A business broker runs a listing and charges 8 to 12 percent; a marketplace is cheap but public and uncontrolled; a direct sale to WETYR has no commission and stays confidential. For most owners of a fire protection company who value privacy and speed, the direct route wins on net proceeds and control.
Side by side
| What matters | Business broker | Online marketplace | WETYR (direct) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission / fee | 8 to 12 percent of price | Listing fee | No commission |
| Confidentiality | Limited (listing, teasers) | Public listing | Fully confidential |
| Who you deal with | An intermediary, then buyers | Strangers, tire-kickers | The operator who would run it |
| Speed to close | 6 to 12 months typical | Unpredictable | 30 to 75 days |
| Certainty | Depends on the field | Low | Funded, direct offer |
When a broker makes sense
If your fire protection company is large, highly sought-after, and you want to run a full competitive auction, a broker can create a bidding field that lifts price, and the commission may pay for itself. Names owners consider include Pye-Barker, Summit Fire, APi Group, PE platforms. The trade-offs are cost, time, and a process that is hard to keep fully private.
When a direct sale to WETYR makes sense
If confidentiality, speed, and keeping the commission matter more than squeezing the last dollar out of an auction, a direct sale fits. WETYR is an operator-buyer: we make a confidential, written offer and close in 30 to 75 days, with no listing and no fee out of your price. Code-required recurring inspection revenue, aggressive PE roll-up, non-discretionary spend Code-mandated recurring inspections, sticky contracts, licensing is exactly the kind of strength we pay up for.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your fire protection company. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Fire Protection Company: broker vs direct FAQ
What is the best way to sell a fire protection company?
It depends on your priorities. If you want the widest auction and will pay 8 to 12 percent for it, a broker fits. If you want confidentiality, speed, and no commission, a direct sale to an operator-buyer like WETYR fits. Marketplaces are cheapest but the least controlled and least confidential.
Who are the main brokers for fire protection companies?
In this space owners often talk to Pye-Barker, Summit Fire, APi Group, PE platforms. They run a listing or limited-auction process and charge a success commission. WETYR is the direct-buyer alternative: no listing, no commission, one counterparty.
Is selling directly to a buyer safe?
Yes, when the buyer is funded and represented and you use your own attorney. A direct sale to WETYR uses a mutual NDA, a written offer, and normal legal diligence, with your staff and customers learning on your timeline, not from a public listing.
Will I get a lower price selling direct instead of through a broker?
Not necessarily. A broker's auction can lift price, but the 8 to 12 percent commission comes back out of it, and many fire protection companies never attract a competitive field. A direct offer with no commission often nets the owner as much or more, faster and privately.
Compare a real, direct offer
See what a no-commission, confidential sale looks like before you sign with anyone.