Baton vs OffDeal: Fees, Fit, and Which to Choose
Chat Joglekar
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6 min read
OffDeal is a venture-backed, AI-assisted investment bank for profitable, owner-led companies, and it is a strong choice if your business has roughly $5 million to $100 million in annual revenue and you want an investment-bank style auction. Baton is the better fit for most Main Street and lower-middle-market sellers: it focuses on businesses worth $500K to $100M, publishes a flat 6% success fee with no retainer, and offers a free valuation and anonymous listing.
This comparison is for owners choosing between the two. They overlap at the top end but mostly serve different segments: OffDeal targets companies with $5 million or more in revenue, while Baton is built for Main Street owners and focuses on businesses worth $500K to $100M. If your company is larger, OffDeal may be the better fit, and we say so below.
What OffDeal is
Founded: 2023 in New York City by Ori Eldarov and Alston Lin. Part of Y Combinator’s Winter 2024 batch.
Model: it calls itself “the world’s first AI-native investment bank.” M&A advisors run the sale, supported by in-house AI buyer-matching tools.
Who it serves: profitable, owner-led businesses, typically with $5 million to $100 million in annual revenue and at least five years of operating history.
Pricing: success fee only, with no retainers and no upfront costs, per its site as of October 2026. The rate is not published. TechCrunch reported in 2024 that OffDeal charges 5% to 10% of transaction value.
Funding: a $12 million Series A led by Radical Ventures in July 2025, bringing total funding to $17 million.
Free tools: an AI business valuation and a market comps report.
Baton vs OffDeal
Baton | OffDeal | |
|---|---|---|
Who it is for | Businesses worth $500K to $100M; the Seller Plan requires $100K+ in annual profit | Profitable, owner-led businesses, typically $5M to $100M in revenue |
Upfront cost | None. No retainer or listing fee. | None. No retainers or upfront costs, per its site. |
Success fee | 6% of the total purchase price, paid at close | Not published. TechCrunch reported 5% to 10% in 2024. |
Who runs the sale | Dedicated advisor through diligence and close | M&A advisors supported by AI buyer-matching tools |
Buyers | Baton marketplace with 30,000 vetted buyers, major business-for-sale sites, and direct outreach to strategic buyers | AI-matched strategic and institutional buyers in a competitive auction |
Off-market option | Yes. Test buyer interest privately with a free anonymous listing. | Not described on its site |
Free valuation tools | Free, data-driven valuation | Free AI valuation and free comps report |
Contract term | Three-month exclusive, then month to month | Not published |
Timing | Offers in about 6 weeks. About 6 months from listing to close on average. | Offers in under 45 days, per its site. Time to close not published. |
Pricing and features checked October 2026. Baton figures are from baton.com/pricing. OffDeal does not publish its fee rate, so the OffDeal column reflects offdeal.io and the press sources listed at the end of this article.
Where the difference shows up
Start with fit. OffDeal typically works with companies above $5 million in revenue, and many Main Street businesses sit below that line. Baton focuses on businesses worth $500K to $100M with at least $100K in annual profit, which covers many owners below OffDeal’s range.
Then the fee. On a $1.5 million sale, Baton’s 6% success fee is $90,000. At the 5% to 10% range TechCrunch reported for OffDeal, the same sale would cost $75,000 to $150,000: less than Baton at the low end, and $60,000 more at the high end. Get OffDeal’s rate and any minimum fee in writing before you sign.
Third, how buyers find you. OffDeal uses AI to identify likely acquirers and runs a competitive auction among them. Baton lists your business on its own marketplace and major business-for-sale sites, contacts strategic buyers directly, and helps interested buyers get SBA and bank pre-qualification. Its free anonymous listing also lets you gauge interest privately first.
Which should you use?
Choose OffDeal if your company is profitable, has $5 million to $100 million in revenue and five or more years of history, and you want an investment-bank style auction aimed at strategic and institutional buyers. For larger deals, OffDeal may be the better fit, and at the low end of its reported fee range it may also cost less.
Choose Baton if you own a Main Street or lower-middle-market business, especially one below OffDeal’s revenue range, and want a published flat fee, a free anonymous listing, buyer financing support, and a dedicated advisor through close.
Start with a number
Whichever route you take, know what your business is worth before you talk to anyone about fees. Get a free Baton valuation.
FAQ
Is OffDeal legit? Yes. OffDeal is a New York company backed by Y Combinator and Radical Ventures, which led its $12 million Series A in July 2025, and its site lists completed sales where it advised the seller. As with any advisor, ask who will run your deal.
How much does OffDeal charge? OffDeal does not publish its rate. It says it works on a success fee only, with no retainers or upfront costs. TechCrunch reported in 2024 that it charges 5% to 10% of transaction value. Get the exact rate and any minimum in writing.
Does OffDeal work with small businesses? Mostly larger ones. OffDeal says it typically works with profitable, owner-led businesses with $5 million to $100 million in revenue and five or more years of history. Owners of smaller businesses may fit Baton better: its Seller Plan starts at $100K in annual profit, and anyone can use its free valuation and anonymous listing.
Is the OffDeal valuation tool free? Yes. OffDeal offers a free AI valuation and a free comps report that it says needs no sign-up. Baton’s valuation is also free.
What are the best OffDeal alternatives? For Main Street and lower-middle-market owners who want a flat 6% fee and no retainer, Baton. See also Baton vs Sunbelt, Baton vs Transworld, and our guide to the best websites to sell a small business.
More comparisons
See every option side by side on Compare Baton, or read another comparison:
Sources
Baton pricing, checked October 2026
OffDeal homepage and FAQ, checked October 2026
OffDeal Series A announcement, July 2025
TechCrunch on OffDeal, September 2024
OffDeal raises US$12M Series A, The Logic, July 2025