South Florida M&A Advisors Research
Advisory Approach
South Florida M&A Advisors is a boutique M&A advisory firm specializing in personalized, collaborative deal advisory services for lower middle-market companies throughout Florida. Founded in 1999 and led by President Russell Cohen, the firm operates with a clear thesis: business owners achieve the best outcomes when working with experienced advisors who understand both the complexity of the M&A process and the unique needs of their business. The firm's approach prioritizes trust, transparency, and integrity throughout the entire transaction lifecycle, from initial engagement through closing. Rather than operating as a large impersonal institution, South Florida M&A Advisors positions itself as a "state-of-the-art, resource empowered organization" where clients work with a dedicated M&A advisor who coordinates a comprehensive support system of professional experts including valuators, tax specialists, and legal advisors.
Sector Focus & Industry Expertise
South Florida M&A Advisors serves 25+ industries across diverse sectors, with particular depth in home services, healthcare, construction, and professional services. The firm's team includes specialists with deep vertical expertise: Arthur Schreier brings 30+ years of healthcare and pharmacy industry experience, including a tenure as Vice President of McKesson Pharmaceutical and involvement in 35+ pharmacy acquisitions. Jose Yankelevitch brings industrial and manufacturing expertise from his background in export of industrial parts and equipment to South America, with his first major transaction being an $8.1 million sale of a specialty materials testing laboratory. Gail Sagel brings expertise in beauty, medical, consumer packaged goods, and manufacturing sectors, having founded a cosmetics beauty destination in 2001 that predated industry giants like Sephora and Ulta Beauty. This vertical focus allows the firm to bring operational understanding and buyer network access that generalist advisors cannot match.
The firm's completed transaction list reflects this diversity: they've advised on roofing contractors, plumbing companies, restaurants, insurance services, property management companies, glass fabrication, and real estate education platforms. The prominence of home services deals (roofing, plumbing, HVAC, property maintenance) on their portfolio indicates a strong niche in the rollup-friendly home services sector.
Track Record & Deal Activity
Russell Cohen's personal track record is exceptional by any measure. He has sold more than 700 businesses, spending over 75,000 hours helping business owners exit their companies. Cohen was named TOP DEAL MAKER for the State of Florida in 2019, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, and 2005—more than half of the last two decades. He was also named TOP DEAL MAKER in South Florida in 2021, 2018, 2017, 2014, 2011, and 2008. In 2023 alone, Russell achieved the M&A Source Diamond Club by selling over $113 million in transactions, while his firm as a whole was awarded the "Top M&A Company with 2-4 Agents in the United States" by the M&A Source.
The firm's marquee recent transaction is a $100 million platform acquisition that closed in November 2023—one of the largest platform deals in Florida history. This deal, between a private equity group and a Florida roofing contractor, demonstrates the firm's ability to execute at scale while maintaining its focus on the $5M-$100M market.
Visible completed transactions on their website include the sale of Canyon Restaurant to S FL Food Group, Joe Cole Plumbing to JCPC Holdings LLC, Climate Control to Right Away Home Services, and multiple roofing company acquisitions to PE-backed platforms (Pace Roofing to Maddox Roofing, Blue Hammer Roofing to Saw Mill Capital, Company Roof Maintenance to Broadwing Capital, Earl Johnston Roofing to Dunes Point). The insurance transaction involving Serenity Insurance Services being acquired by TRMG Insurance Group, and the real estate school sale to Think Partnership, round out the portfolio diversity.
Process & Fee Structure
South Florida M&A Advisors follows a structured M&A process designed to maximize outcomes for sellers. The firm develops a comprehensive and appealing marketing package that maintains strict confidentiality throughout the process to protect the business and assets. Their process includes:
- Preparation & Valuation: Comprehensive business valuation using asset, market comparison, and income-based approaches
- Marketing & Outreach: Customized buyer targeting using their extensive 100,000+ buyer relationship network
- Management Presentations: Coaching and support for management presentations to potential buyers
- Data Room Management: Structured preparation of confidential information for buyer review
- Negotiation Support: Expert negotiation support throughout offer evaluation and deal closure
As a business brokerage firm specializing in $5M-$100M transactions, the firm likely operates on a traditional business brokerage fee structure, though specific fee details are not publicly disclosed. Based on industry norms for their deal size range, typical retainers would range from $5K-$15K monthly (if applicable), with success fees typically structured as a percentage of transaction value or on a Lehman-based schedule.
