Decosimo Corporate Finance

What Decosimo Corporate Finance does

Decosimo Corporate Finance (DCF) is a privately held, boutique investment bank headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, providing M&A advisory, business valuation, capital sourcing, strategic advisory, and fairness opinion services to middle-market companies typically valued between $20 million and $500 million. The firm traces its roots to the 1971 Decosimo accounting practice, obtained FINRA broker-dealer and SIPC membership in 2009, and became fully independent in 2015 when Tom Decosimo and Paul Cheney separated it from the merged Decosimo/Elliott Davis accounting firm. Securities transactions are executed through DCF, LLC, a FINRA-registered broker-dealer that also licenses affiliated CPA firms and independent investment bankers to operate as registered representatives under DCF's regulatory umbrella.

The firm monetizes through transaction-based success fees on sell-side and buy-side advisory mandates, capital sourcing engagements, professional services fees for business valuation and litigation support, and investment returns from Decosimo Capital, a proprietary vehicle that makes non-controlling co-investments alongside clients. Customer acquisition is driven by professional referrals from CPAs, attorneys, and the DCF affiliate network, supplemented by relationship-based outreach from its team of Managing Directors and Senior Advisors. The firm reports cumulative transaction value exceeding $15 billion over 50+ years and over $400 million in sell-side transactions since becoming independent in 2015.

Operationally, DCF runs a lean team of 1-10 employees supported by offices in Chattanooga, Nashville, Cincinnati, and a New York office opened in October 2024. Its competitive position rests on credentialed professionals (ASA, ABV designations), a 50-year brand in the lower-middle-market segment, a nationwide affiliate distribution channel that extends reach without proportional headcount, and Decosimo Capital's ability to co-invest directly in client companies. The firm does not develop or operate proprietary technology products and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities; its value proposition is fundamentally human-advisory in nature.

Name

Decosimo Corporate Finance

Legal name

Decosimo Corporate Finance, LLC

Website

https://decosimo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Decosimo Corporate Finance is a Chattanooga-based boutique investment bank offering sell-side advisory, capital sourcing, and business valuation services to middle-market founder- and family-owned companies, operating through its FINRA-registered broker-dealer and a nationwide CPA affiliate network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking & M&A Advisory

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310), Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)

SIC

Finance Services (6199), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Debt & Capital Advisory (Debt Raising, Refinancing, Private Credit) (BPAHAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Credit — Structured Credit (CLOs, ABS, Private Securitizations) (FSAHAJAH)

Keywords

• Middle market M&A advisory
• Sell-side advisory services
• Business valuation services
• Capital sourcing advisory
• Investment banking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sell-Side Advisory: Advisory fees and success fees for representing business owners in the sale of their companies. The firm acts as exclusive financial advisor, typically earning transaction-based compensation tied to deal closing.
2. Business Valuation: Fees for providing business valuation services including fairness opinions, litigation support, and estate planning valuations. Professionals hold ASA and ABV credentials.
3. Capital Sourcing: Fees for helping clients raise debt and equity capital from institutional investors, lenders, and private equity groups.
4. Decosimo Capital: The firm's proprietary capital vehicle that makes non-controlling investments in growing companies, generating investment returns alongside advisory fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Decosimo Corporate Finance is a boutique investment bank and FINRA/SIPC-registered broker-dealer that provides middle-market companies with M&A advisory, business valuation, fairness opinion, capital sourcing, and strategic advisory services. The firm also operates Decosimo Capital as a proprietary financing arm that makes non-controlling investments alongside client engagements. Services are delivered directly by the firm's Managing Directors and Senior Advisors and through an affiliated network of CPA firms and independent investment bankers operating under DCF, LLC.

