A few M&A Advisors specifically focus on the buying and selling of franchisors. Others who have handled franchisor transactions often do so as a part of their focus on retail businesses or consumer businesses.
Most M&A Advisors provide the range of services that a franchisor seller requires – strategic planning, timing advice, valuation analysis, structuring advice, Deal Book assistance, identification and procurement of prospective buyers and financing sources, negotiation assistance, auction processes, due diligence guidance, and closing assistance.
Many M&A Advisors represent both sellers and buyers, and some are better at handling large transactions while others are more appropriate for smaller sellers. Most franchisors fall within the fairly wide “middle-market” that many M&A Advisors handle. It is often best if the M&A Advisor you engage has handled other franchisor transactions, and transactions of the size and type that you are contemplating.
The list below is of M&A Advisors that have handled sell-side or buy-side transactions involving the identified franchisors. You are encouraged to visit their websites, and to carefully evaluate and choose the best M&A Advisor for your planned transaction.
Advanced Restaurant Sales
Jerry’s Subs
Arlington Capital Advisors
Boneheads, C2 Education, Camp Bow Wow, Doc Popcorn, Doc Green’s, Genghis Grill, Mama Fu’s, The Egg & I, The Flying Biscuit Café, Maui Wowi, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Monkey Joe’s, Newk’s, PJ’s Coffee, Planet Smoothie, Pure Barre, Ruby Tuesday’s, Shane’s Rib Shack, WOW Café
Bank of America
Tire Pros
Barclays Bank
PODS
BB&T Capital Markets
1-800 Radiator
Bellmark Partners
Elephant & Castle, Good Times
Boxwood Partners
SMARTBOX
Brookwood Associates
Au Bon Pain, BD’s Mongolian Grill, Habit Burger, Paradise Bakery, Quiznos, Rita’s, Zoe’s Kitchen
Capital Growth Advisors
Stevi B’s Pizza
Compass Advisory Services
Big Boy, Lee’s Famous Recipe
Conway MacKenzie
Dippin Dots
Credit Suisse
Better Homes & Gardens, CENTURY 21, Coldwell Banker, Maaco, Meineke, Sotheby’s, Starwood
Croft & Bender
Mr. Handyman, Molly Maid, ProTect Painters
Deustche Bank
Marriott, Tire Pros
Duff & Phelps
Fazoli’s, Friendly’s, Houlihan’s, Noodles & Company
Evercore
Better Homes & Gardens, CENTURY 21, Coldwell Banker, Maaco, Meineke, Sotheby’s
Fidus Partners
Coverall, Express Oil Change, Skyline Chili, Worldwide Express
FocalPoint
Crunch Fitness, Fuddruckers
Gensis Capital
Popeye’s
Geraty Investments
Rita’s Italian Ice, Taco Mac
Goldman Sachs
Aaron’s, A&W Restaurants, AmeriSuites, Burger King, Carl’s Jr, Dollar, Hardee’s, Hertz, Hilton, Little Sheep, Mongolian Hot Pot, Long John Silver’s, Party City, Thrifty, Tire Pros
Guggenheim Partners
Destination Maternity, Runners Point (Foot Locker)
Harris Williams
AAMCO, ABRA Auto Body, Aire Serv, America’s Service Station, Bojangles’, Checkers, Drive N Style, Econo Lube, FASTSIGNS, Glass Doctor, Gold’s Gym, The Grounds Guys, Huddle House, LINE-X, Maaco, Meineke, Merlin, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Electric, Mr. Rooter, Pro Oil Change, Rally’s, Taco Bueno
Houlihan Lokey
Papa Gino’s
HSBC Holdings
Coco’s, Carrows
Imperial Capital
Chevys
Innovation Capital
Hooters
J.H. Chapman Group
A&W Restaurants, Cassano’s, East Side Mario’s, Ground Round, Le Petit Bistro, Roadhouse Grill, Zipps Drive-Thru
Jefferies & Co.
