broker and information package
- Opinion Buy-side broker affordability
- Educational Credibility and access
- Personal experience Lender-paid debt broker