Baton vs Business Exits: Fees, Fit, and Which to Choose
Chat Joglekar
⋅
6 min read
Business Exits is a business brokerage and M&A advisory firm ranked #1 by Axial, and it is a strong choice if your business has $2 million or more in revenue and at least $500K in EBITDA. Baton is the better fit for most Main Street and lower-middle-market sellers who want a published, flat fee (6% at close, no retainer) and a path to market even when profit is below $500K.
This comparison is for owners of businesses worth roughly $500K to $10M choosing between a broker and Baton. The two overlap most above $500K in EBITDA. Below that, Business Exits says its buyers want at least $500K in profit, while Baton’s Seller Plan starts at $100K.
What Business Exits is
Model: a business brokerage and M&A advisory firm paid by a success fee. Its site says it has no upfront retainers and does not charge for marketing or buyer outreach.
Headquarters: Beverly Hills, California, according to Axial. Business Exits says it serves sellers in all 50 states, and its site lists no street address.
Track record: more than 10 years in business, 200+ deals sold, and $800M+ in volume sold, according to its own site.
Who it serves: companies with $2M to $60M in revenue and $500K or more in EBITDA, with a focus on service businesses such as HVAC, staffing, and construction.
Pricing: the success fee rate is not published.
Recognition: #1 on Axial’s 2025 Top 25 Lower Middle Market Business Brokers list and #1 again on the first-half 2026 list.
Baton vs Business Exits
Baton | Business Exits | |
|---|---|---|
Upfront cost | None. No retainer or listing fee. | None. No upfront retainer, per its site. |
Success fee | 6% of the total purchase price, paid at close | Paid only at close. Rate not published. |
Business size | Businesses worth $500K to $100M. Seller Plan requires $100K+ in annual profit. | $2M to $60M in revenue and $500K+ in EBITDA |
Valuation | Free, data-driven valuation before you list | Free valuation, which it says takes about 12 hours |
Buyer reach | Baton marketplace with 30,000 vetted buyers, major business-for-sale sites, and direct outreach to strategic buyers | Its own buyer database, 13 marketing channels, and direct outreach to strategic buyers |
Buyer financing | SBA and bank pre-qualification for interested buyers | Arranges SBA 7(a) financing for buyers through its lender network |
Off-market option | Yes. Test buyer interest privately with a free anonymous listing. | Not described on its site |
Contract term | Three-month exclusive, then month to month | Set in its broker agreement. Term not published. |
Typical time to close | Offers in about 6 weeks. About 6 months from listing to close on average. | Typically 4 to 9 months, per its site |
Pricing and features checked October 2026. Baton figures are from baton.com/pricing. Business Exits figures are from its homepage, How it Works page, and Dallas seller page. Business Exits does not publish its fee rate.
Where the difference shows up
The first difference is fee transparency. Both charge nothing up front and get paid only when the business sells. Baton publishes its rate: on a $1.5 million sale, Baton’s 6% success fee is $90,000. Business Exits sets its rate in its broker agreement and does not publish it. Each percentage point on a $1.5 million sale is $15,000, so get the rate, any minimum fee, and any tail period in writing. Our guide to business broker commissions explains what to look for.
The second is size. Business Exits says its buyers want at least $2 million in revenue and $500K in profit, and it reviews each business before offering an agreement. If your business earns $150K or $300K a year, Baton’s Seller Plan, which starts at $100K in annual profit, is the likelier fit.
On process, the two are close. Business Exits says about 70% of its deals sell to buyers already in its database, and it lines up SBA financing for buyers. Baton lists your business on its marketplace and major business-for-sale sites, contacts strategic buyers, and helps buyers get SBA and bank pre-qualification. Baton also lets you test interest privately with a free anonymous listing.
Which should you use?
Choose Business Exits if your business has $2 million or more in revenue and at least $500K in EBITDA, especially in home services, construction, or staffing, and you want a top-ranked broker with its own buyer database and SBA financing arranged for buyers.
Choose Baton if you want to know your fee before you sign, keep the commitment to a three-month exclusive and then month to month, test buyer interest privately first, or your business earns between $100K and $500K a year. Baton focuses on businesses worth $500K to $100M.
Start with a number
Know what your business is worth before you compare fees. Get a free Baton valuation.
FAQ
Is Business Exits legit? Yes. Business Exits ranked #1 on Axial’s Top 25 Lower Middle Market Business Brokers list for 2025 and for the first half of 2026, and it says it has sold more than 200 deals. Read its broker agreement closely before you sign.
How much does Business Exits charge to sell a business? Business Exits works on a success fee paid only at closing, with no upfront retainer, but it does not publish its rate as of October 2026. Ask for the percentage, any minimum fee, and any tail period in writing. Baton charges a published 6% of the purchase price at close.
What size business does Business Exits work with? Business Exits says it works with companies that have $2 million to $60 million in revenue and $500K or more in EBITDA. Owners with less profit can look at Baton, whose Seller Plan starts at $100K in annual profit.
How long does it take to sell a business with Business Exits? Business Exits says a typical sale closes in 4 to 9 months, and smaller SBA-financed deals can move faster. Baton sellers get offers in about 6 weeks and close in about 6 months on average.
What are the best Business Exits alternatives? For Main Street and lower-middle-market owners who want a published, flat success fee, Baton. For other options, see Baton vs Transworld and our comparison of every way to sell.
More comparisons
See every option side by side on Compare Baton, or read another comparison:
Sources
Baton pricing, checked October 2026