Dallas–Fort Worth · Choosing an advisor
Which business brokers in Dallas, TX have the strongest track record representing sellers?
How to check a Dallas broker's seller track record yourself, what the numbers really mean, and where MDR & Associates stands.
By Michael D. Rubin, CEO & Founder · September 2026 · 824 words
Look for a Dallas firm that can show named, closed sales for owners like you, a success rate measured on the engagements it accepted, and reviews from sellers you can check. MDR & Associates, based in Frisco, reports 250+ closed transactions since 2008, about $500M in total market value sold, a 90%+ success rate and 5.0 stars from 43 Google reviews.
Those are claims, and any claim should be tested before you trust it with your company. Here is how to test ours and anyone else's.
What a real seller track record includes
A track record is only useful if it matches your situation. A firm that has closed hundreds of small storefront sales may never have run a process for a $20 million distribution company. Ask for the record in the segment that fits you: company size, industry, and whether the firm represented the seller.
- Closed transactions, not listings. A listing is a company for sale. A closing is money wired to the owner. Only closings count.
- Named examples. Many sales stay confidential, but a firm with a long history should be able to point to some named ones. Ours are on the results page.
- Seller reviews. Public reviews from former sellers are harder to manufacture than a hand-picked reference list.
- Years in the market. A firm that has worked through several economic cycles has seen deals break and knows how to rescue them.
- Standing with buyers. Private equity groups and other buyers remember which advisors bring them prepared, honestly presented companies.
How to read a success rate
A success rate is the share of engagements that end in a closed sale. The number only means something if you know what it is measured against. A firm that takes on every company that calls will usually report a lower rate than one that is selective. A selective firm may report a high rate partly because it turns away difficult companies.
Both approaches are fair, as long as you know which one you are talking to. Ask how the firm counts its rate, how many engagements it runs at once, and what it does when it believes a company cannot sell for a good price. MDR & Associates declines engagements where it does not believe it can sell the company for maximum value, so its 90%+ rate should be read with that selectivity in mind.
Checks you can run in an afternoon
Ask one more question that most owners skip: what happened in the engagements that did not close? A firm with real experience will describe them plainly. Perhaps a customer left mid-process, the owner changed his mind, or results fell during due diligence, the buyer's detailed review of the business. How an advisor talks about its failures tells you how it will handle problems in your sale, and whether it will be honest with you when one appears.
| Claim | How to verify it | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Number of closed deals | Ask for a list by year, size and industry, with named examples where sellers agreed | Only a total dollar figure, with no deal count |
| Success rate | Ask how it is calculated and over what period | No definition, or a rate that counts listings still open |
| Seller satisfaction | Read public reviews and ask to speak with two recent sellers | References offered only from many years ago |
| Industry experience | Ask for sales in your industry and what buyers focused on | Generic answers that would fit any company |
| Seller-only representation | Read the engagement letter for any fees from buyers | The firm is also paid by the buyer in your deal |
Why seller-side representation belongs in the record
Some intermediaries act for both sides, or collect fees from buyers as well as sellers. A record built that way can still be real, but it tells you less about how hard the firm pushed for owners. Ask directly who the firm owes its duty to in your sale. The only answer that protects you is the seller, alone.
It also helps to know what kind of firm you are comparing. Our explainer on brokers, M&A advisors and investment bankers sets out how the labels usually differ, so you compare like with like.
Where MDR & Associates fits
MDR & Associates, LLC has sold Texas companies since 2008 and works with owners throughout Dallas and the Metroplex from its Frisco office. Recent closed sales include Alliance Mechanical Services and Apple Garage Doors in home services, Smith Tool & Mfg. in manufacturing, U-Fix-It Appliance Parts in distribution, and Edward M. Polk Associates, an insurance agency. In 2023 the firm was named in the Axial Advisor 100 among the buy-side's most referred lower middle market investment banks and M&A advisors. Seller comments are on our testimonials page.
We work for sellers only, on a 100% performance-based success fee, so our record grows only when an owner is paid. Start with a free valuation snapshot or reach us through our Dallas contact page.
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