Carlson Partners

What Carlson Partners does

Carlson Partners LLC is a privately held commercial real estate advisory firm founded in 2011 and headquartered in Edina, Minnesota (a Minneapolis suburb). The firm specializes exclusively in tenant representation, serving corporate occupiers of office, industrial, and retail space across North America and, in select cases, the United Kingdom. Its core services include lease negotiations (relocation, renewal, restructure, expansion), site selection, build-to-suit planning, portfolio management, acquisition and disposition services, government incentives procurement, and project management for relocations and facility transitions. Carlson Partners employs a sales-led, consultative GTM model in which senior advisors (several holding SIOR and CCIM designations) directly engage enterprise and mid-market corporate decision-makers, leveraging an eight-step methodology, deep market intelligence, and a global partner network to negotiate on behalf of tenants without conflict of interest.

The firm's revenue model is primarily commission-based tenant representation supplemented by professional services fees from project management engagements. Named clients span healthcare (Pediatric Home Service, vRad, Spineology, Biomerics), manufacturing (Caterpillar, Adolfson and Peterson, Arrowhead Engineered Products), industrial distribution (Stellar Industrial Supply, King Solutions), media (Bridge Tower Media), sports (Minnesota Timberwolves), and consumer products (Jack Link's, Sportsman's Guide). The team of approximately 10 roster members has cumulatively completed more than 1,000 transactions covering 50+ million square feet across 48 states, with founder Ted Carlson alone accounting for over $7 billion in aggregate transaction value. Carlson Partners does not operate a proprietary technology platform; it leverages third-party market intelligence, data analytics, and communication tools to support advisory delivery. The firm has earned consecutive CoStar Power Broker Top Leasing Firm recognition in Minneapolis/St. Paul (2023-2025) alongside Twin Cities Business Best of Business and Minnesota Real Estate Journal Professional Service Company of the Year honors.

Name

Carlson Partners

Legal name

Carlson Partners LLC

Website

https://carlsonpartnersllc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carlson Partners is a privately held commercial real estate advisory firm founded in 2011 in Edina, Minnesota, providing exclusive tenant representation services (lease negotiation, site selection, project management) to corporate occupiers across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Real Estate Advisory

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (531210), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (5312)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Tenant Representation & Corporate Services Brokerage (BPAJABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commercial Real Estate Brokerage (Leasing & Sales) (FSAEAJAB)

Keywords

• Tenant representation advisory
• Commercial real estate services
• Office lease negotiation
• Industrial site selection
• Corporate relocation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tenant Representation Advisory: Carlson Partners generates revenue through commission-based fees for tenant representation services including lease negotiations, acquisitions, dispositions, site selection, and portfolio management. Advisors work on behalf of tenants (not landlords) to secure optimal commercial real estate terms.
2. Project Management Services: The firm provides project management services for relocations, construction management, and facility transitions, generating additional revenue through professional services engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Carlson Partners is a commercial real estate advisory firm that exclusively represents tenants in office, industrial, and retail transactions. Core services include strategic alignment of real estate with business goals, lease negotiations (relocation, renewal, restructure, expansion), site selection and build-to-suit planning, government and location incentives advisory, portfolio management, and project management for relocations and facility transitions, plus acquisition and disposition services for occupiers.

Product overview

Carlson Partners is a commercial real estate advisory firm offering tenant representation services. The company does not operate a software product or platform; rather, it provides professional advisory services including site selection, lease negotiations, portfolio management, project management, government incentives, build-to-suit planning, and acquisition/disposition services for office, industrial, and retail clients across North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tenant Representation Advisory Exclusive tenant-side advisory services including lease negotiations (relocation, renewal, restructure, expansion), site selection, build-to-suit planning, government and location incentives negotiation, portfolio management, and acquisition and disposition services for office, industrial, and retail occupiers across local, national, and international markets.
• Project Management Services End-to-end project management for relocations, facility transitions, build-outs, and construction management, including move management (furniture, IT infrastructure, low voltage, branding and signage), site decommissioning, budget analysis, and design collaboration for office, warehouse, and healthcare clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $7 billion in aggregate transaction value
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• LifeworksminorOthersCarlson Partners sponsors Lifeworks, a nonprofit serving more than 3,000 people with disabilities and their families each year. The sponsorship supports Lifeworks' mission to develop high-quality, innovative services that honor individual choice while advancing accessibility.
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Minnesota Dakota ChapterminorOthersTim Olsen serves on the Board of Directors. Carlson Partners provides board leadership and community support.
• United Heroes League, MN ChapterminorOthersTim Olsen serves on the Board of Directors. United Heroes League supports military families.
• Commercial Real Estate Diversity CollaborativeminorOthersStephanie Lee serves as Co-Chair, working to advance diversity and inclusion in commercial real estate.
• University of St. Thomas, Opus College of BusinessminorOthersStephanie Lee serves on the Strategic Board of Advisors and Executive Committee, supporting business education.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cresa: Cresa is the largest pure-play tenant representation firm in North America, advising occupiers exclusively across office, industrial, and life sciences. It is the closest large-scale analog to Carlson Partners' tenant-only model and is the natural benchmark for enterprise tenant rep mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Newmark Group: Newmark is a global commercial real estate advisory firm offering tenant rep, landlord representation, capital markets, and valuation services. Its occupier services group directly competes with Carlson Partners on national tenant mandates, but at materially larger scale.
• CBRE Group: CBRE is the world's largest commercial real estate services firm, offering occupier services alongside investment sales, property management, and capital markets. Many of Carlson Partners' enterprise clients (e.g., Caterpillar) maintain relationships with CBRE, making it the dominant alternative for one-stop-shop occupier mandates.
• JLL: JLL is a global real estate services firm with a large occupier services practice spanning lease administration, portfolio strategy, and transaction management. It competes with Carlson Partners on enterprise and multi-market occupier mandates.
• Cushman & Wakefield: Cushman & Wakefield provides global occupier and investor services, including tenant representation, workplace strategy, and project management. It competes with Carlson Partners on large occupier portfolios and project-based engagements.
• Colliers International: Colliers is a global professional services and investment management firm with a sizeable occupier services platform. It overlaps with Carlson Partners on office, industrial, and retail tenant representation mandates.
• Avison Young: Avison Young is a global commercial real estate services firm providing transaction, management, and advisory services across occupier and investor segments. Its occupier-focused practice is comparable to Carlson Partners' service mix.
• Savills: Savills is an international real estate advisor with a North American occupier services practice spanning office, industrial, and retail tenant representation. It competes for cross-border occupier mandates similar to those Carlson Partners handles in 48 states plus the UK.
• Transwestern: Transwestern is a commercial real estate firm offering agency leasing, tenant representation, and project management services. Its occupier services overlap with Carlson Partners, particularly in Midwest and national markets.

Regional players

• Lee & Associates: Lee & Associates is a commercial real estate brokerage network with strong regional offices that provide tenant and landlord representation services. It is a relevant competitor to Carlson Partners in the Upper Midwest and other regional markets where both firms operate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carlson-partners
• Instagraminstagram.com/carlsonpartners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Carlson Partners