Mejia & Associates Research
Advisory Approach
Mejia & Associates is a boutique M&A advisory and business brokerage firm serving small and mid-sized businesses in Florida and nationally. Founded and led by Carlos M. Mejia, the firm operates with a client-centered thesis: successful business transitions require comprehensive preparation, qualified buyer identification, and disciplined process management. The firm's sweet spot is founder-owned businesses with enterprise values typically under $5 million, where operational complexity and confidentiality requirements demand personalized attention.
Unlike larger investment banks that target institutional buyers, Mejia & Associates focuses on main street businesses—restaurants, retail establishments, manufacturing companies, distribution firms, and service businesses—where the seller's relationship with employees and community matters as much as the transaction price. Carlos takes pride in guiding business owners through what is often the most significant financial decision of their lives, bringing both professional rigor and personal commitment to each engagement.
Sector Focus
Mejia & Associates maintains broad industry coverage, reflecting the diverse Florida economy. Primary sectors include manufacturing (both discrete and process), distribution and logistics, construction and industrial services, retail and restaurants, and business services. The firm's LinkedIn activity shows listings for manufacturing operations, restaurants, and various service businesses. Through M&A Source, the firm is listed across multiple industry categories, indicating cross-sector capability rather than deep specialization in any single vertical.
Notably, Carlos's professional background includes a Strategic Alliances practice focused on identifying cross-border opportunities between U.S. companies in logistics, distribution, and manufacturing and Latin American partners. This international orientation—leveraging his bilingual Spanish/English capabilities and South American consulting experience—distinguishes the firm from local business brokers who operate purely within domestic markets.
Deal Track Record
While specific transaction details are not publicly disclosed—common for business brokers working with privately-held companies—Carlos's professional recognition indicates consistent deal activity. He received the International Business Brokers Association's 2023 Chairman's Circle Award, which recognizes brokers who closed one or more qualified deals totaling $3 million or more in aggregate transaction value within a year. He also received the Business Brokers of Florida's Million Dollar Plus Award in both 2019 and 2021, acknowledging outstanding sales performance. These awards suggest a track record of multiple transactions annually in the lower middle market.
The firm's listing activity on LinkedIn shows continuous deal flow, including restaurants, manufacturing operations, and various service businesses. However, unlike investment banks that publicize transactions through press releases, business brokers typically maintain strict confidentiality, and deal announcements rarely appear in public sources. The absence of specific press releases or news coverage is standard for this segment of the market.
Process & Fee Structure
Mejia & Associates follows a structured sell-side process designed to maximize value while minimizing business disruption. The process begins with understanding the seller's objectives—retirement, recapitalization, or pursuit of new opportunities—and preparing the business for market. Carlos offers preliminary valuations using market and income approaches, as well as formal valuation reports for positioning with strategic or institutional buyers. The firm emphasizes preparation: cleaning up financial records, reviewing balance sheets with CPAs, creating projections, and documenting standard operating procedures to increase buyer confidence.
Once a business goes to market, Mejia & Associates maintains strict confidentiality, qualifies buyers through NDAs and financial verification, and handles all marketing, negotiations, and due diligence coordination. The buyer-side process is equally comprehensive, from objective definition and company profiling through search, evaluation, offer structuring, due diligence, and closing.
Fee structure follows industry standard business broker practices: typically a percentage of transaction value using a Lehman or double-Lehman formula, often with a minimum commission floor. Retainers may be required to cover upfront work. Exact terms are negotiated per engagement based on deal complexity and anticipated effort.
Buyer Network
Carlos Mejia maintains relationships with individual buyers, investor groups, and small private equity firms focused on main street businesses. His strategic alliances work has connected U.S. companies with Latin American partners, suggesting cross-border buyer capability. The firm participates in Business Brokers of Florida cooperation networks, enabling co-brokerage arrangements that expand buyer reach beyond direct contacts. LinkedIn activity shows ongoing engagement with Americas Business Network and other Florida business networking groups, indicating active relationship cultivation in the local business community.
Competitive Positioning
Mejia & Associates differentiates through several factors:
Bilingual Capability: Carlos's native Spanish fluency and Latin American consulting experience enable cross-border transactions that many domestic brokers cannot execute. The strategic alliances practice specifically targets U.S.-Latin America connections in logistics, distribution, and manufacturing.
Personalized Service: As a solo practitioner, Carlos provides hands-on attention throughout each engagement. Clients work directly with the principal, not delegated to junior staff.
Industry Recognition: Awards from IBBA and BBF indicate peer-recognized performance and adherence to professional standards.
Process Discipline: The firm's detailed buyer and seller guides demonstrate a structured, educational approach to what can be an emotional and uncertain process for business owners.
Community Engagement: Carlos's volunteer work with Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention and advisory role at Americas Community Center suggest deep community roots and a reputation beyond transactional work.
Not a Fit If
Based on the firm's positioning and typical business broker model, Mejia & Associates is likely not a fit for:
- Businesses with enterprise values exceeding $10-15 million (better served by investment bankers with institutional buyer networks)
- Companies seeking public offerings or institutional recapitalizations
- Sellers wanting limited process or quick, off-market sales without proper preparation
- Businesses outside the firm's industry experience or geographic focus
Team
Mejia & Associates is a solo practice led by Carlos M. Mejia, Owner and President. Carlos brings 17+ years of experience in business brokerage and consulting across the United States and Latin America. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and a Master's degree in International Business from Florida International University. He is a licensed Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK3194427) and a Certified Business Broker.
Professional affiliations include the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), where he earned the 2023 Chairman's Circle Award; Business Brokers of Florida (BBF), where he received Million Dollar Plus Awards in 2019 and 2021; and M&A Source. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, recognizing academic achievement in business studies.
Beyond transactional work, Carlos serves on the advisory board of The Americas Community Center and formerly on the board of Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention, indicating community engagement beyond professional obligations.
Geographic Coverage
The firm is headquartered in Weston, Florida, and serves the broader South Florida market including Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding counties. Carlos's consulting background spans the Americas, with particular capability in Florida-Latin America cross-border transactions. The firm lists businesses for sale across all states, indicating national capability, though core presence remains Florida-focused.