New York Business Brokers (2026): Active Firms by Metro, Plus a Free Alternative
Quick Answer
New York business brokers typically charge 10-15% Lehman scale (declining to 4-6% on deals above $5M), with $10K-$50K upfront retainers in NYC and $5K-$25K outside the metro. The state has approximately 40-60 active broker firms concentrated in the NYC metro (25-35 firms), with smaller communities in Long Island, Westchester, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, and Syracuse. For businesses with $1M+ EBITDA in PE-active sectors, buyer-paid M&A advisory (where the buyer pays the success fee at closing) is increasingly the better answer. CT Acquisitions operates this model nationally and works with New York sellers in all metros.
If you own a business in New York and you’re thinking about a sale, your options depend on three factors: your location within the state, your EBITDA size, and your industry. New York has the most active business broker market in the country (concentrated in NYC) and the deepest concentration of PE roll-up platforms — but also the highest combined federal + state + city tax burden on sellers.
This guide covers the New York broker landscape across all major metros, fee structures, the active PE buyers in each major NY sector, NY-specific tax considerations, and how the buyer-paid M&A advisory model compares to traditional Lehman-scale brokerage. We also link to deep-dive city guides for sellers in the NYC metro.
TL;DR
- NY broker fees: 10-15% Lehman scale (sub-$1M), declining to 4-6% on $5M+. Retainers $10K-$50K in NYC, $5K-$25K outside.
- NYC dominates: 25-35 active broker firms vs 15-25 across the rest of the state combined.
- Active PE roll-ups in NY: RIA/wealth (Mariner, Wealth Enhancement, Beacon Pointe, Merit, Captrust), managed IT/MSP (Evergreen, Integris, Kelser+), accounting (EisnerAmper/Towerbrook), healthcare services (dental DSO, vet, ABA), real estate services (Compass NYSE: COMP), home services (Apex, Sila, Wrench, Champions).
- NY tax: combined federal + NY state (6.85-10.9%) + NYC (3.876% if NYC resident) = ~30-38.6% effective rate on business sale gain. NY conforms partially to Section 1202 QSBS.
- NY does NOT require a real estate license to broker business sales (unlike CA, FL, GA, etc.).
- Buyer-paid alternative (CT Acquisitions): seller pays nothing; the buyer pays the success fee at closing. Works best for $1M+ EBITDA businesses in PE-active sectors.
New York business broker firms by metro
NYC metro (25-35 firms)
The deepest concentration of broker activity. Coverage includes Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, plus Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, and the NJ suburbs. See our NYC business broker deep-dive guide for the full firm-by-firm breakdown, fees, and active PE buyers.
Long Island
- Vested Business Brokers — NYC + Long Island headquarters.
- Transworld Business Advisors — Long Island office.
- Sunbelt Business Brokers Long Island.
- Plus 5-10 specialty operators serving Nassau and Suffolk.
Westchester & Hudson Valley
- Murphy Business Sales — Westchester coverage.
- Transworld Business Advisors — Westchester office.
- Several independent practitioners in White Plains, Tarrytown, Poughkeepsie.
Buffalo & Western NY
- Murphy Business Sales — Buffalo office.
- Multiple regional independents.
Rochester, Syracuse, Albany
Smaller broker communities (3-8 firms each), typically a mix of national franchise offices and regional independents. Activity is meaningful but the volume is materially lower than NYC.
New York business broker fees
New York broker fees follow the national Lehman scale pattern, with NYC retainers running 30-50% higher than the rest of the state due to overhead and market complexity.
Lehman scale (deals under $1M)
- 10-15% on the first $1M
- 8-10% on $1M-$3M
- 4-6% on $3M-$10M
- 2-3% above $10M
Retainers
- NYC metro: $10K-$50K
- Upstate / outside NYC: $5K-$25K
Tail provisions
Most NY broker agreements include a 12-24 month tail. Pay attention — these extend your fee obligation well beyond the engagement.
Are New York business brokers regulated?
New York does NOT require business brokers to hold a real estate broker license to broker business sales (unlike California, Florida, Georgia, and 12+ other restricted states). However:
- If real estate transfers with the business, the broker must hold a New York real estate broker license under New York Real Property Law Article 12-A.
