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Hire the Top 1% of M&A Consultants

Operators who ran the BODYARMOR, Vita Coco, and $100M Native (to P&G) exits. Book one for a single call or for the whole process, from first conversation to close.

See the operators

About MentorPass

Est. 2020·10,000+ engagements·avg rating

The list

The 9 best m&a consultants

Most M&A advice comes from people who have never signed an LOI. These mentors have. They sat on both sides of the table, structured the earn-outs, and lived with the result.

  1. 01Ryan Lewendon

    Ryan Lewendon

    Vetted operator

    M&A Advisor and CPG attorney

    Ryan has worked exits at BODYARMOR, Vita Coco, and Promix, so he knows where consumer deals get won and lost on paper. He is both the dealmaker and the lawyer, which means he reads a term sheet for what it actually does to you. Bring him your LOI, your earn-out, or your prep checklist before you talk to a buyer.

    CPG M&ADeal terms

Sound familiar?

From stuck to a plan you can run this week

The problems founders bring our m&a operators — and what they walk away with.

  1. Exploring an exit and would love to chat to get some advice on how to valuate it.

    A defensible valuation range, built from how buyers in your category actually price deals, before you ever take a meeting.

  2. Not sure if exit opportunities will even exist or be worth it with earn-outs at our scale.

The scope

What a m&a consultant actually does

The work our m&a operators take on, from first call to ongoing.

  • Valuation and readiness check

    Get an honest range for what your company is worth and the gaps to close before you go to market.

  • Exit prep

    Tighten financials, operations, and the growth story so the business survives a buyer's diligence.

  • Deal structuring

    Work through earn-outs, equity-based payments, and seller financing with someone who has negotiated them.

  • Buyer and banker selection

    Identify likely acquirers and sanity-check banker fees, retainers, and mandate terms against the market.

  • LOI and term sheet review

    Read the terms for what they actually do to you, line by line, before you sign.

How MentorPass works

The easiest way to hire a m&a consultant

Find your expert, book a call, solve your problem — and keep them on when you’re ready.

  1. 1. Find your consultant

    Browse the ranked list of vetted operators. Every profile shows their track record, the brands they’ve scaled, and exactly what they go deep on.

  2. 2. Book a call

    Pick a time and share your context up front. They review it before you meet — no spending the first 20 minutes on background.

The guide

What to know before you hire a m&a consultant

An M&A consultant helps you buy, sell, or merge a company without learning the expensive lessons on your own deal. The work runs from the first quiet conversation about an exit through valuation, prep, deal structure, and the integration after close. Done well, it changes what your company sells for and whether the deal survives a buyer's scrutiny. Done poorly, you find out what you missed at the worst possible moment.

What an M&A consultant does

The job starts before any banker is hired. A good advisor gives you an honest valuation range, built from how buyers in your category actually price deals, not a number you'd like to believe. They tell you what's sellable about your business today and what isn't, then help you close the gap: cleaning up financials, tightening operations, and shaping a growth story a buyer will underwrite. When a deal is live, they read the LOI and term sheet for what the terms really do to you, work through earn-outs and seller financing, and sanity-check banker fees and retainers against the market. After close, they help plan the integration so the combined business holds together.

What to look for when hiring one

Look for someone who has been in the seat you're about to sit in. There's a difference between an advisor who has modeled deals and a founder who sold their own company, lived through diligence, and felt the earn-out terms land. Both are useful, and the best outcome is talking to each: the operator who sold a brand like yours, the banker who prices consumer deals every week, and the attorney who reads the contract. Ask what they've actually closed, on which side of the table, and at what scale. A founder selling a $5M business and one weighing a $200M exit need very different advice.

Why founders use MentorPass for M&A

Traditional M&A advice is hard to get cheaply and early. Bankers charge success fees and retainers, and they're not interested until you're ready to transact. MentorPass lets you book real operators by the session, so you can pressure-test a valuation, decode a term sheet, or plan an exit years out, all for the price of a call. The roster includes the founder behind the $100M Native exit to P&G, an attorney who worked the BODYARMOR and Vita Coco deals, and a CEO who scaled XS Energy to $500M a year. You can use one of them for a single decision or keep the same advisor through the whole process, from first conversation to close.

Proof

Results from these m&a consultants

Average rating
4.99★

Average rating

Written reviews
71

Written reviews

Sessions booked
560

Sessions booked

Expert operators
9

Expert operators

We've 2x our business since our call with Roman 7 months ago. He's a great listener who tries to truly understand your questions. We came for tactical advice, but he turned it into something much bigger & more impactful. Roman is easily one of the best operators in the DTC world. My mindset shifted completely to a much more strategic approach. Since then, we've doubled our business, grew the team, and our hiring quality has significantly improved by implementing his suggestions. Best call on MentorPass.
From a session with

Why MentorPass

MentorPass vs. the alternatives

When you need m&a help, you have four options. Here's how they actually stack up.