Bally Total Fitness, Benihana, On the Border
KeyBanc Capital Markets
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
KPMG Corporate Finance
The Cleaning Authority
Lazard Middle Market
Hand and Stone, Starwood
Lincoln International
Curves
Mastodon Ventures
Bar Louie, Good Times Burger & Frozen Custard, Peter Piper Pizza, Quaker Steak
Metronome Partners
Bruegger’s Bagels
Merrill Lynch
Tire Pros
Moelis & Company
Coco’s, Carrows
Morgan Joseph TriArtisan
Grandy’s, Midas, Souper Salad
Morgan Stanley
Panera
National Franchise Sales
Fosters Freeze
North Point Advisors
America’s Taco Shop, Blaze Pizza, Blimpie, Bluebird Care, Bruegger’s Bagels, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Captain D’s, Cereality, Champps, Checkers, Chevys Fresh Mex, Church’s Chicken, Cici’s Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery, Corner Bakery, El Pollo Loco, FASTSIGNS, First Watch, Frullati Café and Bakery, Fuzio Universal Pasta, The Great Steak & Potato Company, Hooters, Interim HealthCare, Jimmy John’s, Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria, Johnny Rockets, Just Better Care, Kahala Coffee Traders, Logan’s Roadhouse, Massage Envy, Maui Wowi, NrGize Lifestyle Café, Papa Murphy’s, Peter Piper Pizza, Pinkberry, Planet Smoothie, Rally’s, Ranch One, Rollerz, Samurai Sam’s Teriyaki Grill, Sbarro, Smashburger, Surf City Squeeze, TacoTime, Tasti D-Lite, Timothy’s World Coffee, Wetzel’s Pretzels
Piper Jaffray
Au Bon Pain, Bluebird Care, Bruegger’s Bagels, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Captain D’s, Carrows Restaurants, Chevys Fresh Mex, Claim Jumper, Coco’s Bakery Restaurants, Del Taco, Drybar, Einstein Noah, El Pollo Loco, Hooters, Interim HealthCare, Jamba Juice, Johnny Rockets, Just Better Care, Krystal, Noodles & Co., Orangetheory Fitness, Outback Steakhouse, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, Pure Barre, Sarku Japan, TGI Friday’s, Timothy’s World Coffee, Village Inn
Raymond James
Don Pablo’s, Frisch’s, Greene Turtle, McAlister’s Deli, Miami Subs
RBC Capital Markets
Longhorn Steakhouse, Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Hortons
Robert W. Baird & Co
Bad Daddy’s
Sagent Advisors
Massage Envy, Supercuts
SMBC Nikko Securities
Coco’s, Carrows
SPP Capital Partners
Garfield’s Restaurant & Pub
SSG Capital Advisors
Saladworks
Stephens Inc.
J.D. Byrider, Pure Barre
Stifel Nicolaus
Einstein Bros. Bagels, Manhattan Bagels
The Cypress Group
Bear Rock Foods, Beef O’Brady’s, Cici’s Pizza, PJ’s Coffee, Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina, Texas Land & Cattle, Texas Steakhouse
The McLean Group
Fast-Fix, IKOR, Lenny’s Sub Shop, Right at Home, Senior Helpers
TM Capital Corp
Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits
Trefethen Advisors
Circle K, Dairy Mart, On the Run
Trinity Capital
Baskin Robbins, Buffalo Grill. Buffalo’s Café, Dunkin’ Donuts, Redbrick Pizza, Schlotzsky’s Deli, Togo’s Sandwiches
UBS
Popeye’s, Retail Zoo
Wells Fargo Securities
Carl’s Jr., Green Burrito, Hardee’s, Papa Murphy’s, Tim Horton’s, Red Burrito
William Blair & Company
America’s Service Station, Crunch Fitness, Drive N Style, Econo Lube, Giordano’s, Maaco, Massage Envy, Mattress Firm, Max & Erma’s, Meineke, Merlin, Pro Oil Change, Snap Fitness, Vision Source, White Hen Pantry
The Wintour Group
Muscle Maker Grill