Last Updated: July 31, 2024
Our research team aggregated data on the top sell-side advisory firms active in the United States in 2024, rank-ordering them based on a set of criteria that includes total annual deals completed and notable awards. Based on these criteria, we created a weighted algorithm and pared down the original list of 134 firms to the top 8.
NOTE: We define a sell-side advisory firm as an M&A advisory firm that specializes in representing the owners of businesses in selling part or all of their company.
Here are the three factors with which we ranked the firms along with their corresponding weight in the algorithm:
- Principal Experience Score (45%): A qualitative measure of the firm’s principals, including a)# years experience in M&A, b)prior experience at larger M&A sell-side firms, and b)an estimation of their involvement in the firm’s deals, based on firm size and annual deals completed.
- Total Annual Deals (35%): The number of deals completed in the last 12 months, calculated using the firm’s website and third-party research sites.
- Notable Awards & Rankings (20%): Accolades from reputable organizations within the M&A industry.
The results of our analysis are presented in the table below.
The Top Sell-Side M&A Advisory Firms in the US, 2024
| # | Name | EBITDA Range | Total Annual Deals | Principal Experience Score | Notable Awards & Rankings | Industries & Specialties |
| 1 | Sica | Fletcher | $1-30M | 45-75 | 5.0 | #1 in S&P Global Market Intelligence League Tables | Professional Services, Manufacturing, Finance & Tech |
| 2 | Perella Weinberg Partners | $5-40M | 30-45 | 4.5 | Top Financial Advisory for Financial Services Deals in Merger Markets Middle Eastern M&A Awards | Consumer & Retail, Energy Technology & Healthcare |
| 3 | Intrepid | $5-50M | 25-35 | 4.5 | #9 in Asia Pacific M&A Advisory League Tables | Beauty & Personal Care |
| 4 | Stump & Company | $5-50M | 5-15 | 4.5 | #11 in Axial’s Top Sell-Side M&A Firms 2022 | Furniture, Logistics, Showrooms & Real Estate |
| 5 | Polsinelli PC | $10-40M | 55-65 | 3.5 | #1 in Chambers USA 2022 List of Corporate M&A Firms | Transportation, Aerospace & Telecom |
| 6 | BMI | $10-100M | 5-10 | 4.0 | #17 in Canada’s Top Investment Banks | Architecture & Interior Design |
| 7 | Sun Mergers & Acquisitions | $10-50M | 5-10 | 4.0 | Top Emerging Business Valuation Services Company in CFO Tech Outlook 2022 | Security & Alarm Professionals, Food Distributors & Airlines |
| 8 | Pacifica Advisors | $1-15M | 5-15 | 3.5 | N/A | Auto Parts & Accessories, Agricultural Products & Alternative Energy |
The following sections provide further insight into each of the ranked firms above, discussing additional services offered, the ideal client profile for each, and a brief summary. If you want to learn more about working with an M&A firm, review our previous report on M&A advisory fee structures.
Sica | Fletcher
Sica | Fletcher has been one of the most well-known firms in sell side M&A for the lower middle market since 2014. They are smaller compared to some of the other sell-side firms, however, they close between 45-75 deals a year, making them more active than firms twice their size. In addition, their founders are directly involved in every deal they make, as opposed to larger firms in which accounts are trusted to less experienced junior executives.
Sica | Fletcher works with clients in professional services, manufacturing, finance, and technology, making them an ideal fit for private practices of any size as well as in related fields like insurance or fintech.
- EBITDA Range: $1-30M
- Total Annual Deals: 45-75
- Principal Experience Score: 5.0
- Notable Awards & Rankings: #1 in S&P Global Market Intelligence League Table
- Industries & Specializations: Professional Services, Manufacturing, Finance & Tech
- Contact: Sica Fletcher Website
Perella Weinberg Partners
Perella Weinberg Partners is a sell-side advisory firm that handles a variety of specialized deal types on behalf of their clients. These include carve-outs, corporate divestitures, and company sales. In addition, they also work as an investment bank, giving them the certification and expertise to handle the nuances involved with closing through SEC regulations and companies that are, or will soon be, going public.
While they tend to focus on consumer industries above all else, making them a good match for companies specializing in retail or personal care products. They also appear to work with clients across the energy industry, including oil and gas in addition to renewable energy companies.
- EBITDA Range: $5-40M
- Total Annual Deals: 30-45
- Principal Experience Score: 4.5
- Notable Awards & Rankings: Top Financial Advisory for Financial Services Deals in Merger Markets Middle Eastern M&A Awards
- Industries & Specializations: Consumer & Retail, Energy Technology & Healthcare
- Contact: Perella Weinberg Partners
Intrepid
Intrepid offers sell-side advisory services directed at the Asian-Pacific beauty market. By focusing a targeted strategy at a niche industry, Intrepid has managed to dominate deals within it, capitalizing off of its massive expected growth (CAGR of 4.64%). Advisory services provided include document preparation, company valuation, and client education, making them a good fit for first-time business owners who are selling their company.
