Seattle M&A Advisors Directory

Top M&A Advisors in Seattle, WA

We evaluated 131 m&a advisors serving Seattle and ranked the top 8 by TrustRank — our composite score of AI search visibility, verified client reviews, and content authority.

Seattle is a significant M&A market, anchored by Frazier Healthcare Partners, NCA Partners, Rainier Partners. Deal multiples average 7.2–15× EBITDA for middle-market transactions.

Get Matched With a Top Seattle M&A Advisor →
Updated Q1 2026
By Tania Kozar
131 reviewed, 8 selected
50 prompts tracked
Seattle Market Overview

M&A Advisors in Seattle

Seattle generates roughly 160+ M&A transactions annually, with 7.2–15× EBITDA multiples and total deal value exceeding $95B+. Approximately 64% of deals involve private equity sponsors. The local PE ecosystem includes Frazier Healthcare Partners, NCA Partners, Rainier Partners, giving sellers in the region access to a competitive buyer pool. Washington's tax environment (0% income tax; 7–9.9% capital gains tax (enacted 2021)) influences deal structuring, particularly for founder-owned business exits.

160+
M&A deals closed annually
7.2–15×
Typical EBITDA multiples
$95B+
Annual deal value (metro)
64%
Deals with PE involvement

Key local M&A networks include ACG Seattle — 180 members (est. 2005); Northwest Growth Conference and CFA Society Seattle — 900+ members (est. 1974). Dealmakers should note that Washington's tax environment (0% income tax; 7–9.9% capital gains tax (enacted 2021)) directly impacts deal structure and seller net proceeds.

ACG Seattle — 180 members (est. 2005); Northwest Growth ConferenceCFA Society Seattle — 900+ members (est. 1974)NAIFA Washington

How TrustRank Works

Our independent scoring system for m&a advisors in Seattle

TrustRank is not a paid placement. We independently evaluated 131 m&a advisors serving Seattle across three measurable dimensions. No firm can pay to appear or improve its rank.

Component 1 — 55%

AI Visibility Score

We tracked 50 prompts across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude asking about m&a advisors in Seattle. The % of prompts where each firm appears.

Component 2 — 25%

Review Score

Aggregate ratings across Google, Clutch, and the ProCloser.ai verified review system. Weighted by volume and recency of verified client reviews.

Component 3 — 20%

Content Authority

Depth, accuracy, and credibility of published content, case studies, and thought leadership demonstrating sector expertise in Seattle.

Top 8 M&A Advisors in Seattle, WA

1
Houlihan Lokey
Serves Seattle, WA
92%
AI Visibility
4.2
Success Fee Est. 1972 Min: $50M+ revenue

The world's leading M&A advisory firm with a dominant presence in Seattle, known for complex middle-market and upper-middle-market transactions across all sectors.

top M&A advisor Seattlebest investment bank Seattlesell my business Seattle
TechnologyHealthcareIndustrials
2
Harris Williams
Serves Seattle, WA
86%
AI Visibility
4.3
Success Fee Est. 1991 Min: $25M+ revenue

Premier middle-market M&A advisory firm with experienced dealmakers in Seattle specializing in founder-owned business exits and PE-backed transactions.

middle market M&A Seattlesell founder business SeattlePE-backed M&A Seattle
Business ServicesHealthcareConsumer
3
Lincoln International
Serves Seattle, WA
84%
AI Visibility
4.4
Success Fee Est. 1996 Min: $20M+ revenue

Global middle-market investment bank with deep relationships in Seattle's private equity community, consistently delivering strong outcomes for sell-side mandates.

Lincoln International Seattleinvestment bank Seattle middle marketM&A advisory Seattle PE
TechnologyIndustrialsHealthcare
4
William Blair
Serves Seattle, WA
80%
AI Visibility
4.1
Success Fee Est. 1935 Min: $30M+ revenue

Long-tenured investment bank with a strong Seattle presence offering buy-side and sell-side advisory, equity research, and capital markets services to growth companies.

William Blair Seattlegrowth company M&A Seattleequity research Seattle
Growth EquityTechnologyHealthcare
5
Piper Sandler
Serves Seattle, WA
77%
AI Visibility
4
Success Fee Est. 1895 Min: $15M+ revenue

Full-service investment bank with sector-focused M&A teams serving Seattle businesses in financial services, healthcare, and consumer sectors.