MentorPassAgenciesFreelance marketplacesFull-time hire
Time to first callThis weekWeeks of pitchesDays, hit or miss2–3 months

Industries

Where our m&a operators have done it

Real reps in these verticals, not theory. The kind of pattern-matching that only comes from having shipped in your category.

  • E-commerce M&A ConsultantsM&A operators who've built and scaled DTC and online retail brands.
  • CPG M&A ConsultantsM&A operators who've scaled consumer packaged goods brands in retail and DTC.
  • Agency M&A ConsultantsM&A help built for agencies and professional service firms.
  • B2B SaaS M&A ConsultantsM&A guidance for B2B software and platform companies.
  • Marketplace M&A ConsultantsM&A for multi-vendor marketplaces and platforms.
  • Media M&A ConsultantsM&A for media, content, and publishing brands.
  • B2C SaaS M&A Consultants

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does an M&A consultant on MentorPass actually do?

They help you buy, sell, or merge a company, from valuation and prep through deal structure, term sheets, and integration. You book them by the session, so you can use one call to pressure-test a valuation or work with them across the whole process.

How much does it cost?

You pay per session, not a percentage of the deal. That makes it a cheap way to get a real read on your options before you commit to a banker who charges success fees and retainers.

How do I know they have actually done deals?

Every advisor here has the track record on their profile. You can talk to the founder who sold Native to P&G for $100M, an attorney who worked the BODYARMOR and Vita Coco exits, or a banker who sells consumer brands for a living.

Related capabilities

OperationsFinanceSee all capabilities

Hire a m&a consultant who's done it before

Pick a consultant and book a call — or tell us what you're working on and we'll route you to the right operator in the network.

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Contact

4.97

Ryan Lewendon

M&A Advisor and CPG attorney

Mike Garcia

Investment banker and M&A advisor

Moiz Ali

Founder of Native, $100M exit to P&G

Vetted operator

Hire Founders & Operators from Top Brands

Legal
Exits
View profile
  • 02Mike Garcia

    Mike Garcia

    Vetted operator

    Investment banker and M&A advisor

    Mike is an investment banker who sells consumer brands for a living, so he prices your company the way a buyer will, not the way you wish. He knows market-standard success fees, retainers, and the red flags hiding in a banker's mandate. Useful before you hire a bank, or while you negotiate one.

    Sell-sideValuationBanker feesFinancials
    View profile
  • 03Moiz Ali

    Moiz Ali

    Vetted operator100+ sessions

    Founder of Native, $100M exit to P&G

    Moiz built Native to $100M a year in revenue and sold it to P&G, so he has done the exact thing most of his mentees are reaching for. He sat in the seller's chair through diligence and integration, not the advisor's. 100+ sessions and a 4.91 rating say founders leave with specifics, not pep talks.

    Founder exitDTCDiligenceIntegration
    View profile
  • 04Roman Khan

    Roman Khan

    Vetted operator100+ sessions

    DTC advisor, $200M+ annual revenue portfolio

    Roman has 10 years and a $200M+ ecommerce portfolio behind him, so he reads your business as an operator who has scaled and sold real ones. He pushes founders past tactical questions to the strategy that actually changes the valuation. At a perfect 5-star rating, the recurring note is that one call reset how they think.

    DTCOperationsValuation driversStrategy
    View profile
  • 05Domenic Iacovone

    Domenic Iacovone

    Vetted operator100+ sessions

    CEO at RAW Nutrition, Bum Energy, and Relive Health

    Dom runs a multi-brand CPG portfolio, so he has bought, built, and integrated brands rather than studied them. He understands what a strategic acquirer pays for and how a portfolio operator thinks about your company. At a 4.98 rating, mentees call out advice tied to real deals he has done.

    Brand portfolioBuy-sideCPGIntegration
    View profile
  • 06Greg LaVecchia

    Greg LaVecchia

    Vetted operator100+ sessions

    CEO at Bloom Nutrition

    Greg has scaled CPG and supplement brands from $0 to $100M a year, so he knows the growth story a buyer underwrites. He can tell you which numbers make your company acquirable and which ones scare a strategic off. Best for founders building toward a sale who need the operating side tightened first.

