ValueVisor LLC Research
Advisory Approach
ValueVisor LLC operates as a boutique valuation and M&A advisory firm serving the lower and core lower-middle market. The firm's foundational thesis centers on helping business owners understand, improve, and extract value from their companies—whether that means selling, improving operations to increase valuation, or succession planning. Unlike traditional investment banks that focus solely on transaction execution, ValueVisor positions itself as a holistic business value advisor that helps owners work through the complete lifecycle: discovering value, increasing value through operational improvements, and finally getting value through strategic transactions.
The firm was founded in 2018 as a division of Rounds International LLC, bringing together decades of combined business development, transactional, banking, and operational experience. Jamison Rounds, the Managing Partner and South Dakota's first Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor (CM&AA), leads the firm with a unique dual certification in both valuations (CVA) and M&A advisory. This combination is rare in the market and reflects ValueVisor's positioning as equally strong in valuation methodology and transaction execution.
Sweet Spot and Deal Profile
ValueVisor's ideal client profile is the lower-middle market business owner—typically dealing with enterprise values between $1 million and $250 million, though most commonly under $50 million. The firm explicitly positions itself between two extremes: business brokers (who handle smaller, less complex deals under $1 million) and investment banks (which typically won't engage below $10-50 million). This is precisely where ValueVisor has built its niche.
The firm handles a full spectrum of transaction types including sell-side advisory, buy-side advisory, recapitalizations, and founder transitions. They also serve business buyers looking to acquire companies and integrate them into their operations. The typical engagement involves comprehensive valuation work upfront to establish a realistic value range, followed by buyer development and structured transaction management.
Sector Focus and Industry Expertise
While ValueVisor is a generalist lower-middle market advisor, the team demonstrates particular depth in several sectors. Food and beverage transactions represent a meaningful practice area, with expertise spanning restaurant franchises, distilleries, and food processing operations. This expertise is informed not just by advisory experience but by direct operational involvement—Tom Rounds, Executive Director of M&A and Business Brokerage, owns and has operated multiple businesses including Dakota Spirits Distillery (Bickering Brothers brand) in Pierre, South Dakota.
The team also maintains active practices in healthcare services (informed by Jamison Rounds' background advising on nationwide home health and hospice acquisitions), business services, and professional services. The firm's broad industry exposure reflects its positioning as a generalist lower-middle market advisor for entrepreneurs across diverse industries.
Process and Transaction Approach
ValueVisor's process differs from traditional M&A banks in its heavy emphasis on valuation and business improvement. Many prospective sellers approach the firm uncertain about their business value or unclear on what changes would make their company more attractive to buyers. ValueVisor addresses this through several offerings:
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Valuation Services: The firm provides multiple valuation products ranging from formal Conclusions of Value (used for IRS, ESOP, and court purposes) to more flexible M&A Calculations of Value that present value in ranges accounting for transaction variables. Opinions of Market Price and Estimates of Price offer faster, less formal value assessments for owners just starting to understand their business's worth.
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Business Improvement Advisory: Recognizing that a well-run business is a sellable business, ValueVisor works with owners to increase their company's multiple before transaction. Using the ValueBuilder System framework and drawing on the team's decades of operational experience, they help owners shift from a "manager mindset" focused on efficiency and revenue to an "owner mindset" focused on multiples and leverage. This advisory work often reduces owner stress and fatigue while simultaneously increasing enterprise value.
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Transaction Execution: Once value is understood and improvements made, the firm manages the sell-side or buy-side process. This includes buyer development, process management, quality of earnings support, and deal structuring.
Fee Structure and Engagement Terms
The firm does not publicly disclose specific fee structures on its website, but operates within the typical M&A advisory framework for firms of its size and market position. Like other boutique LMM advisors, ValueVisor likely structures engagements with a combination of retainer, success fees, and potentially monthly management fees for longer engagements. The fee approach is customizable based on transaction complexity and size.
Team Capabilities
ValueVisor's competitive strength lies in its team composition. Jamison Rounds, as South Dakota's first CM&AA and a dual-certified CVA, brings 20+ years of business development and transactional experience spanning legal practice, government economic development roles (including director-level work on major acquisitions), and private sector M&A. His background includes representing multi-billion dollar corporate buyers on acquisitions and advising the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society on nationwide healthcare acquisitions.
Tom Rounds contributes 30 years of business transactional and banking experience, combined with direct entrepreneurial background. As a business owner and operator, Tom understands both the financial mechanics and the emotional dimensions of selling a company. His banking background includes experience with SBA financing, which is relevant for lower-middle market transactions involving debt.
The team is completed by Michele Brich (CFO and operations expert with political campaign and association management experience), Jeronimo Wagner (Senior Financial Analyst with Morgan Stanley experience and degrees in accounting and finance), Jacob Leiseth (MBA and financial modeler), and Nicholas Macchio (office management and business analytics). This depth allows the firm to handle both the analytical rigor of valuations and the operational complexity of managing transactions.
Professional Affiliations and Credentials
ValueVisor maintains memberships in key industry organizations: the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) and the Alliance of Mergers & Acquisitions Advisors (AM&AA). These affiliations provide access to a national network of qualified valuators and M&A advisors, allowing ValueVisor to coordinate multi-state transactions and bring in specialist expertise when needed.
Jamison Rounds' credentials are particularly relevant: JD (Juris Doctor), CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst), and CM&AA (Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor). This combination is rare—the firm explicitly markets itself as "one of the few dual certified M&A Advisors and Valuation Analysts in the Upper Midwest." Tom Rounds holds a real estate broker license (SD License #13400) under Value Visor Business Sales and Real Estate, the affiliate arm handling business brokerage and real estate services.
Geographic Coverage and Market Presence
ValueVisor is headquartered in Yankton, South Dakota, with operational presence in Pierre, South Dakota. The firm serves the Upper Midwest region and has developed particular market knowledge and relationships in South Dakota, where Jamison Rounds has been deeply involved in economic development (serving as Director of the Governor's Office of Strategic Initiative) and civic leadership (elected mayor of Crooks, SD 2015-2019).
Competitive Positioning
ValueVisor differentiates through: (1) dual certification in both valuations and M&A, (2) founder-operator perspective combined with professional advisory expertise, (3) emphasis on business improvement and value creation before transaction, and (4) deep regional relationships and understanding of South Dakota's business community. Unlike larger national firms, ValueVisor is accessible and engaged. Unlike smaller local brokers, ValueVisor brings professional rigor, institutional process, and multi-state capability through its AM&AA network affiliations.