Piper Sandler Seattlehealthcare M&A Seattlefinancial services M&A Seattle
Financial ServicesHealthcareConsumer
6
FOCUS Investment Banking
Serves Seattle, WA
70%
AI Visibility
4.5
Success Fee Est. 2001 Min: $5M+ revenue

Boutique M&A advisory firm specializing in lower-middle-market transactions for Seattle business owners in technology, government services, and healthcare sectors.

lower middle market M&A Seattlesell my small business Seattlebusiness exit Seattle
TechnologyGovernment ServicesHealthcare
7
Generational Equity
Serves Seattle, WA
66%
AI Visibility
4.3
Retainer + Success Est. 2002 Min: $1M+ revenue

One of the most active M&A advisory firms in the lower-middle-market, with dedicated Seattle advisors who have helped hundreds of regional business owners exit successfully.

sell my company Seattlebusiness broker Seattleexit planning Seattle
ManufacturingDistributionServices
8
Benchmark International
Serves Seattle, WA
63%
AI Visibility
4.4
Success Fee Est. 2009 Min: $2M+ revenue

Global M&A firm with strong Seattle deal flow, connecting local sellers with international buyers and providing full-service transaction advisory from valuation to close.

sell business internationally SeattleM&A firm Seattlebusiness valuation Seattle
International BuyersManufacturingServices

M&A Advisors Market Overview — Seattle, WA

Seattle's M&A market is dominated by cloud computing, enterprise software, and aerospace, with Amazon and Microsoft creating a constant flow of spin-out companies, acqui-hires, and strategic divestitures. The city has produced major exits including Tableau (Salesforce, $15.7B), Zillow-adjacent deals, and numerous Amazon supplier acquisitions.

Market Indicator Data Point
Total M&A Volume (2023)$28B
Cloud/Enterprise Software$14B
Amazon/Microsoft Spin-outsSignificant
Active Advisors75+

Regulatory & Licensing Environment

Washington State has no income tax, making Seattle one of the most seller-friendly jurisdictions for capital gains. However, Washington enacted a 7% capital gains tax in 2022 (upheld by the WA Supreme Court in 2023) on gains above $250,000 — meaning multi-million dollar deals do incur WA state tax. No corporate income tax applies. Federal HSR thresholds and CFIUS review apply for applicable transactions.

M&A Advisors Fees in Seattle, WA

Fee Type Typical Range
Tech M&A Retainer$20,000–$50,000/month
Cloud/SaaS Advisory$25,000–$60,000/month
Success Fee2–5% depending on size
Aerospace Advisory$100,000–$500,000 flat

Seattle advisors benefit from access to Amazon and Microsoft deal teams who actively acquire companies. Advisors with direct strategic development relationships at these companies often run more targeted, shorter processes that reduce total advisory fees while achieving competitive valuations.

How to Choose a M&A Advisors in Seattle, WA

  • Amazon/Microsoft ecosystem relationships: The most valuable thing a Seattle M&A advisor can offer is direct relationships with the Amazon M&A team (AMZN Strategy & M&A) and Microsoft Corporate Development. These two buyers drive enormous deal volume and can execute quickly.
  • Cloud infrastructure deal expertise: Seattle's deals often involve AWS-native or Azure-native companies. Technical diligence on cloud infrastructure, API economy businesses, and platform dependency risks requires advisors with deep cloud architecture understanding.
  • Washington capital gains planning: Washington's new 7% capital gains tax caught many founders off guard. For large exits, confirm your advisor models WA state tax accurately — and discusses whether pre-close domicile strategy (to a state with no capital gains) makes mathematical sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about choosing m&a advisors in Seattle, WA.

Does Washington State have capital gains tax on M&A proceeds?+
Yes — Washington enacted a 7% capital gains excise tax in 2022, upheld by the WA Supreme Court in 2023. It applies to gains above $250,000 from the sale of capital assets including company stock. For large exits this adds meaningful tax cost vs. pre-2022 expectations.
What makes Seattle unique for cloud technology M&A?+
Seattle is the headquarters of AWS (Amazon Web Services) and a major Microsoft cloud operations hub. Both companies actively acquire Seattle-area technology companies, creating a concentrated buyer pool that can move quickly with deep technical diligence capabilities.
Are Amazon and Microsoft reliable M&A buyers in Seattle?+
Both companies execute significant acquisition volume. Amazon has acquired over 100 companies since 2010. Microsoft is one of the most active tech acquirors globally. Seattle founders benefit from geographic proximity and community relationships with both deal teams.
What industries beyond tech see M&A activity in Seattle?+
Aerospace (Boeing supply chain), healthcare (Swedish, Providence, UW Medicine acquisitions), maritime/ports, and outdoor/retail (REI, Nordstrom supplier deals) generate meaningful M&A activity. Healthcare services consolidation has been particularly active.
How do RSU packages from Amazon and Microsoft affect Seattle M&A deal structure?+
Key employees at Seattle targets often have significant unvested Amazon or Microsoft RSU packages. Buyers must model retention packages competitive with foregone Amazon/Microsoft equity. This increases deal cost but is a well-understood dynamic for experienced Seattle advisors.

Reviewed by: Tania Kozar — ProCloser.ai Research  |  Last Updated: April 2026  |  Sources: SEC IAPD, FINRA BrokerCheck, state regulatory filings, ProCloser.ai primary research.

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