    CPG scalingGrowth storyBrandPositioning
    View profile
  • 07Travis Bowe

    Travis Bowe

    Vetted operator

    CEO of Onnit, former CFO and VP Finance at ONE Brands

    Travis went from CFO to CEO at Onnit and ran finance at ONE Brands and Amplify Snack Brands, all category leaders that drew acquirers. He has lived diligence from the finance chair, where deals are stress-tested line by line. Talk to him about getting your financials and operations ready to survive a buyer's review.

    FinanceDiligence prepOperationsCPG
    View profile
  • 08Edoardo Romagnoli

    Edoardo Romagnoli

    Vetted operator

    M&A advisor and CEO of Peak 21, formerly M&A at McKinsey

    Edo acquires and runs DTC brands and learned the craft doing M&A at McKinsey, so he sees your deal from the buyer's side of the table. He is most useful on how to think about an exit, selling secondaries, and prepping the company so it holds up under scrutiny. Reviewers call his read on macro-company moves immediately clear.

    Buy-sideExit prepSecondariesDTC
    View profile
  • 09David Vanderveen

    David Vanderveen

    Vetted operator

    President and board member at IM8, co-founder of XS Energy ($500M/yr)

    David co-founded XS Energy and scaled it to $500M a year in sales, so he has built and sold at a size most founders never touch. He has done billions of dollars in supplement and energy drink volume and now sits on a board, the seat acquirers and investors report to. Useful for founders thinking about the long arc to a sale.

    BeverageBoardScalingExits
    View profile

    • A clear read on whether you are sellable today, who the likely buyers are, and what an earn-out at your size really nets you.

  • Working towards an acquisition and would love advice on the path that I'm on.

    A prep plan that gets your financials, operations, and story ready so the company holds up under a buyer's diligence.

  • Strategies for structuring the deal, including equity-based payments and seller financing.

    Deal terms you understand and can negotiate, from earn-outs to seller financing, reviewed by someone who has signed them.

  • Typical success fee ranges you've seen? Minimum fees and retainers: market standard vs. red flags.

    Banker economics decoded, so you know what a fair mandate looks like before you sign one.

  • In discussions with a competitor with merge potential.

    A clear-eyed view of the combined business, what each side is really worth, and how to negotiate from there.

    • Post-close integration

    Plan the merge so the combined business holds together after the deal is done.

    3. Leave with a game plan

    Get specific, prioritized advice you can act on this week — and keep working with them ongoing if it clicks.

  • Keep them on

    Found your match? Keep your m&a operator on as an ongoing advisor as you scale.

    • Roman Khan
    I came back for a second call with Edoardo because the first one was very helpful. Did not disappoint. He brings sharp, practical insight without overcomplicating things. The conversation was focused, high-signal, and directly applicable to my context. Left with practical next steps and specifics on what to watch out for
    From a session with Edoardo Romagnoli
    I had the chance to connect with Dom and I can’t say enough good things. He was incredibly generous with his time and insights, and the conversation was both thoughtful and productive. He asked sharp, thought-provoking questions that helped me navigate some very specific challenges I’m facing in my business. Instead of generic advice, Dom tied his guidance back to real experiences he’s had, which made everything feel relevant and actionable. He’s incredibly sharp, humble, and a cool guy to connect with and has incredible value to add to any founders life. Grateful for the time, and I’d recommend Dom to anyone lucky enough to get the chance to learn from him.
    From a session with Domenic Iacovone
    Wow. I have no words to review this session. It was a game-changer for me. Moiz just raised the bar for me with his specific advice and the clarity of his communication. I would not forget this call. We talked about where should the founder focus to keep growing, team management things and a little bit about the exit he had with Native. Thanks
    From a session with Moiz Ali
    Who you actually getTop 1% m&a operatorsJunior account managersUnvetted freelancersHard to find senior talent
    Proven at your stageBuilt & scaled real brandsA playbook, not your contextVaries wildlyIf you can afford them
    CommitmentPer call — no lock-inMonthly retainerPer projectSalary + equity
    CostPer session$$$$ / month$$ / project$$$$$ + overhead
    Ongoing supportKeep them on as an advisorLocked into scopeChurn and rehirePermanent headcount
    M&A guidance for consumer apps and subscription products.
    Can they help me figure out what my company is worth?

    Yes. Founders come in asking how to value a company they're thinking of selling. These advisors price it the way a buyer in your category will, then tell you the gaps between that number and where you are.

    I'm being acquired and don't understand the deal terms. Can they review them?

    Yes. Bring your LOI or term sheet. Founders use these sessions to work through earn-outs, equity-based payments, seller financing, and the fine print, with someone who has signed those terms before.

    Can I keep working with one advisor through the whole process?

    Yes. Book a single call to get oriented, then rebook the same advisor as you move from prep to negotiation to close. Many founders run the whole exit alongside one operator they trust.