WETYR is an operator-buyer that acquires your business directly and confidentially, as a principal. A business broker is an intermediary that lists your business, markets it to a pool of third-party buyers, and takes a success fee, usually $40,000 to $60,000 per $500K of sale price, when it closes.
Verdict: Use a business broker if you want to run a wide, marketed process to find the highest bidder and you are comfortable with 6 to 12 months, broker fees, and more people learning the business is for sale. Choose WETYR if confidentiality, speed, certainty of close, and paying no commission matter more than squeezing the last dollar out of an auction.
Side by side
| Factor | WETYR (operator-buyer) | Business broker |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | The buyer, buying to operate | An intermediary who finds a buyer |
| Fee to you | $0, we buy as principal | success fee of $40,000 to $60,000 per $500K on the sale price |
| Time to close | 30 to 75 days | 6 to 12 months typical |
| Confidentiality | High, no public listing | Lower, teaser and listing circulate |
| Certainty of close | High, one decision-maker | Depends on the buyer they find |
| Who buys | WETYR | A third party, often unknown until late |
| Best deal size | $1M to $50M revenue | Small Main Street to lower-middle-market |
| What happens to your team | WETYR operates it | Depends entirely on the buyer |
When Business broker is the better choice
A broker is the better choice when your priority is maximum price through competitive tension, and you are willing to trade time and confidentiality for it. If your business is highly desirable, clean, and you want ten buyers bidding against each other, a good broker can create an auction that a single direct buyer will not match on headline number. Brokers also earn their fee on messy or hard-to-value businesses that need active marketing to find any buyer at all. If you have no specific buyer and need someone to run a full search, that is exactly what a broker does.
When WETYR is the better choice
WETYR is the better choice when confidentiality is non-negotiable, when you want to know the buyer and that the buyer will actually operate the business, and when certainty and speed beat a marketed auction. There is no listing, no teaser, no commission of $40,000 to $60,000 per $500K coming out of your proceeds, and the person underwriting the deal is the person who runs it afterward. Owners who came to us after a broker process stalled usually cite the same thing: too many tire-kickers saw their numbers, and the deal never closed.
What it costs
The clearest financial difference is the fee. On a $5M sale, a broker commission of $50,000 per $500K is $500,000 out of your proceeds. WETYR charges the seller nothing on a direct purchase because we are the buyer, not a middleman. If WETYR is not the right buyer, we can, with your OK, introduce you to buyers in our registry whose buy box fits, at no cost to you. You then deal with them directly, with your own attorney, CPA and, if you want one, your own broker. WETYR does not act for either side and takes no fee tied to a closing.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Questions people ask about this comparison
Do I need a business broker to sell my business?
No. A broker is one path, not a requirement. You can sell directly to an operator-buyer like WETYR with no listing and no commission, or you can run a marketed process through a broker. The right answer depends on whether you value price-through-auction or confidentiality-and-certainty more.
How much does a business broker charge?
Most business brokers charge a success fee of $40,000 to $60,000 per $500K of sale price, sometimes with a minimum fee and an upfront retainer. On lower-middle-market deals the rate often steps down as the price rises (a Lehman or double-Lehman scale).
Is selling directly to a buyer cheaper than using a broker?
On fees, yes, a direct sale avoids the commission entirely. On headline price, a competitive brokered auction can sometimes produce a higher gross number. The right comparison is net proceeds and certainty of close, not gross price alone. On a $5M sale, a commission of $50,000 per $500K is $500,000 that a direct sale keeps in your pocket.
Will my staff find out if I use a broker?
There is more risk of it. Brokers market your business to a buyer pool and circulate a teaser, so more people know it is for sale. A direct, confidential sale to a single operator-buyer keeps the circle small until you decide to tell people.
Get a confidential read on your options
A 30-minute call with the operator, not a broker. We tell you honestly which path fits your business.