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May 1, 2025

Should You Hire a Sell-Side Advisor? Why it's not always a no-brainer

Welcome back to the Mid Market Insider!

Today, we’re breaking down why hiring a sell-side advisor isn’t always a no-brainer when selling your business, and how a simple, direct approach can lead to better outcomes.


Many business owners assume they have to hire a sell-side advisor to get the best outcome when selling their business.

But that isn’t always true.

In fact, about half of our deals have been direct, without advisors involved.

Sometimes, simplicity leads to better results.

Advisors can add value in certain cases.

But they don’t guarantee a higher price or alignment with your goals.

Some of our most successful partnerships started with direct conversations between us and the seller.

No middleman required.

These relationships were built over time, based on trust and shared understanding.

When you know your buyer personally, it’s easier to ensure your business ends up in the right hands.

That said, hiring an advisor isn’t inherently a bad decision—it just depends on your situation.

If you prefer a more hands-off approach, an advisor might be helpful.

But don’t hire one just because it feels like the “default” option.

Selling your business is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make.

It’s important to weigh all your options carefully and choose the path that aligns with your goals, whether that’s working directly with buyers or bringing in an advisor.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

If you’re considering selling your business, don’t assume there’s only one way forward.

Sometimes the simplest approach is also the best one.

📺 What to Watch This Week

We just posted a new video on our YouTube channel!

Click the link below and check it out:

That’s all for today’s newsletter! Thanks for reading!

📅 Next Week:

In next week’s edition, I want to talk about sale-leasebacks and why they’re not as bad as most people say.

Keep building,
Nick

P.S. 

If you want to hear more from ‘The Most Boring Guy In Private Equity’, follow me on LinkedIn and YouTube. I dive into the world of private equity, share some tips and tricks for small business owners, and most importantly, share my industry knowledge.

Make sure to follow me so you don’t miss out!

If you want to discuss your business goals in greater detail book a discovery call: https://calendly.com/nickmclean/discovery-call. 

Just remember, this won’t cost you a dime and you get what you pay for :)

I just launched a podcast, Ambition with Nick!

Links can be found here:

Apple
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LinkedIn: Nick McLean
YouTube: NickFourPillars



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On the Ambition podcast, hear firsthand accounts of the challenges, risks, and rewards of transforming businesses from mom-and-pop shops to complex enterprises.

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