What’s the going rate for buyside advisors focused on sourcing?
April 08, 2026
by a searcher from Florida International University - College of Business in Sunrise, FL, USA
I’m trying to get a clear picture of market comps for buy-side advisors who primarily focus on sourcing deals (not full deal execution).
For those of you who’ve worked with or hired these types of advisors:
- What are you seeing in terms of monthly retainers (if any)?
- What does a typical success fee look like? (% of EV, flat fee, tiered, etc.)
- Are fees usually tied to intro only vs. closed deal?
- Any differences between independent sponsors vs. traditional searchers vs. PE-backed buyers?
Would appreciate any real examples or ranges you’ve seen.