Earned Exits Review

If you’re considering selling your business, choosing the right business broker can have a major impact on your valuation, buyer pool, negotiations, and ultimately the outcome of the transaction. In this Earned Exits review for 2026, we take an in-depth look at Earned Exits, its business brokerage services, track record, fees, selling process, customer experience, and overall reputation to determine whether the firm is a good choice for business owners.

Earned Exits is a business brokerage and M&A advisory firm focused primarily on small and lower-middle-market businesses, with a stated target range of approximately $1 million to $40 million in annual revenue. Unlike online business marketplaces that primarily provide listing exposure, Earned Exits takes a more hands-on approach involving financial preparation, business valuation, buyer outreach, marketing, negotiations, and transaction management.

But are Earned Exits actually good business brokers, and is the firm’s approach worth considering when you’re ready to sell?

In this review, we’ll examine Earned Exits’ services, reported transaction history, Trifecta Team model, buyer acquisition strategy, fees and costs, advantages and disadvantages, and how the firm compares with other business brokers in 2026. We’ll also look at who Earned Exits is best suited for—and when another business broker or online marketplace may be a better fit.

People Behind Earned Exits

Earned Exits is a prominent, majority woman-owned and woman-led business brokerage firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for small and mid-market businesses. The firm operates as a boutique advisory platform, combining executive-level deal expertise with financial analysis and targeted marketing to support business owners throughout the sale process.

Rather than being built around a single high-profile broker, Earned Exits operates through a collaborative team-based model, bringing together experienced professionals across deal structuring, financial analysis, marketing, buyer outreach, and transaction management.

Core Leadership

Britt Clas — Lead Partner

Britt Clas serves as a Lead Partner and prominent public-facing representative of Earned Exits. With an academic background from the University of Arizona, she works at the executive level across key stages of the transaction process, including business valuation, buyer outreach, negotiations, due diligence, and closing coordination.

Her role reflects Earned Exits’ broader approach of combining traditional business brokerage with hands-on transaction advisory and strategic deal management.

The Operational Team

Supporting the firm’s lead partners is a broader network of more than 25 marketing, finance, and business professionals. Clients are typically supported by what Earned Exits describes as a “Trifecta Team”—a three-part advisory structure designed to address the primary financial, strategic, and marketing requirements of a business sale.

The team generally consists of:

• Executive-Level Partner: Oversees the transaction strategy, negotiations, deal structuring, and overall execution.
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO) / Financial Analyst: Analyzes financial statements, normalizes expenses, identifies legitimate add-backs, and evaluates adjusted EBITDA to establish a more accurate representation of the company’s financial performance.
• Senior Marketing Director: Develops the marketing strategy and uses digital channels, proprietary outreach, and confidential buyer targeting to connect the business with qualified strategic and financial buyers.

This structure allows Earned Exits to approach a transaction from multiple disciplines rather than relying solely on a traditional broker-client relationship.

Entrepreneurial Experience

A notable aspect of Earned Exits’ model is its emphasis on professionals with firsthand entrepreneurial and business-ownership experience. The firm has highlighted its practice of working with experienced entrepreneurs and executives who have built, scaled, operated, and, in some cases, exited businesses themselves.

That experience is intended to give the firm’s advisors a practical understanding of the challenges involved in preparing a company for sale, positioning it for buyers, navigating negotiations, and ultimately completing a transaction.

Overall, Earned Exits positions itself as a team-driven M&A and business brokerage firm, combining executive deal leadership, financial expertise, and specialized marketing capabilities to serve owners of small and mid-market companies.

Are Earned Exits Good Business Brokers?

Yes—Earned Exits is a strong business brokerage option for the right type of seller. Its reported transaction volume, lower-middle-market specialization, multidisciplinary team structure, and emphasis on financial and marketing preparation make it worth considering for owners preparing to sell a company in the $1 million–$40 million revenue range.

Based on the firm’s reported transaction history, business model, and focus on lower-middle-market companies, Earned Exits appears to be a strong option for business owners looking to sell companies with $1 million to $40 million in annual revenue. The firm combines business brokerage with financial analysis, buyer outreach, marketing, and transaction advisory, giving sellers access to a broader team than a traditional one-broker model.

One of Earned Exits’ biggest strengths is its reported transaction track record. The firm states that it has closed more than $2 billion in transactions across 17+ industries, suggesting substantial experience handling businesses across different sectors and deal structures. It also reports a 93%+ closing rate for companies with buyer-ready financials, although this is a firm-reported figure and should not be interpreted as a guarantee for every seller.

Another differentiator is the firm’s three-person “Trifecta Team.” Rather than relying on a single broker to manage every aspect of a transaction, clients are supported by an executive-level deal professional, a financial analyst or CFO, and a senior marketing professional. This structure can be particularly useful when a business requires financial normalization, EBITDA adjustments, strategic buyer targeting, and confidential marketing before going to market.

Earned Exits also places considerable emphasis on speed and buyer outreach. The firm states that it aims to identify qualified buyers within 60 days and reports an average closing timeline of approximately 117 days for businesses with prepared financials. These figures are useful benchmarks, but actual transaction timelines can vary depending on the company’s financial condition, industry, valuation, buyer demand, financing, and due-diligence process.

Who Is Earned Exits Best For?

Earned Exits appears to be particularly well suited to established small and lower-middle-market businesses generating between $1 million and $40 million in annual revenue. Owners of companies in this range who want a structured sale process, dedicated financial support, and active buyer outreach may find the firm’s team-based approach appealing.