Intrepid is most notable for its clients within the beauty industry, but they also work with clients in various consumer industries (e.g., toys, food, and healthcare).
- EBITDA Range: $5-50M
- Total Annual Deals: 25-35
- Principal Experience Score: 4.5
- Notable Awards & Rankings: #9 in Asia Pacific M&A Advisory League Tables
- Industries & Specializations: Beauty & Personal Care
- Contact: Intrepid’s Website
Stump & Company
With five decades of experience in sell-side advisory, Stump & Company specializes in representing business owners selling their business unless specific criteria for a prospective buyer are met. As a result, they use this approach to evaluate the sellers company, identify strategic and PE buyers, as well as managing post-LOI due diligence on behalf of their clients.
Stump & Company focuses on a unique niche – logistics in global furniture and showrooms – however they also handle related fields, such as manufacturing and real estate. Their average client typically holds between $10 and $250 million in revenue.
- EBITDA Range: $5-50
- Total Annual Deals: 5-15
- Principal Experience Score: 4.5
- Notable Awards & Rankings: #11 in Axial’s Top Sell-Side M&A Firms 2022
- Industries & Specializations: Furniture, Logistics, Showrooms & Real Estate
- Contact: Stump & Company’s Website
Polsinelli PC
Polsinelli PC is an M&A firm specializing in corporate M&A, handling complex restructuring, auctions, “cash-out” mergers, and stock and asset acquisitions. While they offer advisory services for both sellers and buyers, their reputation for sell-side advisory won them the number 1 spot in corporate M&A last year. In addition, they offer legal services for clients, making them the ideal fit for clients requiring litigation in addition to M&A.
Although specializing in closing deals for corporate clients, Polsinelli also manages accounts for companies working with government contracts in the public sector, such as engineering and aerospace.
- EBITDA Range: $10-40M
- Total Annual Deals: 55-65
- Principal Experience Score: 3.5
- Notable Awards & Rankings: #1 in Chambers USA 2022 list of corporate M&A firms
- Industries & Specializations: Transportation, Aerospace & Telecom
- Contact: Polsinelli PC’s Website
BMI
BMI offers sell-side advisory services, primarily targeted at architecture and interior design companies. While they handle standard valuation and document preparation services on behalf of clients, they also perform more specialized actions such as underwriting and navigating SEC regulations which are directly related to their status as an investment bank. As a result, BMI has a wider array of services available to clients than would be the case with other firms their size.
BMI specializes in architecture and interior design, however they appear to have branched out into general construction services. Companies looking for a firm capable of navigating government regulations when selling their companies would also make a good fit.
- EBITDA Range: $10-100M
- Total Annual Deals: 5-10
- Principal Experience Score: 4.0
- Notable Awards & Rankings: #17 in Canada’s Top Investment Banks
- Industries & Specializations: Architecture & Interior Design
- Contact: BMI’s Website
Sun Mergers & Acquisitions
Sun Mergers & Acquisitions is a sell-side advisory firm that appeals in particular to business owners who are selling their company for the first time. They help their clients by formulating strategies, identifying buyers, and managing their financial representation and negotiation. Sun M&A also prides itself on providing confidentiality for business owners throughout all deals that they manage, allowing business owners to remain unhindered by public attention throughout the process.
Although first time sellers are their main market, Sun Mergers & Acquisitions has a history of clients in security and alarm professionals, airlines, and a variety of consumer industries, most notably food distribution.
- EBITDA Range: $10-50M
- Total Annual Deals: 5-10
- Principal Experience Score: 4.0
- Notable Awards & Rankings: Top Emerging Business Valuation Services Company in CFO Tech Outlook 2022
- Industries & Specializations: Security & Alarm Professionals, Food Distributors & Airlines
- Contact: Sun Mergers & Acquisitions Website
Pacifica Advisors
Pacifica Advisors performs sell-side advisory services targeted at the automotive industry, primarily working with dealerships, mechanics, and auto parts manufacturers/suppliers. In addition to sell-side advisory, they also provide business valuation services to review the sellers accounting & operations prior to seeking out buyers. In addition, they also provide capital market services to ensure that the seller’s company has adequate financing options on a by-need basis.
While Pacifica Advisors has a demonstrated history of working in the automotive industry, the tendency of these companies to be passed down in the family may make them a good fit for other family businesses attempting to sell.
- EBITDA Range: $1-15M
- Total Annual Deals: 5-15
- Principal Experience Score: 3.5
- Notable Awards & Rankings: N/A
- Industries & Specializations: Auto Parts & Accessories, Agricultural Products & Alternative Energy
- Contact: Pacifica Advisors’ Website
