What is the Difference Between an Investment Banker, Business Broker and Exit Planner?

Finding a GuideImportant Terms
Written By Mike Simpson

For founders exploring a sale or transition event for their business, knowing who does what, and which terms matter most, can be pretty confusing. Do you need to use an Investment Banker? Is a Business Broker the same role with a different title? What's an Exit Planner? Here's a quick summary, from our perspective.

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6 Secrets to Selling Your Business

Featured
Why Selling Your Business Feels So Hard
Selling Your Business, Exit planning, Exit Strategy, Investment Banker, Mergers & Acquisitions
Why Selling Your Business Feels So Hard
Selling Your Business, Exit planning, Exit Strategy, Investment Banker, Mergers & Acquisitions

Why does selling feel so overwhelming? You’re not imagining it.

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Selling Your Business, Exit planning, Exit Strategy, Investment Banker, Mergers & Acquisitions
Q1’25 M&A Market Update: Why It’s a Strong Time to Sell
Selling Your Business, market update
Q1’25 M&A Market Update: Why It’s a Strong Time to Sell
Selling Your Business, market update

Still a seller’s market—for the right type of business.

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Selling Your Business, market update
The true cost of selling your company—broken down.
Selling Your Business, Exit Strategy, Exit planning
The true cost of selling your company—broken down.
Selling Your Business, Exit Strategy, Exit planning

The true cost of selling your company—broken down.

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Selling Your Business, Exit Strategy, Exit planning
Will They Keep Your People? Here’s How to Think About It.
Selling Your Business, post sale
Will They Keep Your People? Here’s How to Think About It.
Selling Your Business, post sale

Will your staff survive the sale? Kirk Michie breaks down how buyers think about your team—and what you can do to protect the people who helped build your business.

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Selling Your Business, post sale
Efficiency Sells: How Great Ops Boost Your Valuation
Selling Your Business, Exit planning, Exit Strategy, valuation
Efficiency Sells: How Great Ops Boost Your Valuation
Selling Your Business, Exit planning, Exit Strategy, valuation

Clean ops, strong margins, and high EBITDA can get you a premium valuation. Here’s how to get there.

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Selling Your Business, Exit planning, Exit Strategy, valuation
The Costly Mistake Founders Make: Telling People Too Early
Selling Your Business, Exit planning, Exit Strategy, Timing
The Costly Mistake Founders Make: Telling People Too Early
Selling Your Business, Exit planning, Exit Strategy, Timing

Founders often feel tempted to announce a sale early. But telling customers or employees too soon can jeopardize the deal. Here’s when—and how—to share the news.

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Selling Your Business, Exit planning, Exit Strategy, Timing

INVESTMENT BANKING SERVICES

by Candor Advisors

Mike Simpson https://variant.media
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