TN Business Brokers

What TN Business Brokers does

TN Business Brokers (legal entity TN Business Brokers Group, LLC) is a boutique business brokerage and M&A advisory firm headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, with a five-person team of senior advisors serving privately held business owners across the Mid-South — primarily Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri. The firm operates across the deal-size spectrum, from Main Street businesses (restaurants, pet care, small healthcare practices) through middle-market companies (manufacturing, multi-state childcare, healthcare services), with the senior team carrying Wall Street and commercial/investment banking pedigrees that allow it to compete for larger mandates than its headcount would normally imply. Karen Schorkopf (Managing Director) brings 38 years of experience spanning international investment banking on Wall Street to Main Street deals and holds the CBI and M&A Source Master Intermediary designations; David Newell contributes 40+ years in commercial and investment banking including senior roles at GE Capital and Heller Financial; Jim Shaub, Paul Schorkopf, and Tracy Scrima round out the advisory bench with comparable operating and transaction backgrounds.

The firm's core offering comprises three integrated lines: (1) sell-side and buy-side business brokerage intermediation, (2) middle-market M&A advisory including buy-side representation with capital sourcing, and (3) exit planning delivered by a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. Adjacent capabilities include business valuation and pricing analysis, buyer qualification and registration, due-diligence coordination, and commercial real estate brokerage delivered through a partnership with Westgate Enterprises. Listings are distributed across BizBuySell, BizQuest, CoStar, and LoopNet, and the firm maintains memberships in IBBA, M&A Source, Georgia Association of Business Brokers, and the National Association of Realtors. No proprietary technology platform is operated; the service is delivered through direct advisor engagement and a referral-driven center-of-influence network.

Revenue is generated entirely on a transaction-fee basis: brokerage commissions paid at closing on both buy- and sell-side engagements, plus advisory fees for M&A and exit planning engagements. The firm explicitly limits active transactions to preserve boutique-style personalization, positions complimentary consultations as the entry point for new clients, and claims a close rate exceeding 90% on engaged mandates. There are no disclosed retainers, subscription streams, or technology-licensing revenues.

Name

TN Business Brokers

Legal name

TN Business Brokers Group, LLC

Website

https://tennbusinessbrokers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TN Business Brokers is a boutique business brokerage and M&A advisory firm in Franklin, Tennessee, serving privately held business owners across the Mid-South with transaction intermediation, middle-market M&A advisory, and exit planning services delivered by a five-person senior advisor team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Brokerage and M&A Advisory

akta.pro primary industry

Sell-Side Business Brokerage (FSAEAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lower Middle-Market Business Brokerage (FSAEAIAB), Succession & Exit Planning (Owner Exit Readiness) (FSAEAIAF), Main Street Business Brokerage (SMB/Owner-Operated) (FSAEAIAA)

Keywords

• Business brokerage services
• Mergers and acquisitions advisory
• Exit planning
• Business valuation
• Middle market transactions

Headquarters

HQ city

Brentwood

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Business Brokerage Commission: Commission-based fees for business buying and selling services. Commission is typically paid at closing. Seller financing or earnouts may be used in some transactions.
2. M&A Advisory Services: Advisory fees for mergers and acquisitions, exit planning, business valuations, and consulting services.
3. Exit Planning Solutions: Bespoke exit planning services led by Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) for privately held and family business owners.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TN Business Brokers is a boutique business brokerage and M&A advisory firm that facilitates the buying and selling of privately held businesses across Tennessee and surrounding states. The firm offers buy-side and sell-side representation, exit planning led by a Certified Exit Planning Advisor, and business valuation/pricing analysis for Main Street businesses through middle-market transactions, generating revenue primarily through commissions paid at closing.

