Tim Lamb Group
Tim Lamb Group is a privately held, Columbus, Ohio-based auto dealership M&A brokerage founded in 2006. It represents sellers and buyers of franchised automotive dealerships across North America through fifteen regional directors, monetizing via transaction fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Tim Lamb Group does
Tim Lamb Group, LLC is a privately held auto dealership mergers and acquisitions brokerage firm founded in 2006 by Tim Lamb and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The firm acts as an intermediary representing sellers and buyers of franchised automotive dealerships across the United States and Canada, with deal execution supported by fifteen regional directors placed across major North American geographies and by a seasoned internal team focused on tax and legal issues. Leadership is sourced from OEM and retail dealership backgrounds, including 30-year Ford Motor Company veterans Chris Infantino and Bob Wolfbauer (who personally signed 300+ dealer appointment files at Ford) and 40-year industry veteran Mark Beford, with President Tim Lamb personally involved on every transaction.
The core product is a single, unified brokerage service — auto dealership sales, mergers, and acquisitions — delivered through a high-touch, relationship-driven process that includes confidential buyer sourcing, professional presentation preparation, manufacturer-approval navigation, and tax/legal guidance. The firm does not operate a software platform, marketplace, or technology product; it monetizes exclusively through transaction fees tied to completed dealership deals. Revenue is therefore episodic and deal-driven, with fee economics tied to dealership transaction values that typically run into the millions per store.
The go-to-market is enterprise field sales executed by regional directors who maintain direct relationships with decision makers at large private and public dealer groups, private equity firms partnered with dealer operators, and family offices. Marketing is limited primarily to the firm website, earned media through press release coverage of completed transactions, and participation in industry associations such as NAMAD. The firm self-describes as the #1 auto dealership broker in North America and reports handling billions of dollars per year in transaction volume, with 120+ dealerships sold in Ohio alone over its 19-year operating history and repeat-buyer relationships with consolidating groups including Victory Automotive Group, Five Star Automotive Group, Coughlin Automotive, and Baumann Auto Group.
Tim Lamb Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tim Lamb Group
- Legal name
- Tim Lamb Group, LLC
- Website
- https://timlambgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tim Lamb Group is a privately held, Columbus, Ohio-based auto dealership M&A brokerage founded in 2006. It represents sellers and buyers of franchised automotive dealerships across North America through fifteen regional directors, monetizing via transaction fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Tim Lamb Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tim Lamb Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Brokerage Commission on Dealership Transactions: Tim Lamb Group earns fees for brokering the sale, merger, or acquisition of auto dealerships. As a finder in California, they serve as an intermediary connecting buyers and sellers of automotive dealerships. Revenue is generated through successful transaction completion rather than subscription or recurring models.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Tim Lamb Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tim Lamb Group is a professional brokerage firm that facilitates the sale, merger, and acquisition of auto dealerships across the United States and Canada. The firm acts as an intermediary between dealership owners (sellers) and qualified buyers (private and public dealer groups, private equity groups, and family offices), managing confidential transactions, navigating OEM manufacturer approval processes, and providing expert guidance on tax and legal matters.
Product overview
Tim Lamb Group operates as a single, unified business services offering: auto dealership sales, mergers, and acquisitions brokerage. The firm does not offer a modular software platform; instead, it provides expert advisory and intermediary services for dealership transactions. Regional directors leverage OEM and factory management experience alongside retail dealership backgrounds to maximize value for clients. The core service connects motivated buyers and sellers, manages confidential transactions, navigates manufacturer approval processes, and provides tax and legal guidance. All transactions receive personal involvement from company president Tim Lamb.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Auto Dealership Sales, Mergers & Acquisitions Brokerage End-to-end brokerage service facilitating the sale, merger, or acquisition of auto dealerships across the United States and Canada. The firm represents sellers in finding qualified buyers and assists buyers in acquiring dealership franchises, handling transactions from initial consultation through manufacturer approval, with confidentiality and expert guidance on tax and legal matters.
Quantifiable outcome
- Billions of dollars in transactions handled for multiple dealer operators
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Tim Lamb Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tim Lamb Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Tim Lamb Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered major, standard and core.
- Feldman Automotive GroupmajorTim Lamb Group completed sale of four Northern Ohio dealerships formerly owned by Patrick O'Brien of Firelands Automotive Group to Feldman Automotive Group as part of a multi-group transaction.
