Vanla Group

We Sell
Businesses.

Most brokers list your business publicly and wait. We bring the buyers directly to you. Serving owners across the US and Canada.

Start the Conversation 20-minute call  •  Completely off the record
$182M+
Transactions Advised
50+
Owners Represented
$0
Upfront Fees
100%
Confidential

As Seen In

CEO Weekly CEO Weekly MSN MSN NerdWallet NerdWallet Los Angeles Wire Los Angeles Wire USA News USA News LA Progressive LA Progressive NewsBreak NewsBreak
Paul Cheetham
12+ Years
M&A advisory experience in the lower-middle market
Harvard MBA
Institutional-quality analysis applied to owner-operated businesses
Bought, Operated & Sold
Businesses himself before becoming an advisor
Success-Fee Only
No retainer. We only get paid when you close

The Advisor Who Guides Every Deal Personally

Paul Cheetham founded Vanla Group to serve the business owners the big firms ignore. With a Harvard MBA and 12+ years in the lower-middle market, Paul and the team have closed $182M+ in transactions across services, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology across the US and Canada.

He has represented 50+ owners from first conversation to closing table. Every engagement is led by Paul personally, supported by a dedicated team of four advisors. No handoffs. No volume model. No junior staff on your deal.

"I founded Vanla because business owners building $2M to $20M companies deserve the same quality of advisory that a $200M company gets. Most of them were getting a listing and a phone number."

How the process works

01
We learn about your business
On the intro call, we ask about your revenue, team structure, growth opportunities, customer concentration, operations, and your goals for the business. No forms. No spreadsheets. Just a conversation.
02
We deliver your valuation
After the call, we prepare a full confidential valuation based on current buyer appetite in your space and comparable transactions. Most owners are surprised by the number.
03
You decide how to move forward
Once you have the valuation, you choose whether to explore an exit. If you want to proceed, we walk you through what an engagement looks like. No pressure, no listing, no disruption to your business.

Common questions

What does the process cost?

Success fee at closing only. No retainer, no upfront. If we don't close, we don't get paid.

How long does it take?

6 to 9 months for a prepared seller. First qualified buyer introductions within 60 days of going to market.

Will anyone find out I'm considering selling?

No. Every buyer signs an NDA before learning your identity. Your employees, customers, and competitors will not know until you choose.

What size business do you work with?

$2M to $20M in annual revenue, across service, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology sectors in Southern California and nationwide.

How is this different from a business broker?

A broker lists your business and waits for calls. We identify and approach the right buyers directly. The financial difference is typically $500K to $2M more in proceeds on a $5M to $15M transaction.

It starts with one conversation.

Most owners say they wish they'd had this conversation sooner.

Start the Conversation No listing. No disruption. No obligation.
Free Download
Exit-Readiness
Checklist

40 checkpoints buyers use in every deal. Know your score before they do. Free PDF, instant download.