Shark Team Business Brokerage Research
Advisory Approach
Shark Team Business Brokerage is a Florida-based advisory firm serving business owners with a confidential, preparation-first approach to selling businesses. Unlike traditional business brokers who publicly list businesses on marketplaces, Shark Team operates with a deliberate, discreet methodology that prioritizes preparation, valuation clarity, and controlled execution over broad exposure.
The firm's philosophy is grounded in the belief that successful business exits require systematic preparation before any buyer outreach begins. This preparation-first model includes comprehensive valuation analysis, documentation readiness assessment, and strategic exit planning. By focusing on deal readiness upfront, Shark Team reduces uncertainty and protects confidentiality—two critical concerns for business owners considering a sale.
Shark Team serves qualified Florida business owners who are serious about exit planning and value privacy over public marketing. The firm works collaboratively with trusted advisors including CPAs, CEPAs, fractional CFOs, financial advisors, and transaction attorneys to ensure alignment throughout the process.
Sector Focus
Shark Team has broad industry expertise across Main Street and lower middle market businesses. The firm's transaction history spans multiple sectors with particular depth in:
Accommodations & Hospitality: Hotels, motels, resorts, and short-term rental businesses throughout Florida's tourism corridor.
Auto-Related Businesses: Auto dealerships, repair shops, parts suppliers, and service centers.
Construction & Trades: Commercial and residential construction contractors, specialty trades, and engineering firms.
Food & Beverage: Restaurants, bars, food service establishments, and beverage distributors. The team has specific experience with bar and package store transactions.
Manufacturing & Distribution: Light manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and product companies.
Retail & E-Commerce: Brick-and-mortar retail stores, multi-location retail groups, and online businesses.
Business Services: Professional services firms, B2B service companies, and technical service providers.
Transportation & Logistics: Trucking companies, logistics providers, and transportation services.
Deal Track Record
Shark Team has established a substantial transaction footprint in the Florida business brokerage market:
- 800+ completed transactions throughout the firm's history (per M&A Source profile)
- 817+ completed transactions per firm website
- $575M+ in aggregate transaction value closed
- 96% close rate on engagements accepted
- 154+ registered buyers in their network
- $345M in transactions closed in the last two years alone (2024-2025)
Gerard Perillo, the firm's Principal, has personally closed transactions totaling $575M throughout his 20+ year career. The firm's transaction volume places them among the most active business brokerage teams in Florida.
While specific deal details are kept confidential per the firm's methodology, publicly available information indicates transactions across: hospitality venues (bars, restaurants, package stores), retail establishments, service businesses, and Main Street companies throughout Florida and Georgia.
Process & Fee Structure
Shark Team's process is distinctly different from traditional business brokerage models:
Preparation Phase: Before any buyer outreach, owners work through:
- Comprehensive valuation analysis
- Documentation readiness assessment
- Strategic exit planning
- Preparation for buyer due diligence
Execution Phase: For fully prepared businesses, Shark Team offers:
- Shark DealRoom™ Live — a private, invitation-only transaction format
- Controlled buyer access (no public listings)
- Confidential information sharing
- Disciplined execution framework
Timeline: The firm emphasizes a 35-business day commitment for prepared businesses, reflecting their preparation-first methodology that accelerates the transaction timeline once readiness is achieved.
Fee Structure: While specific fee schedules are not publicly disclosed, business brokerage firms typically structure compensation as:
- Retainer fee during engagement
- Success fee percentage of transaction value at closing
- Fees vary based on transaction complexity and size
The firm requires exclusivity and typically works with businesses generating $300K–$2M+ in EBITDA.
Buyer Network
Shark Team maintains a database of 154+ registered buyers and has cultivated relationships across:
- Individual buyers and entrepreneurs
- Family offices
- Private equity firms focused on Main Street and lower middle market
- Strategic buyers seeking expansion in Florida
- High-net-worth individuals
The firm's Shark DealRoom™ platform creates curated connections between qualified sellers, buyers, advisors, and lenders—ensuring that all parties have completed valuation, diligence, and readiness requirements before engagement.