Buyer Network & Strategic Relationships
The firm maintains 100,000+ buyer relationships across multiple buyer categories. Evidence of their PE relationships is particularly strong: the November 2023 $100M roofing platform deal, the acquisition of Pace Roofing by Maddox Roofing, Blue Hammer Roofing's sale to Saw Mill Capital, and Company Roof Maintenance's acquisition by Broadwing Capital all demonstrate active relationships with PE firms and PE-backed platforms. These roofing deals indicate particular strength in the home services roll-up space, where PE has been extremely active in consolidating fragmented regional operators.
The firm also has strong ties to strategic acquirers in healthcare (evidenced by Arthur Schreier's $250M+ in healthcare business brokerage), insurance (TRMG transaction), and food service (S FL Food Group acquisition).
Competitive Positioning
South Florida M&A Advisors differentiates itself through several key factors:
- Vertical Expertise: Team members with 25-30+ years in specific industries (healthcare, industrial, beauty, etc.) rather than generalist advisors
- Personal Leadership: Russell Cohen's hands-on involvement and track record—more deal-making experience than nearly any other advisor in Florida
- Scale with Personal Touch: 700+ transactions completed while maintaining a small, focused team that prioritizes personalized service
- Buyer Network: 100,000+ buyer relationships providing market access beyond what smaller independent brokers have
- Experience Across All Situations: Successfully navigated transactions in all industries, all deal sizes (within their range), and all market conditions
- Institutional Recognition: Board-level roles (Russell on M&A Source Board of Governors), certifications (M&AMI), and industry awards validate expertise
Not a Fit If
Based on the firm's positioning and deal focus, they typically decline:
- Businesses outside their $5M-$100M TEV range (too small or too large)
- Non-Florida operations (they specialize in the Florida market)
- Highly complex cross-border transactions (limited mention of international expertise)
- Businesses without clear buyer demand (they focus on marketable, profitable companies)
- Situations requiring aggressive tax strategies or questionable structuring (firm emphasizes integrity)
Geographic Coverage
South Florida M&A Advisors operates across Florida with particular strength in South Florida. The firm has two physical offices: the main office in Cooper City (Broward County) at 10620 Griffin Rd, and a second office in Boca Raton (Palm Beach County) at 4720 NW Boca Raton Blvd. Team member Lonnie Veasley is focused on expanding coverage to the Tampa Bay area, suggesting geographic expansion efforts. The firm's Florida-centric focus and deep relationships in the state make it particularly valuable for sellers seeking state-specific buyer access and market expertise.
Team Composition & Expertise
The firm is structured around a lean core team of highly experienced specialists, each bringing 15-30+ years of relevant expertise. Russell Cohen (25+ years, 700+ deals) provides overall leadership and focuses on complex negotiations. Myriam Cohen (serial entrepreneur with three successful exits) brings entrepreneurial perspective. Alan Vera (15+ years CPA) handles tax structuring and valuations. Arthur Schreier (30+ years healthcare/pharmacy) leads health services deals. Jose Yankelevitch (since 1988 in industrial export) specializes in manufacturing and industrial. Gail Sagel (Wall Street and founder background) handles beauty, medical, and CPG. Paula Echeguia (IBBA/BBF member, international trade) brings global perspective. Lonnie Veasley (13+ years, Tampa Bay focus) expands geographic reach. Keith Braude (20+ years, manufacturing expertise) and Denis Berger (accountant/valuations specialist) round out the team. Nubia Rojas brings real estate and business brokerage background. This structure—focused on vertical expertise rather than generalist headcount—is unusual in the M&A world and represents a clear strategic choice.
Notable Achievements & Recognition
- 700+ completed transactions
- $113M in personal transaction volume (Russell Cohen) in 2023 alone
- M&A Source Top Company (2-4 agents category) - 2023
- M&A Source Diamond Club (2023)
- Russell Cohen: TOP DEAL MAKER for Florida (9 times in the last 20 years)
- Russell Cohen: TOP DEAL MAKER for South Florida (6 times in the last 20 years)
- Russell Cohen: Board of Governors, M&A Source
- Russell Cohen: M&AMI Certification (2021)
- $100M platform acquisition (November 2023) - one of Florida's largest
- Multiple partnerships with PE platforms (Saw Mill Capital, Broadwing Capital, etc.)