About Us
Our Story
Selling your business represents an opportunity to recognize the value of your life’s work. It’s probably the most important deal of your life, and you only get one chance to sell. Fortunately, well-capitalized strategic and private equity buyers are increasingly interested in buying and investing in Main Street businesses. This represents an enormous opportunity to maximize the sale price of your business.
However, small and mid-sized businesses are still often represented by local business brokers who lack national reach and relationships with well capitalized buyers. Owners of multi-million dollar businesses deserve to be represented by a transaction advisor that can run a competitive auction process with numerous potential buyers. You deserve an advisor who knows exactly what buyers in your industry are looking for and how to position your business in the market.
Unfortunately, most reputable investment banks will only handle deals worth over $100m. We founded Brentwood Growth because we saw a hole in the market. Businesses worth between $3 and $100m require more comprehensive service than a local business broker can provide, but they are often too small to attract the attention of leading investment banks. At Brentwood, we bring the professionalization and expertise of an investment bank to this segment of the market. In fact, our advisors have experience working at leading investment banks, private equity firms, consulting firms, and law firms. Our goal is to provide Wall Street caliber service to Main Street businesses.
Our fees are 100% performance based paid at close of transaction.
Our Team
JOHN BARTLETT
John is the former president of a $100 million service company, which he led the growth from $10m to $100m over a 10 year period. He then negotiated the terms that resulted in the successful sale of that business. Since that time he has been involved in the acquisition and sale of 6 other business ventures.
John founded Brentwood Growth with the intention of assisting other business owners realize their dreams as they grew and transitioned their business. He knows first-hand the magnitude of this decision, how to advise an owner and the buyer network of private equity, consolidators and strategic buyers very well. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.
STEVE THOMPSON
Steve Thompson has spent most of his career as an M&A and corporate development focused CFO of mid-market businesses. He was instrumental in all areas of successful divestiture and financing transactions in industries which include software, distribution, manufacturing, and logistics.
He has closed just under $1 billion of M&A and financing transactions. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina.
HEATHER CUNDEY
Heather Cundey is an experienced business executive and franchise owner. With almost 30 years working for large New York public relations firms, Wall Street investment banks, a boutique financial advisor, and owning an interior design firm and franchise business, she has experienced all sides of companies and businesses. She understands the details of evaluating the proper balance of risk / return from an investment and work-life prospective. Having worked with franchisors she knows what to look for when selecting the right franchise match. Heather also is a marketing expert with a great understanding of the use of social media. She is a graduate of Cornell University.
Referrals
Brentwood Growth welcomes referrals from CPAs, attorneys, financial planners, and other business owners. We offer generous referral fees upon the successful closing of a transaction for making the introduction.
Many of the business owners we work with need some sort of financial or legal assistance to sell their businesses, and we certainly prefer referring them to someone we know and trust as opposed to them trying to find the same help on their own.
Recent News & Resources
Maximizing Success: Earnout Agreements in M&A Deals
Closing the valuation gap in M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) deals is often about getting the earnings negotiation just right. This conditional payment structure adjusts the purchase price based on the performance of the business after it’s been bought, creating a...
Essential Company Values Examples to Elevate Your Business Ethos
Considering the concept of company values often leads to a vital question: how do they affect business success? Here, we unpack the essence of company values, showcase how they can become your strategic assets and provide insight on aligning them with your business...
Why Good Bookkeeping Matters in the Selling Process
The decision to sell your business can be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking for large and small business owners alike. Whether you're embarking on new ventures or entering retirement, preparing to sell your business demands careful planning and precise execution....
How Management Team Depth Affects the Value of a Business
The success and longevity of any business is intricately tied to the strength and depth of its management team. The depth of a management team not only impacts the day-to-day operations and decision-making of a business, but also significantly influences its overall...
What is A Business Broker?
A business broker plays an integral role in selling for full value and in a timely manner.
We serve an intermediary between a business owner (the seller) and the buyer.