It may be less suitable for very small Main Street businesses, micro-businesses, or early-stage startups that fall below its typical target range. Sellers should also recognize that the firm’s reported closing rates and timelines are closely tied to buyer-ready financials. Businesses with incomplete records, inconsistent accounting, or significant financial adjustments may require additional preparation before they are ready to attract serious buyers.

How Does Earned Exits Compare With Other Business Brokers?

Earned Exits takes a high-touch, process-driven approach to business brokerage, with a particular focus on companies in the lower-middle market. Rather than relying primarily on a public listing to generate buyer interest, the firm emphasizes financial preparation, targeted buyer outreach, transaction marketing, and hands-on deal management.

This approach can be advantageous for owners selling established businesses where valuation, confidentiality, and access to qualified buyers are more important than simply generating a large volume of inquiries.

Earned Exits vs. Traditional Business Brokers and Online Marketplaces

Feature	Earned Exits	Traditional/Franchise Brokers	Online Marketplaces
Primary approach	Targeted buyer outreach and structured transaction process	Listing exposure, local relationships, and broker-led sales	Digital listings and marketplace exposure
Typical business profile	Lower-middle-market companies	Main Street and small-to-mid-sized businesses	Micro-businesses, startups, and smaller companies
Service model	Dedicated Trifecta Team	Usually one primary broker, with support varying by office	Self-service or technology-driven
Financial preparation	Detailed financial analysis and EBITDA normalization	Varies by broker and transaction	Generally limited; seller is often responsible for preparation
Buyer outreach	Proactive and targeted	Combination of network, listings, and direct outreach	Primarily marketplace-based exposure
Marketing	Dedicated marketing support	Varies considerably	Primarily platform-based
Best suited for	Owners seeking a structured, hands-on sale process	Owners who value local relationships and traditional brokerage	Owners prioritizing speed, simplicity, or lower costs

A More Active Approach to Finding Buyers

One of Earned Exits’ key differentiators is its emphasis on active buyer outreach rather than relying exclusively on listing exposure. The firm’s process incorporates financial preparation, confidential marketing, and direct outreach intended to identify strategic and financial buyers that may have a specific interest in acquiring the company.

For a seller with a valuable, established business, this can potentially produce a more competitive buyer process than simply placing a business on a public marketplace. However, the effectiveness of any buyer-outreach campaign ultimately depends on the quality of the business, its financial performance, valuation expectations, industry, and the strength of the available buyer pool.

The Trifecta Team Model

Earned Exits also differentiates itself through its “Trifecta Team” structure. Rather than having one broker handle valuation, marketing, financial analysis, negotiations, and closing, the model divides these responsibilities among dedicated professionals.

Typically, the team includes an executive-level deal professional, financial analyst/CFO, and marketing specialist. For sellers who need help preparing financials, identifying add-backs, developing a buyer narrative, and conducting confidential outreach, this multidisciplinary approach can provide an advantage over a traditional solo-broker model.

Where Other Business Brokers May Be Better

Earned Exits is not necessarily the right choice for every seller.

If you’re selling a very small business or micro-business, an online marketplace may offer a simpler and less expensive way to find potential buyers. Similarly, owners selling a small local business where the most likely buyers are already within the surrounding community may benefit from a regional broker with established relationships in that particular market.

Earned Exits’ more involved process is likely to make the most sense when the business has sufficient scale and financial complexity to justify a dedicated advisory team.

Our Assessment

Overall, Earned Exits stands out more as a full-service M&A-style business brokerage firm than a simple business-listing service. Its combination of financial preparation, dedicated marketing, targeted buyer outreach, and a multi-person deal team makes its model particularly relevant to owners of established lower-middle-market businesses.

The main trade-off is that a high-touch advisory process is generally more appropriate for larger transactions than for small businesses where a simple listing or local broker may be more practical and cost-effective.

Earned Exits Review 2026: Final Verdict

Overall, Earned Exits appears to be a strong option for business owners looking to sell established companies in the lower-middle market, particularly those with approximately $1 million to $40 million in annual revenue. Its approach goes beyond simply listing a business for sale, combining financial preparation, valuation, targeted buyer outreach, negotiations, and transaction support.

One of the firm’s key differentiators is its Trifecta Team model, which brings together executive-level deal expertise, financial analysis, and marketing capabilities. This can be particularly valuable for owners who need help preparing their financials, identifying qualified buyers, maintaining confidentiality, and navigating the complexities of an M&A transaction.

That said, Earned Exits may not be the ideal fit for every seller. Smaller businesses, micro-businesses, and highly local Main Street companies may find a traditional business broker or online marketplace more appropriate. Sellers should also remember that reported closing rates, transaction volumes, and timelines are not guarantees of future results and can vary significantly depending on the business, financials, industry, buyer demand, and deal structure.

Is Earned Exits a Good Business Broker?

For the right type of business, yes. Earned Exits’ focus on larger transactions, active buyer outreach, financial preparation, and hands-on deal management makes it worth considering for owners preparing to sell a profitable, established company.

Ultimately, the best business broker depends on the size and complexity of your company, your desired sale price, industry, timeline, and how much support you need throughout the transaction. For sellers whose businesses fall within Earned Exits’ target market, the firm’s advisory-focused model makes it a business broker worth evaluating in 2026.