- Serpentini Auto GroupmajorTim Lamb Group facilitated the sale of North Olmsted Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Ohio to Serpentini Auto Group. Serpentini has been a repeat customer with multiple transactions facilitated by the firm.
- CarHeroesstandardTim Lamb Group Directors Chris Infantino and Bob Wolfbauer facilitated the sale of Friendship Ford of Lenoir, North Carolina to CarHeroes President Matthew Nunlist. This acquisition marked CarHeroes' first franchised dealership.
- Diehl Automotive GroupmajorTim Lamb Group facilitated the sale of Firelands Toyota and Firelands Volkswagen of Wooster, Ohio to Diehl Automotive Group. Transaction closed March 31, 2026, bringing Diehl Automotive Group to 24 dealerships and 11 collision centers throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. This was Diehl's sixth and seventh dealership in Ohio.
- Stt Power Sports, Inc. (Lake Way Motors)standardTim Lamb Group Director Blair Sharpe represented sellers Dick Lepley and Joanne Lepley in the sale of Street Track n' Trail, a Honda automotive and powersports dealership in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania to Brett Dias and Sal Cerra of Stt Power Sports, Inc.
- Firelands Automotive Group (Patrick O'Brien)majorTim Lamb Group completed the sale of all seven Northern Ohio dealerships formerly owned by Patrick O'Brien of Firelands Automotive Group. This represents the conclusion of O'Brien's retail automotive ownership chapter after building one of Northern Ohio's fastest-growing dealership groups.
- Baumann Auto GroupmajorTim Lamb Group facilitated the sale of Firelands Chevrolet of Norwalk, Ohio to Baumann Auto Group. This was the fourth transaction between the firms. Baumann Auto Group now operates nine dealerships representing nine automotive brands in Northwest Ohio.
- Coughlin AutomotivemajorTim Lamb Group facilitated the sale of Bob Chapman Ford in Marysville, Ohio to Coughlin Automotive. The 28,000 square foot dealership spans 6 acres with 24 service bays and a Ford Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center.
- Braden Automotive GroupmajorSteve Corle, Director at Tim Lamb Group, brokered the sale of Performance Cadillac GMC to Braden Automotive Group. This was Braden's first Cadillac GMC dealership and 11th location. Family-owned group started in 2015 with 375 employees across eleven locations in Ohio and Kentucky.
- Victory Automotive GroupmajorSteve Corle brokered the sale of Harvey Auto Group's San Leandro Mazda Dealership to Victory Automotive Group, marking their first Mazda store and 53rd dealership in the US. Victory Automotive Group is a family-owned company headquartered in Canton, Michigan with operations in 11 states.
- Victory Automotive GroupmajorSteve Corle brokered the sale of Metro Toyota in Brook Park, Ohio to Victory Automotive Group. Victory now has 50+ locations representing 14 automotive brands across 11 states.
- Mark Williams Auto GroupstandardChris Infantino brokered the sale of Woody Sander Ford in Cincinnati, Ohio to Mark Williams Auto Group. The third-generation dealership was sold after owners announced retirement.
- Firelands Auto Group (Patrick O'Brien)majorTim Lamb brokered the sale of Victory Honda of Sandusky to Firelands Auto Group. Firelands Auto Group has grown from one store in Norwalk, OH in 2017 to five stores representing multiple brands in Northern Ohio.
- Victory Automotive GroupmajorBlair Sharpe brokered the sale of C&C Toyota and C&C Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealerships owned by Jim Cobb to Victory Automotive Group. This added to Victory's growing Ohio presence.
- Five Star Automotive GroupmajorTim Lamb brokered the sale of Cain Toyota and Cain BMW dealerships in North Canton, Ohio to Five Star Automotive Group. This was the 11th dealership purchased from Tim Lamb Group by Five Star and marked their 5th Ohio location, 3rd Toyota, and 2nd BMW.
- Coughlin AutomotivemajorMultiple transaction relationship spanning six separate transactions. Tim Lamb Group has facilitated multiple dealership acquisitions for Coughlin Automotive, including Bob Chapman Ford, Coughlin Ford of Marysville, and others.
- Five Star Automotive GroupmajorTim Lamb Group's Bob Morris helped lead Five Star Automotive Group's growth in the Midwest, facilitating multiple acquisitions including purchases from Sunnyside Automotive Group and Mike Raisor Automotive Group.
