Why ESA?

Exit Strategy Advisors provides a boutique investment banking experience, providing highly specialized M&A services to family and founder-owned companies generating revenues from $5 million to $100 million.

With a focus on technology-driven industries such as manufacturing, industrial, business services, as well as software and technology, we offer our clients a level of expertise that is unmatched in the industry. Whether you're considering an exit in the near future or preparing for a sale down the road, ESA is honored to be your trusted advisor throughout the journey.
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I recently had an overwhelmingly positive experience with Bill Nicholson. Bill and I have known each other over the years through networking in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Recently, I was looking for future opportunities and Bill worked with me to identify a franchise to buy along with helping me along with funding sources for the new business. I am well on my way to opening the doors of my very own business and I couldn't be happier. If you're in the market to sell a business or buy a franchised or non-franchised business, I highly recommend calling Bill Nicholson.”

- Steve K.

Integrity, Professionalism and clear communication, these are the qualities that Bill Nicholson brings to the table. This is also the reason I referred him to a couple who was in the process of selling their million-dollar business. They had a buyer but were having difficulty completing the negotiations. In Bill’s capable hands they were able to smoothly get across the finish line and complete the sale to everyone’s satisfaction. I can not imagine going through a significant sale without him.

- Barbara E.

I would like to highly recommend Mr. Bill Nicholson. He is a very professional, well-spoken, and kind business professional. He provided our company with a professional and complete business valuation, and did all he could to sell our business to an interested buyer. Although the buyer did not come through (and someone else bought it), we really respect Bill and his professionalism.

- John P.

Expert Guidance For Your Exit

What Makes Us Different

Your business is anything but cookie-cutter, so your M&A journey shouldn’t be either.

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List High, Sell Fast

We understand that you want to get the highest possible value for your business and sell it quickly. At ESA, we make this happen by listing your business high and targeting unique buyers lists that are tailored to your business. Our approach ensures that 90% of all businesses we list sell for 97% of the appraised value.

Deep Industry Knowledge

You need an advisor who understands your industry and can position your company effectively with prospective buyers. At ESA, we have a team of experts with deep knowledge in technology-focused industries like manufacturing, industrial, business services, and software/technology. With our expertise, you can be confident that we'll market to institutional-quality buyers and investors with high standards and rigorous diligence processes.

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Efficient, Exact Valuations

You don't want to work with advisors who overvalue your company and ultimately bring down the price over time. At ESA, we pride ourselves on quickly providing efficient and exact valuations. You can be confident that we'll provide a spot-on valuation that ensures a smooth transaction process for your sale.

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Not Ready For Sale? We Optimize Your Value Over Time

We partner with family-owned and founder-owned, lower middle-market companies to prepare for their eventual exit, even if it's still 2 to 5 years down the road. When you work with ESA, you can be confident that we'll help you maximize your value over time and prepare for a successful sale in the future.

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Extensive Network

What sets us apart is our extensive network of industry contacts and access to proprietary deal flow. This allows us to identify potential acquisition targets or buyers that align perfectly with our clients' objectives. In addition, our innovative technology solutions help optimize deal structure and valuation, ensuring the best possible outcomes.

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Driven By Our Values

Our core values of trustworthiness, innovation, and excellence guide everything we do. This ranges from our focus on delivering top-notch analytical skills in corporate finance to our commitment to profitability for all parties involved. We honor our word and operate with ethics and honesty, always respecting people and confidentiality, while actively listening to our clients. Our innovative thinking enables us to deliver extraordinary results and exceed our clients' expectations.

Exit Strategy Advisors sell
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Industry

ESA only agrees to partner with clients when we have deep knowledge and expertise within their sector, and we market to institutional-quality buyers and investors with the same high standards and rigorous diligence processes.

Revenue

We're dedicated to offering M&A advisory services that meet the unique needs of family-owned and founder-owned companies in the lower-middle market. To that end, ESA works with businesses generating revenues from $5 million to $100 million.

Geography

ESA partners with clients nationwide while primarily serving clients in Dallas, Fort Worth, and throughout Texas. Wherever you’re located, we’re honored to partner with you and provide the truly tailored M&A support you deserve.

