National Business Brokers

What National Business Brokers does

National Business Brokers (NBB) is a specialized M&A advisory firm focused exclusively on the automotive ecosystem, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Irvine, California. The firm provides seller representation, buyer representation, valuation services, pre-transaction improvement consulting, succession planning, and capital solutions to founders, operators, and multi-location businesses in franchised automotive retail and adjacent verticals including collision repair, fleet services, auto repair, tire & service, car wash, HD and commercial truck, automotive aftermarket, and mobility/transportation. NBB positions itself as the largest new car dealership brokerage firm in the United States, with more than 4,500 closed transactions across its history, including over 950 new car dealerships personally handled by founder Brady Schmidt.

The firm's underlying technology centers on a proprietary Realistic Market Value (RMV) Calculator and proprietary valuation methodology built over 45+ years that model dealership cash flows and identify upside potential for buyers. A proprietary relationship database accumulated across the same period underpins deal sourcing on both buy-side and sell-side mandates. The firm operates regional offices in California, Florida, Michigan, New York, and Texas, with stated offices in six states providing national coverage and local market familiarity.

NBB's revenue model is transaction-fee based; sellers pay success-based fees only on deal close, with fee structures negotiated per engagement. The firm generates additional revenue through capital solutions facilitated via a lender network and its parent, private equity sponsor Accrual Equity Partners (AEP), which acquired NBB as a portfolio company in 2024 and re-architected it from a traditional business brokerage into a full-service M&A advisory platform. Distribution is exclusively direct, with senior coverage bankers and regional managing directors engaging clients, complemented by referral relationships with wealth management, legal, and accounting firms and thought leadership distributed through NBB's website, blog, NADA industry events, and LinkedIn.

Name

National Business Brokers

Legal name

National Business Brokers, Inc.

Website

https://nationalbusinessbrokers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

National Business Brokers is a specialized M&A advisory firm for the automotive ecosystem, providing sell-side, buy-side, valuation, and capital solutions to franchised new car dealerships and adjacent verticals such as collision repair, fleet services, and aftermarket businesses. Founded in 1978 and now a portfolio company of Accrual Equity Partners, NBB operates nationally through regional offices in six states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive M&A Advisory

akta.pro primary industry

Lower Middle-Market Business Brokerage (FSAEAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Main Street Business Brokerage (SMB/Owner-Operated) (FSAEAIAA)

Keywords

• Mergers and acquisitions advisory
• Automotive dealership brokerage
• Business valuation services
• Sell-side representation
• Buy-side acquisition advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. M&A Advisory Fees: NBB generates revenue through successful transaction completion. Sellers do not pay fees unless the deal closes successfully. Fee structures are negotiated with sellers to match their unique deal and specific business goals. The firm also offers capital solutions through partnerships with lenders and Accrual Equity Partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

National Business Brokers is a specialized M&A advisory firm serving the automotive ecosystem. The firm provides seller representation, buyer representation, valuation services, pre-transaction improvement consulting, professional partner/succession planning, and capital solutions to franchised new car dealerships, dealer groups, and adjacent automotive businesses such as collision repair, fleet services, and car washes.

Product overview

National Business Brokers (NBB) is a specialized M&A advisory platform for the automotive ecosystem, offering a comprehensive suite of services including seller representation, buyer representation, valuation services, pre-transaction improvements, succession planning, and capital solutions. The company operates across multiple industry verticals including auto dealerships, collision repair, fleet services, auto repair, tire & service, car wash, HD & commercial truck, auto aftermarket, and mobility/transportation. NBB leverages proprietary tools like the Realistic Market Value (RMV) Calculator and maintains regional offices in California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Texas, and Arizona for national reach with local market expertise. The firm is a portfolio company of Accrual Equity Partners and has facilitated over 4,500 total M&A transactions including more than 950 new car dealership transactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seller Representation M&A advisory services for dealership owners looking to sell their business, including deal structuring, qualified buyer identification, negotiation support, and successful close coordination. For franchise dealership owners and dealer principals.
• Buyer Representation M&A advisory services helping buyers find the right acquisition opportunities that match their growth strategy, representing client interests from initial offer through successful closing. For dealership groups, consolidators, and strategic acquirers.
• Valuation Services Proprietary dealership valuation methodology that provides accurate market values reflecting the unique characteristics of each business, including use of the proprietary Realistic Market Value (RMV) Calculator. For dealership owners, prospective buyers, and lenders.
• Pre-Transaction Improvements

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,500 total businesses sold including 950+ new car dealerships
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Truist SecuritiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2025James 'JT' Taylor joined Accrual Equity Partners from Truist Securities where he built and led the Automotive Retail practice. Eddi Zyko also joined NBB from Truist Securities where he helped build and lead the Automotive Retail Investment Banking practice. Multiple team members have Truist backgrounds, indicating deep talent pipeline relationship.
• Professional Partners NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBB's network open to clients connecting them to leading firms within wealth management, legal, and accounting. Referenced as part of Professional Partners & Succession Planning service offering.
• Kaizen Auto CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Jacob Tilzer in 2012, grew to over 800 team members with 50 collision repair locations before private equity acquisition in 2024. Tilzer now brings automotive aftermarket expertise to NBB through Accrual Equity Partners.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Haig Partners: Haig Partners is a specialized M&A advisory firm exclusively serving automotive dealerships, founded by Alan Haig, a former NBB competitor and dealership broker. Directly comparable to NBB in client base, services (sell-side and buy-side representation, valuations), and dealership specialization.
• The Presidio Group: The Presidio Group provides investment banking and M&A advisory services for the automotive retail sector, with former Truist Securities banker JT Taylor among its leadership alumni. Directly competes with NBB on dealer group buy-side and sell-side advisory engagements.
• Kerrigan Advisors: Kerrigan Advisors is a leading sell-side M&A advisor focused exclusively on auto dealerships, providing representation, valuation, and consulting services. Closely comparable to NBB in dealership specialization, transaction volume, and the buy-sell representation model.
• Performance Brokerage Services: Performance Brokerage Services is a specialized auto dealership brokerage firm focused on buy-sell representation across franchise dealerships in the US. Directly competes with NBB in the dealership M&A representation niche with similar services and target customer base.
• FOCUS Investment Banking: FOCUS Investment Banking operates a dedicated Automotive Aftermarket M&A practice with deep coverage of collision repair, auto services, and parts distribution. Directly comparable to NBB's adjacent Auto Services M&A expansion, with Cole Strandberg joining NBB from FOCUS's aftermarket group.

Broad incumbents

• Truist Securities: Truist Securities' Automotive Retail Investment Banking practice (formerly at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey) provided sell-side and buy-side advisory for dealer groups. Comparable as a broader incumbent with multiple senior bankers (JT Taylor, Eddi Zyko) who migrated to NBB.
• Raymond James: Raymond James' Consumer & Retail Investment Banking group, where CEO Zach Kuzemka previously served as COO, completes over 100 M&A transactions annually. Comparable as a broader incumbent full-service investment bank with overlapping automotive and consumer coverage.

Emerging players

• Open Road Capital: Open Road Capital is an automotive-focused M&A advisory and capital advisory firm. Tony Taylor joined NBB from Open Road Capital, where he led business development. Comparable to NBB's auto retail advisory focus with partial overlap in services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Business Brokers