Murphy Business and Financial Corporation
Murphy Business is a franchise-model business brokerage and M&A advisory firm with 250+ brokers and 125+ offices across 38 U.S. states and Canada, serving SMB owners and lower middle market enterprises with business sales, acquisitions, valuations, and franchise resale services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersClearwater, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Murphy Business and Financial Corporation does
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation LLC, founded in 1994 by Roger J. Murphy and headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, is one of North America's largest business brokerage and M&A advisory networks, operating a franchise model of over 250 business brokers across more than 125 offices in 38 U.S. states and Canada. The firm serves small and mid-sized business owners seeking to buy, sell, or value businesses, with a segmented service portfolio that includes core Business Brokerage for Main Street businesses (typically under $5 million in revenue), a Lower Middle Market M&A advisory sub-brand (Murphy Merger & Acquisition Advisors, targeting companies with EBITDA over $1 million), Business Valuation Services, Business Consulting, Machinery and Equipment Appraisals, and a Franchise Resale Program for franchisors and franchisees. Services are delivered through independent franchise offices with local market coverage, supported by a centralized marketing, technology, and franchise development function led by a corporate team including CEO Veronica Cardinale Ellinger, COO Evelyn Correa, and CFO John Graves.
The company's revenue mechanics combine three streams: transaction-based commissions on completed business sales (typically a percentage of the deal value), professional services fees for valuation and appraisal reports (Broker's Opinion of Value, Certified Valuation Reports, and USPAP-compliant M&E appraisals), and franchise fees and ongoing support revenue from the broker network. Operations are supported by proprietary systems including MOMS (Murphy Online Management System) for listings and broker operations, established valuation methodologies (USPAP-compliant), and affiliations with national and international business brokerage networks that extend buyer/seller reach. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, varying with transaction value, complexity, and report type. Customer acquisition is driven by a multi-channel approach spanning content marketing (blog, free downloadable guides), SEO, referrals from the broker network, and franchise development marketing to recruit additional brokers. The firm was founded in 1994, has facilitated over $4.3 billion in cumulative closed transactions, and currently operates under CEO Veronica Cardinale Ellinger following a transition from prior CEO Tom Coba.
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Murphy Business and Financial Corporation
- Legal name
- Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC
- Website
- https://murphybusiness.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Murphy Business is a franchise-model business brokerage and M&A advisory firm with 250+ brokers and 125+ offices across 38 U.S. states and Canada, serving SMB owners and lower middle market enterprises with business sales, acquisitions, valuations, and franchise resale services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Business Brokerage Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lower Middle-Market Business Brokerage (FSAEAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- M&A Advisory (Buy-side/Sell-side) (BPAHADAC), Franchise Resale & Franchise Brokerage (Transfers/Resales) (FSAEAIAG), Fairness Opinions & Independent Financial Advice (BPAHAOAF)
Keywords
Where Murphy Business and Financial Corporation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clearwater
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Business Brokerage Commissions: Commission-based revenue from facilitating business sales and acquisitions. Brokers earn commissions on completed transactions when businesses are bought or sold through their services.
- Business Valuation Services: Professional appraisal and valuation services for business sales, exit planning, financing, and other purposes. Revenue generated from valuation reports and appraisal services.
- Franchise Fees: Revenue from franchise development, including initial franchise fees and ongoing support services to franchisees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Business Brokerage Services - Commission-based on transaction value |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Business Valuation - Broker's Opinion of Value (BOV) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Certified Valuation Report |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Machinery & Equipment Appraisal - Desktop Report |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | On-Site Certified M&E Appraisal |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Murphy Business is a business brokerage and M&A advisory firm operating as a franchise network of more than 250 brokers across 38 U.S. states and Canada. Its core offerings include business brokerage (helping owners sell and buyers acquire businesses), lower middle market M&A advisory, business valuation services, business consulting, machinery and equipment appraisals, and franchise resale services for franchisors and franchisees. Revenue is generated from commissions on transactions, professional services fees, and franchise fees.
Product overview
Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC is a business brokerage and M&A advisory firm operating as a franchise network of over 250 brokers across 38 U.S. states and Canada. The company offers a unified suite of services centered on business brokerage (selling and buying businesses), lower middle market M&A advisory, business valuation, business consulting, machinery & equipment appraisals, and franchise resale services. The portfolio includes the core Business Brokerage service, Lower Middle Market / M&A division (Murphy Merger & Acquisition Advisors), Business Valuation Services, Business Consulting, Machinery and Equipment Appraisal Services, and Franchise Resale programs for both franchisors and franchisees. Operations are supported by the proprietary MOMS (Murphy Online Management System) internal platform for listings management. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Murphy Merger & Acquisition Advisors (MMAA): M&A advisory division focused on companies with EBITDA of over $1 million, serving private equity groups, corporate buyers, and wealthy individual buyers.
