What’s the typical broker profile for self‑funded searches in the $1 MM EBITDA range? My first 7 months of experience

Hi everyone, I’ve been a self‑funded searcher for the past seven months, targeting businesses with roughly $1 MM EBITDA. Here’s what I’ve seen so far (all in a second‑tier metro area): One‑person brokers – some are very professional and provide strong valuations; others use antiquated processes, have limited deal-support and often provide limited rationale for valuation. Franchise broker firms – performance and valuation practices are similar to the independent one‑person brokers. Real‑estate agents – generally professional, but tend to greatly over‑value the businesses. Business advisors with a sideline in exits – bring deep industry knowledge and a more structured exit approach; valuation can be conservative or aggressive depending on the advisor. M&A shops – focused on larger deals ($3‑5 MM EBITDA). They’re not a good fit for the size I’m targeting. Who are these brokers? All have been 60+ years old and male, with exception of the M&A shops. The age/experience factor seems consistent across the board, but it hasn’t prevented the quality variations I described above. My Question To other self‑funded searchers who’ve worked with brokers in this size range: 1. What broker profile did you encounter? (age, gender, firm size, typical deal size, fee structure, etc.) 2. Do you see a similar difference in quality based on the broker profile? 3. Did your geographic area affect the brokers you deal with? 4. Have you seen value in outreach to attorneys, accountants, or other professionals who may have access to off-market deals?