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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Guest Podcast by Morgan & Westfield: How to Avoid Predatory Buyers
Selling Your Business
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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The Funnel, Ep. 15: What Happens To Your People?
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The Funnel, Ep. 15: What Happens To Your People?
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Advisor fees are more standardized than most founders expect. Kirk breaks down typical percentages, minimums, retainers, and how fees scale by deal size.

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The Funnel, Ep. 14: How Much Will You Pay In Taxes?
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The Funnel, Ep. 14: How Much Will You Pay In Taxes?
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The sale price doesn’t matter if taxes take a massive bite. Most founders don’t see this coming until it’s too late.

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The Funnel, Ep. 13: How Do You Compare Offers?
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The Funnel, Ep. 13: How Do You Compare Offers?
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Five offers. Same headline price. Very different outcomes. This is how smart founders separate real money from wishful thinking.

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The Funnel, Ep. 12: What's An 'Earn-Out' and Should You Agree?
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The Funnel, Ep. 12: What's An 'Earn-Out' and Should You Agree?
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Most founders accept earn-outs without realizing how rarely they actually pay out. Here’s why earn-outs look good on paper—and quietly kill real exit value.

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The Funnel, Ep. 11: What's an "LOI"?
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The Funnel, Ep. 11: What's an "LOI"?
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This episode breaks it down clearly, so you know exactly where an LOI fits into the sale of your business and how to think about it before you ever sign one.

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INVESTMENT BANKING SERVICES

by Candor Advisors

Mike Simpson https://variant.media
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