- Murphy Valuation Services
- Murphy Franchise Resale Program
Products and services
- Business Brokerage
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $4.3 billion in completed business transactions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Murphy Business and Financial Corporation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BEAM CollaborativeminorBEAM Collaborative, a nonprofit focused on strengthening local businesses, partnered with Murphy Business Sales - West Pittsburgh to support Main Street businesses with revenue under $5 million through ownership transitions. The collaboration combines BEAM's data-driven education and succession planning tools with Murphy Business Sales' expertise in valuations and business sales. The partnership includes joint educational programs and workshops designed to help keep local businesses community-owned.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sunbelt Business Advisors: One of the largest business brokerage networks in North America, with a comparable franchise-driven model serving Main Street and lower middle-market buyers and sellers. Directly competes with Murphy on transaction volume, geographic coverage, and franchise recruitment.
- Transworld Business Advisors: Direct franchise-model competitor in business brokerage, franchise resale, and M&A advisory. Overlaps with Murphy across nearly every service line, including franchise resale programs and lower middle-market deal making.
- VR Business Brokers / Mergers & Acquisitions: Long-standing North American business brokerage network serving SMBs, with a franchise structure and service mix very similar to Murphy's. Competes head-to-head on Main Street transactions and franchise resale mandates.
- Generational Group: Lower middle-market M&A advisory firm that directly overlaps with Murphy's MMAA division, focusing on companies typically in the $5M–$50M revenue range with private equity and strategic buyer relationships. Closest direct peer on the M&A side.
- BizBuySell: The largest online marketplace for buying and selling small businesses in the U.S. While not a franchise broker, it competes with Murphy on Main Street listings, buyer discovery, and increasingly on direct SMB transactions that bypass local brokers.
- MidStreet Mergers & Acquisitions: Franchise-model M&A advisory focused on lower middle-market transactions, frequently in the same $1M+ EBITDA sweet spot Murphy targets. Competes directly for Main Street and lower middle-market seller mandates.
- Morgan & Westfield: Business brokerage and M&A advisory serving SMBs and lower middle-market sellers, with a service mix (brokerage, valuation, M&A) closely aligned to Murphy's. Overlaps on transaction sizes and target customer profile.
Emerging players
- Acquire.com: Online marketplace for buying and selling small (mostly tech-enabled and online) businesses. Represents the digital-first threat to traditional broker-mediated SMB transactions and overlaps with Murphy's Buy-a-Business service for online-friendly SMBs.
- Axial: Member-based deal network for lower middle-market business sales and capital raises. Competes with Murphy's MMAA division for mandates and buyer sourcing among private equity groups, family offices, and independent sponsors.
Others
- IBBA (International Business Brokers Association): Industry association of which Murphy-affiliated brokers are members. Not a competitor but a peer in the professional ecosystem that shapes certification standards (CBI, BVI) Murphy brokers rely on for credibility.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation social profiles
Digital presenceMurphy Business and Financial Corporation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation 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 Murphy Business and Financial Corporation
What does Murphy Business and Financial Corporation do?
Murphy Business is a business brokerage and M&A advisory firm operating as a franchise network of more than 250 brokers across 38 U.S. states and Canada. Its core offerings include business brokerage (helping owners sell and buyers acquire businesses), lower middle market M&A advisory, business valuation services, business consulting, machinery and equipment appraisals, and franchise resale services for franchisors and franchisees. Revenue is generated from commissions on transactions, professional services fees, and franchise fees.
Is Murphy Business and Financial Corporation a public or private company?
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Murphy Business and Financial Corporation founded?
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation was founded in 1994. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Murphy Business and Financial Corporation based?
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation is headquartered in Clearwater, United States, in the North America region.
How does Murphy Business and Financial Corporation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Business Brokerage Commissions are the primary driver. The others are business Valuation Services and franchise Fees.
Who are Murphy Business and Financial Corporation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sunbelt Business Advisors, Transworld Business Advisors, VR Business Brokers / Mergers & Acquisitions, Generational Group, BizBuySell, MidStreet Mergers & Acquisitions and Morgan & Westfield. Emerging players are Acquire.com and Axial. IBBA (International Business Brokers Association) is listed as an others.
Does Murphy Business and Financial Corporation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Murphy Business and Financial Corporation.
What industry is Murphy Business and Financial Corporation in?
Murphy Business and Financial Corporation's product category is Business Brokerage Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAIAB, Lower Middle-Market Business Brokerage, with a secondary code of BPAHADAC, M&A Advisory (Buy-side/Sell-side).