Most founders sell one company in their lifetime. The advisor you pick will run that one shot. Here is how to evaluate a payments or fintech M&A advisor before you sign an engagement letter.
Start with sector depth, not deal count alone
Payments deals price on things generalists miss: residual attrition, merchant concentration, processor contracts, chargeback exposure, and how a buyer will re-price your book after close. An advisor who has spent 25 years in payments M&A reads those in the first meeting. A generalist learns them on your deal, at your expense.
Ask who actually runs your deal
At larger firms the partner wins the mandate and a junior associate runs the process. At 733Park, clients work with the principal from first call to close. Ask any firm you interview: who is on the phone with buyers in week six?
Ask about buyer access
The right advisor already knows the strategic acquirers and private equity groups buying in your space, and knows which ones are real. 733Park has closed 200+ transactions and more than $10B in volume across payments, fintech, AI, and SaaS, representing companies with enterprise values from $5M to $350M.
Ask how they create competition
One buyer is not a market. The advisor's job is to build a process where several qualified buyers price your company at the same time. Ask for a walkthrough of their last competitive process: how many NDAs, how many IOIs, how the final terms moved.
For a deeper look at how boutiques compare with the large banks, read the top payments M&A advisory firms in 2026 and sell-side vs buy-side advisory. When you are ready to test the fit, a first conversation is free and confidential.
More questions? Browse the 733Park M&A FAQ for straight answers on process, fees, confidentiality, and timing.