Capstone Commercial M&A Advisors Research
Advisory Approach
Capstone Commercial M&A Advisors is a Brevard County, Florida-based business brokerage and M&A advisory firm founded in 2002 by Kent Cooper. The firm specializes in lower middle market business sales, with a particular focus on businesses with EBITDA between $1 million and $25 million. Unlike traditional investment banks, Capstone operates as a business brokerage, combining M&A advisory services with commercial real estate brokerage and business valuation services.
The firm's approach is characterized by personalized, boutique-style service where the principal handles every transaction directly. Kent Cooper brings a unique background to the practice, having previously worked at Lehman Brothers and PaineWebber as a financial analyst, followed by executive roles in environmental services and laboratories. This Wall Street training, combined with deep local market knowledge in Florida's Space Coast, positions the firm to serve business owners seeking exit strategies in the lower middle market.
Sector Focus
Capstone Commercial's transaction history reveals broad exposure across several industries, with particular depth in:
Restaurants and Food Service: The firm has sold numerous restaurant businesses including beachside eateries, waterfront restaurants, bars, and grills. Notable transactions include Bernard's Surf (a historic Cocoa Beach beachside restaurant), Bunky's (waterfront restaurant), Amici's Beachside Bistro, Conch Key Grille, Conchy Joe's, and multiple other dining establishments across Brevard County.
Retail and Convenience Stores: Significant experience with gas stations, convenience stores, and liquor retail. Transactions include 7-Eleven, BP, Chevron, Shell stations, and Cape Canaveral Liquors.
Automotive and Transportation: Experience with auto repair businesses, auto body shops, and truck repair facilities, including Clouser Auto Repair, MITCHCO Collision Repair, Oliver's Auto Body, and Truck Central (heavy duty truck repair).
Manufacturing and Industrial: The firm's most significant transaction was the sale of Met-Con, a Cocoa-based steel fabrication and heavy construction company. This deal, which earned Cooper the Hallmark Award for Deal of the Year, involved convincing the client to trust his valuation, which resulted in an additional $3.6 million in proceeds—the largest deal of Cooper's career.
HVAC and Trade Services: Multiple transactions including Air Care Systems, Absolutely Cool Innovations, and Service Experts.
Marine and Recreation: Sold Miss Cape Canaveral, a water-front retail and fishing business.
Deal Track Record
Since 2002, Capstone Commercial has completed numerous business sales across Florida's Space Coast and central Florida region. The firm maintains an extensive sold listings portfolio spanning multiple decades of activity.
The Met-Con transaction represents the firm's flagship deal—a heavy construction and steel fabrication company in Cocoa, Florida. Cooper's valuation expertise proved critical in this transaction, as he convinced the seller to accept his higher valuation, ultimately generating $3.6 million in additional value. This transaction earned recognition from the Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors, receiving the Hallmark Award for Deal of the Year.
Process & Fee Structure
Capstone Commercial provides personalized attention with experienced, licensed, and certified professionals managing every transaction. The firm is certified to provide both business valuations and commercial property appraisals, allowing them to offer comprehensive pre-sale preparation services.
The firm's process emphasizes:
- Developing both short-term and long-term exit strategies for sellers
- Assisting buyers in making strategic acquisitions
- Helping financial buyers acquire operating assets
- State-of-the-art database usage to identify strategic buyers
- Collaboration with private equity investment firms and large holding companies
As a business brokerage rather than a registered broker-dealer, Capstone's fee structure likely follows standard business broker models rather than Lehman formulas. Typical business broker retainers range from $5,000-$15,000 upfront with success fees of 5-10% on lower middle market transactions, though specific fee information is not publicly disclosed.
Buyer Network
Capstone Commercial utilizes state-of-the-art databases to target strategic buyers and collaborates with private equity investment firms and large holding companies to assist in acquisitions. The firm's buyer network includes strategic acquirers in manufacturing, industrial services, and business sectors, as well as financial buyers seeking operating assets.
The high demand for acquisitions in Capstone's markets has been driving up multiples for sellers, and the firm positions itself to help clients take advantage of this favorable environment.
Competitive Positioning
Capstone Commercial differentiates through:
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Dual Expertise: Combines M&A advisory with commercial real estate brokerage and certified appraisal services, providing a holistic approach to business sales that often involve real estate components.
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Wall Street Background: Principal Kent Cooper's experience at Lehman Brothers and PaineWebber brings institutional-quality financial analysis to lower middle market transactions.
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Valuation Credentials: As a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) through NACVA, Cooper brings credible valuation expertise that can significantly impact transaction outcomes, as demonstrated in the Met-Con deal.
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Local Market Depth: Two decades of operation in Brevard County provides deep connections and market knowledge.
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Comprehensive Certifications: Holds multiple professional designations including M&AMI (Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary), CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member), CM&AP (Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional), CBI (Certified Business Intermediary), and CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst).
Not a Fit If
Based on the firm's positioning and transaction history, Capstone Commercial is not a fit for:
- Transactions above $25 million EBITDA (upper middle market or larger)
- Sellers seeking pure investment bank representation with institutional distribution
- Businesses outside Florida/southeastern US (geographic focus is local)
- Highly regulated industries requiring specialized FINRA broker-dealer registration
- Founders seeking limited-process sales to known buyers only
Team
Kent Cooper – President/Owner and M&A Master Intermediary. Cooper's background includes:
- Vice President/Financial Analyst at Lehman Brothers and PaineWebber (1983-1988)
- CEO/Owner of environmental services and laboratory businesses (1993-2002)
- Director of Finance at E-Prime Aerospace Corp (1988-1991)
- Founded Capstone Commercial of Brevard in 2002
- Licenses: Florida Licensed RE Broker BK3018125, Florida State Certified General RE Appraiser RZ3284
- Certifications: M&AMI, CCIM, CM&AP, CBI, CVA, RES.NET REO Certified Professional Agent
- Education: MBA (University of Incarnate Word)
- Notable recognition: 2014 Realtor of the Year from Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors, Hallmark Award for Deal of the Year for Met-Con transaction
- Published author: "What's The Plan Man?" – a guide to Mergers & Acquisitions
The firm operates as a sole proprietorship with Cooper handling all transactions directly, supported by affiliate relationships rather than in-house team members.
Geographic Coverage
Primary focus on Brevard County and Florida's Space Coast, including Cocoa Beach, Cocoa, Merritt Island, Melbourne, Titusville, Palm Bay, Rockledge, Cape Canaveral, and Indian Harbour Beach. The firm also serves the broader central Florida region and southeastern United States, with transaction history extending to Orlando and surrounding counties.