Product overview

TN Business Brokers is a boutique business brokerage and M&A advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of services for buying and selling privately held businesses. The core offerings include business brokerage services (matching buyers and sellers), M&A advisory for mid-market transactions, and exit planning solutions. These are complemented by business valuation and pricing analysis, commercial real estate brokerage through Westgate Enterprises partnership, buyer registration and qualification, and due diligence support. The firm also provides downloadable resource guides and maintains an online business listings marketplace. The company serves clients ranging from Main Street businesses to middle-market companies across Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Brokerage Services Facilitates the buying and selling of privately held businesses, connecting business owners with qualified buyers through confidential marketing, buyer qualification, negotiation, and transaction management. Target users are privately held business owners (sellers) and prospective business purchasers in the Mid-South US.
• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Advisory Strategic advisory services for mid-market business transactions including buy-side and sell-side representation, deal structuring, due diligence coordination, and closing support. Target users are owners and operators of middle-market companies requiring sophisticated M&A advisory comparable to investment banking services.
• Exit Planning Develops and executes strategies to prepare businesses and owners for future transitions, with emphasis on improving attractiveness and transferability, led by a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA). Target users are privately held and family business owners planning ownership transition, sale, or succession.
• Business Valuation & Pricing Analysis Comprehensive pricing analysis including quantitative financial analysis (recast statements, three-year weighted averages) and qualitative assessment of risk factors to determine most probable selling price range. Target users are business owners preparing to sell or seeking an independent valuation.
• Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Licensed commercial realtor services for owner-occupied commercial real estate related to business sales, facilitated through partnership with Westgate Enterprises. Target users are business owners selling companies that include real property.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of engaged transactions close successfully
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Business Brokers Association (IBBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association membership providing education, certifications, support programs, networking, and professional designations including Certified Business Intermediary (CBI). IBBA provides Member Excellence Awards program recognizing outstanding brokers. Tennessee Business Brokers team members hold CBI designation and participate in IBBA events.
• M&A SourcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for M&A professionals providing education and networking opportunities. Karen Schorkopf completed M&A Source's Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary program. Part of broker's professional affiliation for deal referrals and industry knowledge.
• National Association of RealtorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association for real estate professionals. Karen Schorkopf is a licensed commercial realtor and member of National Association of Realtors, enabling commercial real estate brokerage services for business sales involving real property.
• Westgate EnterprisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial real estate company affiliated with Karen Schorkopf. Handles full spectrum of commercial real estate needs including brokerage, leasing, design and development. Located at 1600 Westgate Circle, Suite 100, Brentwood, TN 37027. Karen focuses on owner-occupied commercial real estate related to businesses being sold, with Westgate partners handling other CRE needs.
• Exit Planning InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation. Tennessee Business Brokers exit planning services are led by a CEPA-certified advisor. Resources referenced include Exit Planning Institute's State of Owner Readiness Research.
• Georgia Association of Business BrokersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState business broker association providing multi-list services and networking. Tennessee Business Brokers participates in this network for regional coverage and buyer/seller referrals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sunbelt Business Brokers: The largest business brokerage franchise network in North America, facilitating lower middle-market business sales with a similar commission-based revenue model. Directly comparable in core offering and target market segment.
• Transworld Business Advisors: Global business brokerage franchise providing M&A advisory, franchise sales, and exit planning. Overlaps directly with TBB's combination of brokerage, M&A advisory, and exit planning services for privately-held businesses.
• VR Business Brokers: Franchise business brokerage firm specializing in Main Street and lower middle-market business sales. Closely aligned with TBB on transaction size, customer type (privately-held business owners), and service delivery model.
• Heritage Business Brokers: Business brokerage firm focused on lower middle-market transactions. Overlaps with TBB in core service offering, customer type, and reliance on centers-of-influence network for deal flow.
• First Choice Business Brokers: Business brokerage firm serving the lower middle market across multiple U.S. regions. Directly comparable in deal size range, customer segment (privately-held business owners), and referral-driven GTM motion.
• Murphy Business & Financial Services: Business brokerage and M&A firm specializing in lower middle-market transactions with strong franchise network. Similar customer profile (Main Street and lower middle-market sellers) and similar commission revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• Generational Group: Larger M&A advisory firm handling middle-market business sales with broader geographic coverage and deeper resources. Comparable in M&A advisory service line but operates at significantly greater scale than TBB.
• Houlihan Lokey: Global investment bank with significant middle-market M&A advisory practice. Overlaps with TBB's M&A advisory services for larger deals, but operates at a fundamentally different scale and serves enterprise clients.

Others

• BizBuySell: Largest online marketplace for businesses for sale. TBB lists on BizBuySell as a distribution channel; the platform represents an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, though it increasingly enables disintermediation of brokers.

Regional players

• Kennesaw Business Brokers: Georgia-based business brokerage firm serving the Southeast. Comparable in service model and lower middle-market focus, but operates in a different geography (Georgia vs. Tennessee), making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tennessee-business-brokers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 TN Business Brokers