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

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Platform vs. Add-On Acquisitions: How Private Equity Decides Your Valuation Multiple
Selling Your Business, Private Equity, Selling Shares, Exit planning, Mergers & Acquisitions
Platform vs. Add-On Acquisitions: How Private Equity Decides Your Valuation Multiple
Selling Your Business, Private Equity, Selling Shares, Exit planning, Mergers & Acquisitions

Many founders hear terms like “platform company” or “tuck-in acquisition” during a sale process without understanding what they actually mean. In this video, Kirk Michie explains how private equity firms categorize businesses and why those labels can directly affect valuation multiples.

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Q1 2026 M&A Market Update: Why Buyers Are Getting Pickier
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The market is still strong for A and A+ companies, but private equity buyers are becoming more selective. Kirk Michie explains what founders should know before deciding whether now is the right time to sell.

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Planning Ahead: Tax Strategy for Founder-Led Exits
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Selling Your Business, Private Equity, Selling Shares, Exit planning, Mergers & Acquisitions

Most founders think about taxes too late in the sale process. In this video, Kirk Michie explains why exit tax planning should start earlier, how deal structure changes tax exposure, and why moving states right before a sale usually does not work the way founders expect.

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Inspired Stories - Why Most Founders Get Outnegotiated in M&A Deals
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Kirk Michie explains why private equity buyers often know more than the seller — and what founders can do years before a transaction to improve valuation, terms, and control.

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Do You Really Need a Professional Business Appraisal?
Selling Your Business, Private Equity, Selling Shares, Exit planning, Mergers & Acquisitions
Do You Really Need a Professional Business Appraisal?
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Thinking about selling your business and wondering if you need to pay for a professional appraisal first? Watch this quick video to learn why you can probably skip it and save tens of thousands of dollars instead.

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Selling Your Business, Private Equity, Selling Shares, Exit planning, Mergers & Acquisitions
Guest Podcast by Morgan & Westfield: How to Avoid Predatory Buyers
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Selling your business puts you in a room with someone who does this for a living. If you’re not prepared, the deal will be shaped around their experience—not yours. This conversation breaks down how predatory buyers operate, the subtle ways value gets chipped away, and what founders can do to protect themselves before fatigue and pressure take over.

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Selling Your Business

INVESTMENT BANKING SERVICES

by Candor Advisors

Mike Simpson https://variant.media
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