Sage Advisory
Sage Advisory Group is a privately-held business brokerage and M&A advisory firm founded in 2016 that represents privately-held SMB and mid-market companies ($2M-$15M revenue) across Southern California and nationwide, generating revenue through brokerage commissions, a $1,500 Micro-Valuation product, and flat-fee Main Street marketing engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersDesert Hot Springs, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sage Advisory does
Sage Advisory Group is a privately-held business brokerage and M&A advisory firm founded in 2016 by Margot Cote-Murphy and headquartered in San Ramon, California, with a corporate office in Long Beach. The firm is operationally housed under eXp Commercial of California, Inc. (CA DRE #00977254) and serves business owners and corporations primarily in Southern California (Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties) with stated nationwide buyer reach. Its core service is full-service sell-side and acquisition representation for privately-held companies generating approximately $2M-$15M in annual revenue, spanning industries including manufacturing, transportation and logistics, construction, warehousing, professional services, property management, and senior living/home health care.
The firm differentiates through a marketing-centric methodology powered by a proprietary CRM and buyer database that "generates hundreds of leads from across the nation" and a multi-layer vetting process for financial and experiential buyer qualification. Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) commission-based brokerage fees on closed transactions (the dominant stream, percentage not publicly disclosed), (2) a fixed-price Micro-Valuation Report at $1,500 with a 72-hour turnaround using a NAICS-code-customized comparable approach, and (3) flat-fee Task & Milestone Marketing engagements targeting Main Street businesses under $1M in annual revenue that cannot absorb a commission structure. Distribution is direct: Margot Cote-Murphy personally manages all client engagements from initial consultation through closing, with supporting lead generation via the firm website, LinkedIn, YouTube, email/newsletter, business-for-sale listing platforms, and affiliations with CABB, IBBA, NAWBO, NAR, and regional chambers.
In November 2025 the firm announced a strategic collaboration with inCadense to extend into cross-border ETF and portfolio solutions targeting Latin America and Asia Pacific, with a first platform signed in Singapore, representing its first disclosed move outside the U.S. SMB brokerage thesis. The firm is founder-owned with no external institutional investment disclosed, operates with a small team led by the principal broker, and shows no publicly disclosed AI or machine learning capabilities within its brokerage or valuation workflows.
Sage Advisory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sage Advisory
- Legal name
- Sage Advisory Group
- Website
- https://sageadvisors.biz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sage Advisory Group is a privately-held business brokerage and M&A advisory firm founded in 2016 that represents privately-held SMB and mid-market companies ($2M-$15M revenue) across Southern California and nationwide, generating revenue through brokerage commissions, a $1,500 Micro-Valuation product, and flat-fee Main Street marketing engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sage Advisory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Business Brokerage Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sell-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side) (BPAHAOAA), Buy-Side Search & Acquisition Advisory (FSAEAIAD), Fee-Based Advisory (FSAEAAAM)
Keywords
Where Sage Advisory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Desert Hot Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sage Advisory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Business Brokerage Commission: Commission-based compensation for representing the sale or acquisition of businesses. The firm acts as a marketing engine, sale facilitator, and sell-side representative for business owners and corporations.
- Micro-Valuation Services: In-depth Micro-Valuation reports provided at a fixed price of $1,500, with approximately 72-hour turnaround time for completion.
- Task & Milestone Marketing: Flat-fee consulting arrangement for smaller businesses (typically less than $1mm annual revenue) providing marketing exposure and business opportunity packaging services without requiring a commission be paid at closing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Micro-Valuation Report |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Task & Milestone Marketing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sage Advisory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sage Advisory Group is a full-service business brokerage and M&A advisory firm that represents privately-held companies in the sale or acquisition of their businesses, primarily targeting companies generating $2mm-$15mm in annual revenue. The firm provides end-to-end sell-side representation including marketing via a proprietary CRM and database, multi-layer buyer vetting, price negotiation, and transaction facilitation through closing. Complementary offerings include a Micro-Valuation Report product and a Task & Milestone Marketing Program for smaller Main Street businesses.
Product overview
Sage Advisory Group is a single-brand business brokerage and M&A advisory firm offering a unified suite of services centered on facilitating business sales and acquisitions. The core offering is the business brokerage and M&A advisory service, supported by a Micro-Valuation Report product for business appraisals, and a Task & Milestone Marketing Program for smaller businesses. The firm also provides free educational resources including a Business for Sale by Owner Cheat Sheet, an e-book on maximizing business value, and a Strategic vs. Financial Buyers infographic. All services are delivered through the proprietary CRM and marketing database managed by Principal Broker Margot Cote-Murphy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Task & Milestone: A marketing and consulting service designed for smaller businesses, typically with less than $1mm in annual revenue, offering flat-fee consulting arrangements without requiring commission at closing.
