Aegis Investment Group, LLC Research
Advisory Approach
Aegis Investment Group, LLC is a boutique business brokerage firm specializing in the confidential sale of independently owned businesses with positive cash flow. Founded in California in 2001 and based in Florida since 2010, the firm operates with a distinctive thesis: SBA financing is the key to successful business sales. By leveraging relationships with SBA lenders to secure up to 90% financing for qualified buyers, Aegis creates a significantly larger pool of prospective buyers compared to traditional business brokerages that rely on all-cash buyers or conventional financing.
The firm's team includes former buy-side experts who understand buyer tactics and use this knowledge to protect seller valuations during negotiations. This insider perspective on how buyers evaluate businesses allows Aegis to position their clients' businesses more effectively and achieve superior outcomes—the firm consistently achieves 95% or more of list price, with some transactions closing at 116% of asking price.
Sector Focus
Aegis maintains broad expertise across main street business categories, with particular depth in retail, healthcare, education, construction trades, transportation, and consumer services. The firm's transaction history reflects the diversity of independently owned businesses that form the backbone of the U.S. economy: family restaurants, veterinary clinics, Montessori schools, HVAC companies, trucking firms, and retail establishments.
Within retail, Aegis has handled luxury jewelry stores with substantial inventory and e-commerce advertising companies. In healthcare services, the firm focuses on veterinary clinics and urgent care facilities. The education practice includes private schools and childcare centers. Construction expertise spans HVAC contractors, roofing companies, and trades businesses. Transportation work covers trucking and logistics operations. The consumer services category includes restaurants and food service establishments.
Deal Track Record
Since 2017, Aegis Investment Group has sold over 65 businesses with an aggregate transaction value exceeding $73 million. The firm's closing performance is exceptional: 95% or more of list price on average, significantly above industry norms for main street business brokers. Recent completed transactions include:
- Marco's Pizza franchise in Baltimore, MD, sold at 92% of list price in 14 months
- High-margin trucking company serving the Permian Basin, sold at 116% of list price in just 4 months
- Turnkey roofing company in Sumter County, FL, sold at 106% of list price in 8 months
These results demonstrate Aegis's ability to close transactions quickly and at premium valuations. The firm manages deal timelines ranging from 4 to 14 months from listing to close, with most transactions completing within 6-9 months.
Process & Fee Structure
Aegis provides concierge-level transaction support with a dedicated support person assigned to each seller from valuation through closing. The firm's process begins with a complimentary business valuation to establish market positioning. Once engaged, Aegis manages all aspects of the sale: professional listings and nationwide marketing, buyer screening and lender qualification, deal structuring and negotiation, financial preparation for SBA financing, and closing coordination with attorneys and lenders.
The firm's in-house Closing Department, led by a Managing Director, manages every detail of the closing process. This team has successfully closed over 55 transactions since 2018, ranging from straightforward sales to complex multi-party deals.
Fee structure follows industry-standard business brokerage models, typically 8-12% of transaction value depending on deal size and complexity. There is no upfront retainer—the firm's compensation is success-based, aligning incentives with sellers.
Buyer Network
Unlike middle-market investment banks that target private equity firms and strategic acquirers, Aegis's buyer network consists primarily of SBA-qualified individual buyers and small investor groups. The firm's relationships with SBA lenders enable buyers to secure up to 90% financing with minimal down payments (as low as 5-10%), dramatically expanding the pool of qualified prospects. This financing advantage is a key differentiator—many potential buyers have the operational expertise to run a business but lack the liquid capital for all-cash purchases.
Competitive Positioning
Aegis differentiates from other business brokerages through three key advantages:
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SBA Financing Expertise: The firm's lender relationships and understanding of SBA programs enable deals that wouldn't close with conventional financing. Buyers can receive up to 90% financing, giving sellers confidence of full cash payment at closing.
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Former Buy-Side Perspective: Team members have experience on the buy side of transactions, giving them insight into buyer tactics and negotiation strategies. This knowledge helps protect seller valuations during deal discussions.
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Dedicated Transaction Support: Each seller works with a single point of contact throughout the process, ensuring continuity and personalized service from initial consultation through closing.
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Superior Closing Performance: The firm consistently achieves 95% or more of list price, with some transactions exceeding asking price. This track record demonstrates effective positioning and negotiation.
Not a Fit If
Aegis is not the right advisor for:
- Businesses valued below $500,000 (too small for the firm's brokerage model)
- Distressed assets or turnaround situations (firm focuses on profitable, going-concern businesses)
- Complex recapitalizations or private equity sales (transactions requiring investment banking rather than business brokerage)
- Businesses without positive cash flow (SBA financing requires debt service coverage)
Team
The Aegis team is led by three key professionals:
Darin Jerger, Advisor and Senior Vice President, leads the team with deep expertise in both sell-side and buy-side transactions, providing strategic guidance and oversight throughout the process.
Jesse Grant, Advisor and Business Broker, oversees valuations, marketing, buyer communications, and negotiations, ensuring each business is positioned effectively and every buyer relationship is managed with precision.
Lisa Parisi, Managing Director, leads the Closing Department. Since 2018, she and her team have successfully closed over 55 transactions, ranging from straightforward sales to complex deals. The closing department coordinates seamlessly with buyers, lenders, attorneys, and sellers to ensure smooth transactions.
The firm is brokered by eXp Commercial and maintains offices in Fort Myers, Florida and Lincoln City, Oregon, with team members serving clients nationwide.
Geographic Coverage
Aegis serves clients nationwide from its primary office in Fort Myers, Florida and secondary location in Lincoln City, Oregon. The firm has completed transactions across multiple states including Florida, Maryland, Wisconsin, Texas, and Oregon. While geographically diverse, the firm's transaction concentration reflects population centers and business density in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Texas markets.