Baton vs Murphy Business Sales: Fees, Process, and Which to Choose
Chat Joglekar
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6 min read
Murphy Business Sales is a legitimate, long-running franchise network of business brokers, and it is a reasonable choice if you want a local broker you can meet in person, in the U.S. or Canada. Baton is the better fit if you want a published fee (6% at close, no retainer), a free valuation before you commit, and buyers from well beyond one local office.
This comparison is for owners of Main Street and lower-middle-market businesses, roughly $500K to $10M in value, who are choosing between a traditional broker and Baton. Murphy serves the same range. We compare cost, process, buyer reach, and timing, and we say plainly where Murphy is the better call.
What Murphy Business Sales is
Founded: 1994 by Roger J. Murphy. It began franchising in 2006.
Headquarters: Clearwater, Florida. Its corporate name is Murphy Business and Financial Corporation.
Structure: a franchise network of locally owned offices, so fees and service vary by office.
Size: more than 130 franchise locations and over 250 brokers in 38 states and Canada, according to Murphy, which reports over $4.3 billion in completed transactions.
Pricing: not published. Murphy’s own articles put typical broker commissions at 5% to 15% of the sale price, generally with a minimum fee.
Recognition: #4 on Axial’s 2024 Top 25 Lower Middle Market Business Brokers list.
Baton vs Murphy Business Sales
Baton | Murphy Business Sales | |
|---|---|---|
Upfront cost | None. No retainer or listing fee. | Varies by office. Some offices say they charge no upfront or retainer fee. |
Commission or success fee | 6% of the total purchase price, paid at close | Not published. A percentage set by each office, generally with a minimum fee. |
Valuation | Free, data-driven valuation before you list | Broker’s opinion of value or certified valuation. Some offices say it is free. |
Buyer reach | 30,000 vetted buyers, major business-for-sale sites, and direct outreach to strategic buyers | Your office’s marketing plus national and international broker networks |
Buyer financing | SBA and bank pre-qualification for interested buyers | Brokers can use their banking contacts if needed |
Off-market option | Yes. Test buyer interest privately with a free anonymous listing. | Confidential marketing under an NDA. Varies by office. |
Contract term | Three-month exclusive, then month to month | Set by each office. Murphy says agreements typically run 6 to 12 months, with a tail period. |
Typical time to close | Offers in about 6 weeks. About 6 months from listing to close on average. | 4 to 6 months on average, per Murphy’s FAQ. Some take over a year. |
Pricing and features checked October 2026. Baton figures are from baton.com/pricing. Murphy does not publish seller pricing, so the Murphy column reflects Murphy’s own sites and the sources listed at the end of this article.
Where the difference shows up
The fee is the likely gap. Murphy does not publish its fees, and its own articles differ. The Wilmington office cites 10% to 15% of the sale price, lower on larger deals, and a corporate blog post says 5% to 10%. On a $1.5 million sale, Baton’s 6% success fee is $90,000. At 10%, the one rate in both ranges, the same sale costs $150,000, or $60,000 more before any minimum. Get a written fee schedule and run the math on your own number.
The second difference is reach. With Murphy, how widely your business is marketed depends on your office and your broker. Baton lists your business on its own marketplace, with 30,000 vetted buyers, and on major business-for-sale sites, and reaches out directly to acquirers that fit.
The third is commitment. Baton’s Seller Plan is a three-month exclusive, then month to month, and you can cancel any time after that. A Murphy office article on broker contracts says agreements typically run 6 to 12 months and usually include a tail period, during which you may still owe a commission if a buyer the broker introduced closes later.
Which should you use?
Choose Murphy if you want a broker you can meet face to face, your local Murphy office has a strong record selling businesses like yours, or you are selling a business in Canada, where Murphy has offices and Baton does not yet operate. Murphy also prepares certified valuations for IRS filings, partner disputes, and bank loans.
Choose Baton if you want to know your fee up front, keep more of the sale price, get a free valuation before you commit, and reach buyers beyond your local market. Baton focuses on businesses worth $500K to $100M, and its Seller Plan requires at least $100K in annual profit.
Start with a number
Know what your business is worth before you talk to anyone about fees. Get a free Baton valuation.
FAQ
Is Murphy Business Sales legit? Yes. Murphy has operated since 1994 and reports more than 130 franchise locations and over 250 brokers in the U.S. and Canada. Because offices are locally owned, experience and service vary, so vet the specific broker you would work with.
How much does Murphy Business charge to sell a business? Murphy does not publish seller pricing, and each office sets its own. Murphy’s own articles put typical broker commissions at 5% to 15% of the sale price, generally with a minimum fee. Get a written quote that includes any minimum, retainer, and tail period.
Does Murphy Business charge an upfront fee? It depends on the office. Murphy North Central Houston, for example, says it charges no upfront or retainer fees. Confirm with your office in writing. Baton charges no retainer.
What are the best Murphy Business alternatives? For Main Street and lower-middle-market owners who want advisory support at a lower fee, Baton. For other broker comparisons, see Baton vs Sunbelt, Baton vs Transworld, and our guide to business broker commissions.
Can I switch from Murphy Business to Baton? Yes, once your listing agreement allows it. Check the end date and the tail clause, since you may still owe Murphy a commission if a buyer it introduced closes later.
More comparisons
See every option side by side on Compare Baton, or read another comparison:
Sources
Baton pricing, checked October 2026
Sell a business, Murphy Business
Business valuation, Murphy Business
Murphy North Central Houston, sell a business
What is a business broker?, Murphy Wilmington
Business broker? Your questions answered, Murphy Business blog
Typical terms in a business broker contract, Murphy Cape Girardeau
Murphy Business & Financial Corporation franchise overview, Franchising.com