Competitive Positioning
Shark Team differentiates through several key factors:
Confidentiality-First: No public listings or marketplaces. Every engagement is intentional and discreet.
Preparation Methodology: Significant upfront work on valuation, documentation, and readiness before buyer outreach—reducing failed deals and transaction friction.
Technology Integration: Founder Gerard Perillo built MAKO Score™, an AI-enabled valuation and readiness platform integrating with QuickBooks and Xero, providing real-time insights into business value and exit preparedness.
Institutional Execution: Shark DealRoom™ brings institutional-grade process discipline to Main Street transactions, typically lacking in smaller business brokerage.
Advisor Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working with existing trusted advisors (CPAs, attorneys, wealth managers) rather than displacing them.
Florida Focus: Deep regional expertise and networks throughout Florida, with expanding presence in Georgia.
Not a Fit If
Shark Team typically declines engagements where:
- Business owners want public listing exposure (the firm does not use BizBuySell or similar marketplaces)
- Businesses are not financially prepared or have significant documentation gaps
- Owners are unwilling to invest in preparation phase
- Transactions require pure asset sales without going-concern operations
- Businesses fall below the EBITDA threshold of ~$300K
- Owners want a limited, casual process rather than disciplined preparation
Team
Gerard J. Perillo, III — Principal / ICON Business Broker
- Credentials: CEPA®, CBI, M&AMI, CMAP, BCA, MBA/JD
- Amazon Best-Selling Author of "Sharkpreneur: Bite-Sized Strategies for Selling Your Business"
- 20+ years of experience valuing and selling businesses
- Personally closed $575M in transactions throughout career
- Founded MAKO Score™ and Shark DealRoom™ platforms
- Deep expertise in business valuation, transaction structuring, and deal execution
Kelly Schmidt — VP, Growth & Business Development
- 20+ years in corporate finance, real estate, and business brokerage
- Former leadership roles at Fortune 500/1000 companies
- Expertise in residential, commercial, and business transactions
- Boise State University graduate
Steven Fuentes — VP, Brokerage Operations
- Business Certified Appraiser (BCA)
- MBA in Data Analytics from Louisiana State University
- BS in Business Administration, Finance from UCF
- Expertise in financial modeling, market analysis, and operational efficiency
- Former Board of Directors member at Learning Tree Academy
Junior Matthews — Military Liaison, Georgia
- Two-time ICON award recipient (top 1% of real estate agents)
- Retired U.S. Army Major (23 years, Marine Corps and Army)
- Multi-business owner and real estate investor
- Based in Richmond Hill, Georgia
Clayton Hicks — Business Broker, Florida
- Former Vice President of Commercial Lending
- Extensive experience in business acquisitions, SBA lending, and valuations
- Past President of Rotary Club of Destin
- Former Newnan City Council member (12 years)
- Bachelor of Science in General Business from Excelsior College
Geographic Coverage
Primary Focus: Florida statewide, with particular strength in:
- Emerald Coast / Destin-Fort Walton Beach area
- Panhandle region
- Central Florida (Lake Mary, Orlando)
- South Florida (Miami-Fort Lauderdale)
Secondary Market: Georgia (through Junior Matthews)
The firm is licensed to sell businesses and real property throughout Florida.
Technology & Innovation
Shark Team is distinguished by technology platforms built by founder Gerard Perillo:
MAKO Score™: AI-enabled business valuation and readiness platform that integrates directly with Intuit QuickBooks and Xero accounting systems. Provides real-time insights into value drivers, financial health, and exit preparedness.
Shark DealRoom™: Private, curated transaction platform where qualified sellers, buyers, advisors, and lenders engage only after valuation, diligence, and readiness are complete—enabling faster closes and higher certainty.
These platforms reflect the firm's belief that most deals fail not due to lack of buyers or capital, but due to poor preparation, fragmented data, and misaligned incentives.