Product overview

Decosimo Corporate Finance is an investment banking firm that operates as a single integrated advisory platform offering M&A advisory and financial services. The core offerings include Sell-Side Advisory, Buy-Side Advisory, Capital Sourcing, Business Valuation, Strategic Advisory, and Fairness Opinion services. The firm also operates Decosimo Capital as a proprietary financing arm for direct investments in clients. All services are facilitated through DCF, LLC, the FINRA/SIPC member broker-dealer entity. The company has over 50 years of experience and has completed over $15 billion in transactions across various industries in the middle market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sell-Side Advisory Advisory services helping business owners sell their companies to the right buyer at the right price, protecting their legacy while maximizing transaction value. Intended for founders, families, and closely-held owners of middle-market companies.
• Capital Sourcing Helping businesses raise optimal capital from lenders, institutional investors, and accredited investors to fund growth and meet short-term opportunities while maximizing long-term company value. Intended for middle-market operating companies and their owners.
• Business Valuation Professional valuation services by credentialed experts with over 50 years of experience, working closely with clients to understand the essence of their business for M&A transactions, corporate planning, and ownership transitions. Includes valuation support for litigation and estate planning.
• Strategic Advisory Advisory services helping business owners maximize company value through operational improvements, cap table cleanup, acquisition strategies, and alignment of financial strategy with long-term goals. Intended for owners of independent middle-market businesses.
• Buy-Side Advisory Advisory services assisting buyers in acquiring companies, including due diligence, valuation, and transaction structuring. Intended for private equity groups, strategics, and operating companies pursuing acquisitions.
• Fairness Opinion Independent valuation opinions provided to ensure transactions are fair from a financial point of view, often used in shareholder transactions and buy/sell agreements. Intended for boards, shareholders, and counsel of middle-market companies.
• Decosimo Capital A ready source of financing created alongside investor partners, providing non-controlling investments in growing firms and flexible funds when clients need capital. Operates as a co-investment vehicle alongside DCF's advisory engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $15 billion in transactions completed over 50+ years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DCF, LLC (Broker-Dealer Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDCF, LLC is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer and SIPC member that enables a network of affiliates (CPA firms and independent investment bankers) with the ability to provide corporate finance services as licensed registered representatives. Affiliates leverage DCF's sell-side process, compliance infrastructure, and brand to serve middle-market clients across the country.
• Grassi & Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew York-based CPA and advisory firm that affiliated with DCF, LLC to provide sell-side advisory services to clients. Located at 50 Jericho Quadrangle, Jericho, NY 11753, with offices throughout the New York and Long Island region.
• Horne Capital AdvisorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMississippi-based firm affiliated with DCF, LLC for sell-side advisory and equity sourcing services. Located at 1020 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157, with offices throughout Mississippi and Tennessee.
• 3CR Capital AdvisorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas-based capital advisory firm affiliated with DCF, LLC. Located at 550 Reserve Street, Southlake, TX 76092.
• Austin Growth CapitalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas-based growth capital firm affiliated with DCF, LLC. Located at 6409 Soter Parkway, Austin, TX 78735.
• Doeren MayhewminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCPA and advisory firm whose shareholders and directors affiliated with DCF for sell-side advisory in Houston, TX and Detroit, MI. Tim Moore and Steven Silverman lead the practice.
• The Bonadio GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew York's largest upstate accounting firm (offices throughout New York) that formalized affiliation with DCF in May 2013. Tom Bonadio and Jeff Lewis lead the private equity team.
• FINRAcoreOthersFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority - DCF, LLC is a registered broker-dealer member of FINRA, providing regulatory oversight and licensing for securities transactions.
• SIPCcoreOthersSecurities Investor Protection Corporation - DCF, LLC is a member, providing customer protection against broker-dealer failure.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Houlihan Lokey: Large publicly traded investment bank with a major middle-market M&A advisory practice. Overlaps with Decosimo on sell-side advisory, capital sourcing, and valuation for founder-owned and family-owned businesses in the lower- to mid-middle market.
• Stifel Financial: Diversified brokerage and investment bank with a substantial middle-market M&A and capital-raising group. Comparable to Decosimo in serving founder/family-owned businesses and providing sell-side advisory, fairness opinions, and debt/equity placement.
• Robert W. Baird: Private, employee-owned investment bank and wealth manager with a deep middle-market M&A practice. Directly competes for founder/family-owned sell-side mandates and capital-sourcing engagements in Decosimo's $20M-$500M valuation range.
• Jefferies: Full-service global investment bank with a strong middle-market M&A advisory franchise. Comparable to Decosimo on capital sourcing, sell-side advisory, and serving private-equity-backed and family-owned businesses in the lower-middle market.

Direct peers

• Benchmark International: Boutique M&A advisory firm specializing in private, owner-operated, and family-owned businesses in the lower- to mid-middle market. Closely mirrors Decosimo's target customer, transaction-based fee model, and deal-size range.
• Generational Group: Boutique M&A advisory firm focused exclusively on selling private, family-owned businesses, typically $1M-$50M in EBITDA. Comparable to Decosimo's middle-market founder/family-owned client base, though slightly smaller in scale.
• Sunbelt Business Advisors: Large network of business brokerages specializing in lower-middle-market M&A for owner-operated companies. Comparable to Decosimo's founder/family-owned target segment and relationship-driven, transaction-based business model.
• Morgan & Westfield: Boutique M&A advisory firm serving small to mid-sized privately held businesses across the US. Comparable to Decosimo in deal-size range, founder/family-owned target segment, and sell-side advisory focus.
• M&A Advisory Group: Boutique M&A advisory firm focused on lower-middle-market transactions, often serving CPA-firm-referred clients. Comparable to Decosimo's referral-driven GTM and middle-market founder/family-owned target customer.
• Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM): CPA-led advisory firm with a dedicated M&A and transaction advisory practice serving middle-market companies. Comparable to Decosimo in combining CPA-firm referral channels with sell-side advisory, valuation, and capital-sourcing services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dcf_llc
• Facebookfacebook.com/DCFTN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/decosimocorporatefinancellc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Decosimo Corporate Finance