Murphy Mid-South Research
Advisory Approach
Murphy Mid-South is a franchise location of Murphy Business Sales, one of the largest business brokerage organizations in North America with offices across the United States and Canada. The firm operates as a full-service M&A advisory and business brokerage firm serving the lower middle market and main street business segments. Their approach combines the personalized service of a local regional office with the resources, buyer network, and proprietary systems of a national franchise platform.
The firm's advisory philosophy emphasizes hands-on transaction management led by principals who have firsthand experience as business owners. Their managing directors have collectively owned, operated, and exited multiple businesses across various industries, giving them unique insight into the emotional and practical challenges of selling a company. This operator perspective differentiates them from generalist investment bankers who may lack direct ownership experience.
Sector Focus
Murphy Mid-South positions itself as largely industry-agnostic, leveraging the national franchise's network of over 150 brokers to access domain expertise across any sector. However, their team's background and deal history indicate particular depth in manufacturing and industrial businesses, construction and building materials, business and professional services, healthcare services, and logistics and distribution companies.
The firm's sweet spot is founder-owned and family-held businesses with revenues between $2 million and $25 million in enterprise value—a segment often underserved by larger investment banks. They have significant experience with lower middle market companies requiring more intensive, hands-on deal management than institutional-quality sell-side processes typically provide.
Deal Track Record
While specific individual transactions are not publicly disclosed due to confidentiality agreements common in the business brokerage segment, the national Murphy Business Sales franchise reports impressive aggregate statistics: over $3 billion in closed transactions, 1,500+ completed transactions, an average transaction size of $4.5 million, and an 80% closing rate. The Mid-South office specifically serves Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee markets from offices in Louisville, Cincinnati, Nashville, and Bowling Green.
The firm's team members have track records of successful exits. Matt O'Brien, a Business Intermediary, scaled a trucking company from three employees to nearly 30 through organic growth and strategic acquisitions before achieving a successful exit. He subsequently acquired a niche commercial construction company and achieved 75% revenue growth in two and a half years. Phillip Eleson has been recognized with multiple "Top Producer" awards within the Murphy organization and has closed deals throughout the Midwest and Southeast United States.
Process & Fee Structure
Murphy Mid-South follows a structured seven-step sell-side process: gather documentation, determine goals and value, create a listing, find buyers, accept offers, due diligence, and closing. Their process emphasizes exit planning, often preferring to work with business owners for three years before a planned sale to maximize enterprise value through operational improvements and financial preparation.
The firm offers comprehensive pre-sale support including business valuations, machinery and equipment appraisals, quality of earnings preparation, and exit planning advisory. For buyers, they provide acquisition identification, financing facilitation, and due diligence support. The firm maintains confidentiality throughout the process while conducting targeted buyer outreach through their proprietary listing platforms and national network.
Fee structures are not publicly disclosed. The business brokerage industry typically uses retainer plus success fee models, often with flat percentages or modified Lehman structures for larger lower middle market transactions.
Buyer Network
Murphy Mid-South accesses buyer demand through the national Murphy Business Sales franchise network, which includes proprietary databases, listing platforms, and relationships with private equity groups, strategic acquirers, family offices, and individual buyers. Their multi-state footprint across Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee provides access to regional buyers seeking expansion opportunities in the Midwest and Southeast.
The firm's team members have specific expertise in different buyer categories. Neville Blakemore's background in capital formation and investor relations provides connections to financial buyers, while the team's operational experience facilitates sales to strategic buyers and competitor acquirers.
Competitive Positioning
Murphy Mid-South differentiates through its combination of local market knowledge and national franchise resources. Unlike independent business brokers, they offer access to proprietary buyer databases and standardized processes refined across hundreds of transactions. Unlike larger investment banks, they provide principal-level attention from partners with operational experience rather than junior associates.
The firm's team composition is a key differentiator. They include a CPA with ABV accreditation for valuations, Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraisers for asset-heavy transactions, and Certified Exit Planning Advisors for pre-sale preparation. This in-house expertise reduces referral dependencies and allows for integrated service delivery.
Not a Fit If
Murphy Mid-South is not ideally suited for businesses below $1 million in enterprise value (too small) or above $50 million (better served by institutional investment banks). They also typically decline businesses with significant pending litigation, distressed asset sales, or situations requiring immediate liquidity rather than a structured sale process. Sellers seeking a limited, targeted buyer process rather than comprehensive market exposure may also find their approach misaligned.
Team
The Mid-South office is led by four Managing Directors with complementary backgrounds:
Phillip Eleson – Managing Director with 25+ years of experience spanning startups to Fortune 500 companies. He focuses on businesses with $2M-$25M in revenue and has been recognized with multiple "Top Producer" awards. He holds an MBA from DePaul University and certifications including ABI (Accredited Business Intermediary), CM&AP (Certified M&A Professional), and CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor).
Brad Williams – Managing Director with 27+ years of business ownership experience across appraisal, construction, property management, and business brokerage. He holds a B.S. in Financial Management from Western Kentucky University and certifications including CMA&P (Certified Mergers & Acquisition Professional), CMEA (Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser), and Kentucky real estate licensure.
Neville Blakemore – Managing Director with 35+ years of operational experience as President & CEO of multiple growth SMBs. His expertise spans B2B services, building materials, construction, light manufacturing, and logistics. He is a member of YPO (Young President's Organization) and holds CEPA certification.
Supporting the managing directors are Karsen Thornton, CPA/ABV as Director of Operations & Business Valuation, bringing healthcare industry M&A experience from a Fortune 100 company, and Matt O'Brien, Business Intermediary, who successfully exited a trucking business and now chairs a commercial construction company.
Geographic Coverage
Murphy Mid-South maintains offices in Louisville, Kentucky (4350 Brownsboro Rd, Suite 110); Cincinnati, Ohio (7426 Jager Ct); Nashville, Tennessee (315 Deaderick Street, Suite 1700); and Bowling Green, Kentucky (351 Pascoe Boulevard, Suite 103-K). The firm serves clients throughout Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and surrounding states in the Midwest and Southeast regions.