Allied Business Advisors Research
Advisory Approach
Allied Business Advisors is a Fort Wayne-based business brokerage and M&A advisory firm specializing in Main Street and lower middle market business transactions across the Midwest. The firm operates with a thesis-driven approach to business advisory: they believe that successful business exits require comprehensive valuation expertise, strategic buyer matching, and institutional-quality transaction management. Their sweet spot is owner-operated businesses with $500K-$10M in revenue seeking to exit, acquire, or recapitalize.
The firm's founding in 2024 represents a formalization of Ricky Kerns' 12+ years of focused M&A and business brokerage experience combined with his 20+ years in the commercial real estate sector. This unique blend of real estate knowledge and M&A expertise allows them to understand the full picture of a business owner's situation—including real estate holdings, operating businesses, and transition planning.
Sector Focus
Allied Business Advisors maintains active practices across multiple industries with particular strength in healthcare-adjacent businesses, skilled trades, manufacturing, and consulting services. Their LinkedIn activity reveals specific expertise in:
Healthcare Services: Established chiropractic practices with loyal clientele and recurring revenue models. They've represented 40+ year chiropractic practices with multi-service offerings (chiropractic, massage therapy, nutritional support).
Business Services - Skilled Trades: 20+ year established contractors with strong commercial client bases, minimal marketing needs (largely referral-driven), and clear paths to operational scaling. Particular focus on electrical contractors and construction trades.
Professional Services - Consulting: Proprietary consulting businesses with recurring revenue streams, national client bases, and scalable delivery models, particularly healthcare and nutrition consulting.
Manufacturing: General manufacturing operations, with posted expertise in positioning manufacturing businesses for sale during economic transitions and understanding workforce/automation valuation drivers. Serves discrete manufacturers and process manufacturers.
Process & Advisory Model
Allied Business Advisors positions itself as a confidential, relationship-driven advisor focused on "one of the most important financial decisions" in a business owner's life. Their process includes:
- Business Valuation Services: Detailed analysis of financial statements, market conditions, and industry trends to determine true business value
- Exit Planning & Consultation: Initial consultations to identify timing, readiness, and strategic options
- Buyer Identification & Matching: Connecting sellers with qualified, serious buyers across multiple channels
- Transaction Support: Guidance through negotiations, legal process, and closing logistics
- Confidentiality & Discretion: Emphasis on confidential transactions to protect ongoing operations
The firm operates on a "no pressure" consulting model, emphasizing conversations about options rather than hard-sell closings. This appeals particularly to first-time sellers and owners considering whether to transition in the next 1-3 years.
Buyer Network
While publicly available deal listings show Ricky Kerns has represented both buyers and sellers across commercial real estate and business transactions, Allied Business Advisors' specific buyer network for business acquisitions includes:
- Strategic Operators: Individuals and teams actively seeking to acquire and operate established businesses
- Private Investors & Investment Groups: Passive and active investors seeking cash-flowing businesses
- Professional Buyers: Licensed professionals (chiropractors, healthcare providers) seeking acquisition opportunities in their field
- Franchise Buyers: Individuals and entities transitioning into franchise operations
Competitive Positioning
Allied Business Advisors differentiates through:
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Cross-Sector Expertise: Ricky Kerns' dual expertise in commercial real estate and M&A allows comprehensive understanding of business owner situations (business operations + real estate holdings)
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Main Street Specialization: Focused on owner-operated businesses in the $500K-$10M revenue range, where many national M&A firms don't have meaningful practices
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Local Market Knowledge: Deep relationships and familiarity with Midwest business community (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio), critical for smaller deal flows
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Owner-Focused Consulting: Emphasis on education and options rather than transactional urgency—appeals to owners exploring rather than desperate sellers
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Integrated Services: Access to both operating business and commercial real estate expertise through affiliated entities
Not a Fit If
Allied Business Advisors typically focuses on owner-operated Main Street businesses rather than:
- Businesses below $250K in annual revenue
- Highly specialized regulated businesses requiring sector-specific expertise beyond their scope
- Severely distressed situations requiring major restructuring before sale
- Sellers seeking multi-year auction processes (they focus on decisive transactions)
Team
Ricky Kerns serves as the President and lead advisor with 32+ combined years of experience (12+ M&A/business brokerage, 20+ commercial real estate). Key background includes specializations in business planning, financial assessment, financing, and mergers and acquisitions. He has personally invested in commercial real estate across Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, providing hands-on perspective on business owner challenges. Member of International Business Brokers Association (IBBA).
Brevin Slusher serves as co-advisor and team member, contributing to business valuation and transaction support across the firm's deal pipeline.
Geographic Coverage
Primary Service Area: Fort Wayne, Indiana and surrounding Midwest (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio). Core markets include Allen County (base), Elkhart County, St. Joseph County (South Bend area), with statewide Indiana coverage and Michigan/Ohio expansion.
Deal Track Record
While Allied Business Advisors maintains confidentiality on most completed transactions (common in Main Street M&A), publicly documented activity includes completed sales in healthcare services (chiropractic practices with 40+ year histories), skilled trades (electrical contractors with strong recurring commercial clients), professional services (healthcare consulting), and general small business acquisitions and dispositions. Active listings show regular transaction flow in multiple sectors.
Recent Activity (2024-2025)
Active deal listings across platforms (BizBuySell, BizQuest) indicate current representations in healthcare services, electrical contracting, manufacturing, and consulting sectors. Transactions reflect Main Street market positioning with deal values primarily in the $250K-$5M range.