- Micro-Valuation
Products and services
- Sage Advisory Group Business Brokerage & M&A Advisory Full-service business brokerage and M&A advisory representation for business owners and corporations seeking to sell or acquire companies, primarily those generating $2mm-$15mm in annual revenue. Includes marketing via proprietary CRM/database, multi-layer buyer vetting, price negotiation, transaction facilitation, and exit strategy planning from initial engagement through closing.
- Micro-Valuation Report
Quantifiable outcome
- Companies sold at full asking price within 7 months in challenging COVID conditions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sage Advisory
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sage Advisory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Sage Advisory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- inCadensecoreSage Advisory announced a strategic collaboration with inCadense to expand its investment strategies into international markets. The partnership utilizes inCadense's technology platform to deliver cross-border ETF and portfolio solutions to global regions including Latin America and Asia Pacific, with the first platform signed in Singapore. This represents Sage Advisory's entry into international ETF waters through technology-enabled expansion.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sage Advisory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Effective Business Brokers (EBB): California-based business brokerage focused on selling main street and lower-middle-market businesses; similar service model, geographic overlap in Southern California, and SMB target segment.
- VR Business Brokers / VR Mergers & Acquisitions: National business brokerage firm representing sellers and buyers of privately-held companies, predominantly in the SMB and lower-middle market, with a comparable commission-based model and referral network.
- Murphy Business & Financial Corporation: Long-established business brokerage franchise system specializing in the valuation, sale and acquisition of small and mid-sized businesses; directly comparable in deal-size focus, services, and franchise-style delivery.
- Cornerstone Business Services: Independent business brokerage and M&A advisory firm in California, directly competitive with Sage Advisory in the Southern California SMB and lower-middle-market segment.
- Sunbelt Business Brokers: Largest business brokerage intermediary in North America with a multi-office franchise model, directly overlapping Sage's $2mm-$15mm revenue sweet spot and sell-side representation model.
- Morgan & Westfield: Business brokerage and M&A advisory firm serving SMB and lower-middle-market owners, with a similar mix of sale representation, valuation services, and buyer matching.
- Transworld Business Advisors: One of the largest business brokerage and M&A advisory franchise networks in the U.S. (250+ advisors), focused on the same lower-middle-market transaction band that Sage Advisory serves, with comparable sell-side and buyer-representation services.
- Kleer Capital: Business brokerage and acquisition search firm offering sell-side representation and Main Street advisory services, comparable in target-deal size and customer profile.
Others
- IBBA (International Business Brokers Association): Industry trade association to which Sage Advisory belongs and which sets standards, training, and deal-flow infrastructure for the entire business brokerage peer set it competes in.
Regional players
- Pacific M&A Advisors: West Coast-focused lower-middle-market M&A advisory firm serving the same SMB seller profile as Sage, with overlapping industry coverage across manufacturing, services, and distribution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sage Advisory social profiles
Digital presenceSage Advisory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sage Advisory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sage Advisory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sage Advisory 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 Sage Advisory
What does Sage Advisory do?
Sage Advisory Group is a full-service business brokerage and M&A advisory firm that represents privately-held companies in the sale or acquisition of their businesses, primarily targeting companies generating $2mm-$15mm in annual revenue. The firm provides end-to-end sell-side representation including marketing via a proprietary CRM and database, multi-layer buyer vetting, price negotiation, and transaction facilitation through closing. Complementary offerings include a Micro-Valuation Report product and a Task & Milestone Marketing Program for smaller Main Street businesses.
Is Sage Advisory a public or private company?
Sage Advisory is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sage Advisory founded?
Sage Advisory was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sage Advisory based?
Sage Advisory is headquartered in Desert Hot Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sage Advisory make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Business Brokerage Commission is the primary driver. The others are micro-Valuation Services and task & Milestone Marketing.
Who are Sage Advisory's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Effective Business Brokers (EBB), VR Business Brokers / VR Mergers & Acquisitions, Murphy Business & Financial Corporation, Cornerstone Business Services, Sunbelt Business Brokers, Morgan & Westfield, Transworld Business Advisors and Kleer Capital. IBBA (International Business Brokers Association) is listed as an others. Pacific M&A Advisors is listed as a regional player.
Does Sage Advisory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sage Advisory.
What industry is Sage Advisory in?
Sage Advisory's product category is Business Brokerage Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAGAA, Sell-Side M&A Advisory, with a secondary code of BPAHAOAA, M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side). Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.