- Most reputable NY brokers hold the CBI (Certified Business Intermediary) designation from the IBBA.
- Some NY brokers operate as registered investment advisors (RIA) or broker-dealers for transactions involving securities.
Active PE roll-ups buying New York businesses in 2026
New York has the deepest concentration of active PE roll-up platforms in the country. The right NY business broker (or M&A advisor) is one with direct access to these PE platforms.
Financial services / RIA wealth management
- Mariner Wealth Advisors, Wealth Enhancement Group, Beacon Pointe, Merit Financial Advisors, Captrust (acquired Meritage $2.4B).
- Sector closed 466 deals in 2025. Median multiple 7-15x EBITDA.
Managed IT / MSP
10+ active PE-backed platforms acquiring NY-based MSPs.
Healthcare services
Dental DSO, veterinary, ABA, home health all see active PE roll-up in NY.
Real estate services
Compass (NYSE: COMP) rolling up commercial residential brokerage.
Home services
Apex Service Partners, Sila Services, Wrench Group, Champions Group active in NY HVAC / plumbing / electrical.
New York tax considerations on a business sale
NY has the highest combined federal + state + city tax on business sale gains in the country (for NYC residents).
NY state personal income tax
Graduated 4-10.9%. The top 10.9% rate applies above $25M taxable income.
NYC personal income tax
3.876% top rate added on top of state. NYC residents face the highest combined rate in the US.
Combined effective rate
Top-bracket NYC sellers: Federal LTCG (20%) + NIIT (3.8%) + NY State (10.9%) + NYC (3.876%) = ~38.6% combined effective rate on gain.
QSBS Section 1202
NY conforms partially. Combined with federal $10M exclusion, can save $2M+ on a fully-excluded sale.
CT Acquisitions: the buyer-paid alternative
CT Acquisitions operates a national buyer-paid M&A advisory model. The seller pays nothing — the buyer pays the success fee at closing. We work with New York sellers across all metros.
How it works
- CT runs the sell-side process for the New York seller.
- CT curates and approaches a pre-qualified set of institutional buyers (PE platforms, strategic acquirers, public consolidators).
- The selected buyer pays the success fee at closing — typically 3-6% of deal value.
- The seller pays no retainer, no commission, no exit fee.
When buyer-paid works best for NY sellers
- $1M+ EBITDA businesses in PE-active sectors (RIA, MSP, accounting, healthcare services, real estate services, home services).
- Owners who want a competitive process with institutional buyers, not BizBuySell individuals.
- Sellers who want to maximize net proceeds.
New York city-level broker guides
For deeper dives on specific NY metros, see:
- Business broker in New York City (NYC metro) — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk plus NJ suburbs.
(Additional city-level guides coming for Long Island, Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany.)
Frequently Asked Questions about business brokers in New York
How much does a New York business broker charge?
Most NY business brokers charge Lehman scale: 10-15% on the first $1M of deal value, declining to 8-10% on $1M-$3M and 4-6% on $5M+. Plus $5K-$50K upfront retainer depending on metro.
Does New York require a license to be a business broker?
Not for the sale of a business alone. However, if real estate is included in the transaction, the broker must hold a New York real estate broker license under NY Real Property Law Article 12-A.
How long does it take to sell a business in New York?
Typical timeline: 6-9 months for deals below $2M (broker); 9-15 months for $2M-$25M (M&A advisor); 12-18 months for $25M+ (investment bank). Add 3-6 months of pre-market preparation.
What is the buyer-paid alternative to a New York business broker?
Buyer-paid M&A advisory means the buyer pays the success fee at closing. The seller pays nothing — no retainer, no commission, no exit fee. CT Acquisitions operates this model for New York sellers in PE-active sectors.
What is the combined federal + NY state + NYC tax on a business sale?
Top bracket: Federal LTCG (20%) + NIIT (3.8%) + NY state (10.9%) + NYC (3.876%) = ~38.6% combined effective rate. Outside NYC: ~34.7% combined.
Are NYC business brokers different from upstate brokers?
Yes. NYC brokers typically charge higher retainers ($10K-$50K vs $5K-$25K), have deeper institutional buyer networks, and handle larger transactions. NYC concentrates 25-35 of the state’s 40-60 active firms.