- Chris Infantino and Bob WolfbauercoreBoth 30-year veterans of Ford Motor Company joined Tim Lamb Group as Directors on December 1, 2022. They bring extensive experience in dealership transactions and manufacturer approval processes.
- Mark Befordcore40-year automotive industry veteran joined Tim Lamb Group. Previously owned and operated multiple automotive franchises for 30 years with his wife Connie. Brings buy/sell experience as both buyer and seller.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tim Lamb Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kerrigan Advisors: Kerrigan Advisors is a leading auto dealership M&A advisory firm and the most direct competitor to Tim Lamb Group, serving dealership sellers and buyers across the US with a similar sell-side advisory and buyer-matching model. Both firms specialize exclusively in franchised auto dealer M&A and compete for the same high-value sell-side mandates.
- DCG Acquisitions: DCG Acquisitions is an auto dealership acquisition and brokerage firm that works with buyers and sellers of franchised dealerships, providing a comparable full-service buy/sell intermediary model to Tim Lamb Group and serving a similar customer base of dealership owners, dealer groups, and PE-backed buyers.
- Pinnacle Mergers & Acquisitions: Pinnacle Mergers & Acquisitions specializes in franchised auto dealership M&A, providing sell-side representation, buyer identification, and transition advisory — directly comparable to Tim Lamb Group in niche focus, transaction size, and customer base.
- The Presidio Group: The Presidio Group is an auto dealership M&A advisory firm that provides sell-side, buy-side, and capital-raising services to franchised auto dealers — directly overlapping Tim Lamb Group's core service offering, transaction size range, and customer base of independent and small-group dealership owners.
- Haig Partners: Haig Partners is a specialized auto dealership M&A advisor that has closed hundreds of dealership transactions across the US, competing head-to-head with Tim Lamb Group for sell-side mandates from independent and family-owned dealer groups and providing comparable buyer-matching and OEM-approval navigation services.
- Performance Brokerage Services: Performance Brokerage Services is a California-based auto dealership M&A brokerage firm that represents sellers of franchised dealerships, providing a closely comparable sell-side intermediary model to Tim Lamb Group with a regional focus on the western US and similar transaction-fee revenue model.
- Coker Capital Advisors: Coker Capital Advisors is an M&A advisory firm dedicated to the auto retail sector, providing sell-side, buy-side, and valuation services to franchised dealers — a closely comparable business model to Tim Lamb Group with the same niche specialization, customer profile, and transaction-fee revenue model.
Broad incumbents
- Stout: Stout is a global advisory firm with a dedicated Dealer Services practice providing M&A advisory, valuation, and consulting services to auto dealer groups — a broader incumbent that overlaps with Tim Lamb Group's transaction advisory niche while offering additional valuation and consulting capabilities.
- Cascadia Capital: Cascadia Capital is a Seattle-based middle-market investment bank with a dedicated Automotive Retail practice that provides sell-side M&A advisory to franchised auto dealer groups — overlapping with Tim Lamb Group's services but as part of a broader industry-agnostic platform with additional capabilities in capital raising and valuations.
- Houlihan Lokey: Houlihan Lokey is a global investment bank with significant auto retail and dealer M&A advisory experience, providing sell-side and buy-side advisory to large dealership groups and PE platforms. It competes with Tim Lamb Group for the largest dealership M&A mandates while operating a much broader industry-agnostic platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tim Lamb Group social profiles
Digital presenceTim Lamb Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tim Lamb Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Tim Lamb Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tim Lamb Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tim Lamb Group
What does Tim Lamb Group do?
Tim Lamb Group is a professional brokerage firm that facilitates the sale, merger, and acquisition of auto dealerships across the United States and Canada. The firm acts as an intermediary between dealership owners (sellers) and qualified buyers (private and public dealer groups, private equity groups, and family offices), managing confidential transactions, navigating OEM manufacturer approval processes, and providing expert guidance on tax and legal matters.
Is Tim Lamb Group a public or private company?
Tim Lamb Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tim Lamb Group founded?
Tim Lamb Group was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tim Lamb Group based?
Tim Lamb Group is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tim Lamb Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: brokerage Commission on Dealership Transactions.
Who are Tim Lamb Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kerrigan Advisors, DCG Acquisitions, Pinnacle Mergers & Acquisitions, The Presidio Group, Haig Partners, Performance Brokerage Services and Coker Capital Advisors. Broad incumbents are Stout, Cascadia Capital and Houlihan Lokey.
Does Tim Lamb Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tim Lamb Group.