Bill

Your Trusted M&A Advisor

Bill Nicholson, MBA

CM&AP, CM&AA, M&AMI, CEPA

Bill Nicholson has 20+ years as a business owner and managing business transactions. As a seasoned intermediary, Mr. Nicholson has successfully represented companies in a broad range of industries helping entrepreneurs and business owners achieve their desired exit strategy or growth initiatives. Mr. Nicholson provides a solid cross-functional background in engineering with an MBA in finance. He fully understands both technology and business. He uses that background to drive enterprise value for his clients.

For Exit Strategy Advisors, he provides the highest level of investment banking M&A advisory services to our client firms in manufacturing, industrials, business services and software/technology generating $5 million to $100 million in revenues. The firm’s M&A services include sell-side advisory, buy-side advisory, business valuations, and exit planning services. Mr. Nicholson holds an MBA in finance from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a master’s in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

He is a Certified M&A Professional issued from Kennesaw State University’s Cole College, a Certified M&A Advisor from the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors, a Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary from the M&A Source, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor from the Exit Planning Institute.

Personally, he enjoys attending various local sporting events in basketball, football, and baseball. Also, he enjoys spending time with family, reading, and traveling to many spots around the globe.

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Lead Valuation Expert

Robert Brand, CVA

Robert Brand is an experienced valuation and financial professional. Mr. Brand provides certified valuation reports that deliver the insight and credibility needed to facilitate deal making and successful resolutions. As a certified business appraiser, he adheres to the high standards set forth by well-recognized, accredited organizations. Mr. Brand takes pride in working with business owners, financial professionals, business brokers, and legal professionals to provide airtight, credible and comprehensive valuation reports.

For Exit Strategy Advisors, he provides the highest level of financial analytics and valuation service to our clients.

Mr. Brand provides certified business valuations of closely-held businesses. Prior to working in the valuation field, Mr. Brand was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, serving two tours in Afghanistan leading an operations team and training foreign allies in route clearance techniques and procedures.

Mr. Brand holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) certification from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).

Mr. Brand is a member of the NACVA Houston State Chapter. Outside of the office, he spends most of his time cooking, playing golf, and spending time with his two dogs.

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Robert Brand, CVA
Sheila Darby

Litigation Valuation Expert

Shelia Darby, MBA, CVA, MAFF

Shelia Darby has 20+ years as an experienced valuation and financial professional. Ms. Darby is a recognized thought leader valuing complex initiatives and companies. She has worked on projects ranging from asset to company valuations. Past projects have included work for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small, privately held businesses.

Ms. Darby provides certified valuation reports that deliver the insight and credibility needed to facilitate deal making and successful resolutions. As a certified business appraiser, she adheres to the high standards set forth by well-recognized, accredited organizations.

For Exit Strategy Advisors, she provides the highest level of financial analytics and valuation service to our clients.

Ms. Darby provides certified business valuations of closely-held businesses. Her 20+ years of valuation experience spans numerous industries, ranging from energy/mining, construction/real estate, retail/wholesale and manufacturing to finance/insurance, services, professional and health. Ms. Darby formerly served as the Assistant Treasurer of Transocean and held various valuation, finance, and strategy roles at ConocoPhillips, AGL Resources, and Enron Corporation. While at ConocoPhillips, she led the strategy and finance department of the company’s largest business unit in Norway. She also enjoyed teaching the valuation and economic modeling course to over 250 employees located throughout North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. During her tenure, Ms. Darby was responsible for reviewing the valuation and finance approvals for over 100 acquisitions and dispositions.

Ms. Darby holds an M.B.A. from Rice University, a B.B.A. in Finance from Baylor University, and professional certifications from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA), including the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and Master Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF) designations. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Ms. Darby is a current board member of the Ethics and Oversight Board of NACVA and President of the NACVA Houston State Chapter. She is also the Treasurer of the Texas Association of Business Brokers – Houston Chapter. Personally, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family where she is often found in the stands at a softball field watching her daughter play.

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Certifications & Affiliations

CM&AP logoCMAA logoM&AMI logoCEPA logo

How We Give Back

At ESA, we believe in the importance of giving back to the community. That's why we're committed to donating a percentage of our net revenues to Habitat for Humanity, an organization that strives to create affordable housing for families in need.

By choosing ESA as your M&A advisor, you can feel good knowing that you are not only getting the highest quality strategic guidance and transaction execution, but you are also contributing to a worthy cause that helps create safe, affordable housing for families and communities around the world.