Business Acquisition Consultant on the Buyer's Side
Updated October 29, 2026 · 7 min read · TealBridge
Key facts
- Works for
- The buyer only; no commissions from sellers
- Budgets
- From $100,000; $500K to $10M deals led by Anton Trunin
- Scope
- Search, valuation, negotiation, due diligence, closing, launch
- Track record
- 400+ businesses launched for foreign investors in 20+ states since 2018
- Not
- A law firm, CPA firm, business broker or escrow agent
- TealBridge fee
- Fixed quote after the first consultation
A business acquisition consultant works for the buyer through the whole purchase: defining what to buy, finding and screening businesses, valuing them, negotiating the offer, running due diligence and coordinating closing. TealBridge is a buy-side advisor for foreign investors buying an operating U.S. business, with budgets from $100,000. We take no commissions from sellers and work alongside your independent attorney and CPA.
In most small business sales, the only professional with deep knowledge of the deal is the seller’s broker, who is paid from the sale price. The buyer, often new to the U.S. market, negotiates alone. Business acquisition consulting exists to balance that.
Who needs a business acquisition consultant?
Our clients are entrepreneurs and investors, typically 30 to 55, from E-2 treaty countries in the CIS, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia and Turkey, who are relocating with family and want to buy a real, operating business. Many are first-time buyers in the U.S.; many are buying from abroad.
- From $100,000: small owner-operated businesses, service companies and franchise resales, where a small business acquisition consultant prevents expensive first mistakes.
- $500,000 to $10 million: established companies with staff and management. These deals are led by Anton Trunin, our partner for M&A and investment strategy, a serial entrepreneur and former managing partner of the venture holding ABRT, and an advisor to U.S. businesses with more than $200 million in combined revenue.
The team is led by founder Mira Sariyeva (MBA, Hult International Business School; 20 years in banking, consulting and operations), who runs her own businesses in Dallas. Since 2018 our team has launched more than 400 businesses for foreign investors in over 20 states. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. More about TealBridge.
What does a business acquisition advisor do, step by step?
| Stage | What TealBridge does | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Criteria | Budget, industry, location, owner role, E-2 tests | Written search brief |
| 2. Search | Brokers, off-market owners, franchise resales | Screened shortlist (business search) |
| 3. Valuation | Earnings rebuilt from bank statements; three approaches | Price range and walk-away price (valuation) |
| 4. Offer and structure | LOI terms, asset or equity, seller note, earn-out, escrow | Negotiated terms (deal structuring) |
| 5. Due diligence | Financial and business review; legal review via counsel | Verified P&L, risk report, investment memo (due diligence) |
| 6. Closing and launch | Coordination of attorney, CPA, escrow; handover; first 90 days | Working business (closing and transition) |
You can engage us for the full path or for specific stages, for example valuation and due diligence on a business you found yourself. The full sequence is described in our process overview.
Is a buy-side business broker the same as a buy-side advisor?
Not usually. People search for a “business buyer broker” or “buy side business broker” because they want someone in their corner, but most business brokers represent sellers and are paid a commission from the sale price. Their incentive is to close the deal at the highest price for the seller.
| Seller’s business broker | Buy-side advisor (TealBridge) | |
|---|---|---|
| Represents | The seller | The buyer |
| Paid by | Seller, usually a commission on the price | Buyer, fixed quote |
| Interest in a high price | Yes | No |
| Interest in the deal closing | Strong | None beyond your decision |
| Checks the seller’s numbers | Not their role | Core of the work |
TealBridge is not a broker and does not list businesses. Business buyer representation, in our sense, means that every recommendation is made in your interest, including the recommendation to walk away. For a detailed comparison, read business broker vs buy-side advisor.
How is a business acquisition consultant different from an attorney?
An acquisition attorney drafts and negotiates the legal documents, advises on liabilities and gives legal advice. An acquisition consultant handles the business questions: is this the right business, what is it worth, are the earnings real, how should the deal be structured commercially, and is the business ready for a new owner.
TealBridge does not give legal or tax advice and does not file visas. We work with independent attorneys and CPAs you engage, and prepare a handoff package for your independent immigration attorney if you are applying for an E-2 visa. For legal work on the transaction, clients can be introduced to independent partner counsel such as Alexander Devine, a New York attorney who leads the business practice at National Capital Legal Services.
Why does a foreign buyer need buy-side support?
Foreign buyers carry risks that local buyers do not: an unfamiliar market, distance from the business, documents in a new format and, for E-2 investors, visa rules that shape the deal. The investment must be substantial and at risk, the investor must own at least 50% or control operations, the business must not be marginal, and loans secured by the business’s own assets do not count. Our approach is “Business First. Visa Second.”: the visa follows from a real business that earns, not the other way round. See businesses that fit E-2 requirements.
How long does it take and what does it cost?
A search with realistic criteria usually produces a shortlist within weeks. Due diligence typically takes 30 to 60 days, and closing often follows 60 to 120 days after the letter of intent. TealBridge fees are a fixed quote after the first consultation, and we take no seller commissions. The full cost structure of an acquisition, including third-party fees, is on our cost page.
Next step
Tell us your budget, the type of business you are considering and your timeline, and we will tell you plainly what a buy-side advisor can do for you and what it would involve. TealBridge works on the buyer side only, from search to launch. Contact us to book the first consultation.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice. For your situation, consult a licensed attorney and a CPA.
Frequently asked questions
A business acquisition consultant guides the buyer from criteria to closing: sourcing and screening businesses, valuing them, structuring and negotiating the offer, organizing due diligence and coordinating attorneys, CPAs and escrow. The consultant's job is to protect the buyer's money and decision, not to get a deal done at any price.
People use the terms loosely. Most business brokers represent sellers and are paid a commission from the sale price. A buy-side advisor such as TealBridge works only for the buyer, is paid by the buyer and has no interest in a particular deal closing.
They do different jobs. The attorney handles legal documents, liability and legal advice; the advisor handles the business side: what to buy, what it is worth, how to negotiate and whether the numbers hold up. Most buyers of operating businesses use both.
Buy-side consultants are typically paid by the buyer, through a fixed fee, a retainer or a combination. TealBridge gives a fixed quote after the first consultation and takes no commission from sellers. See our cost page for the full cost structure of an acquisition.
Yes. We work with acquisitions from $100,000, which includes small owner-operated businesses and franchise resales, as well as established companies up to $10 million, where deals are led by Anton Trunin.
Sources
Related
Tell us about your plans
Your answers let us say on the first call whether an acquisition fits your budget and goals, and what the next step is.