Strategic Advisory Services

ButcherJoseph & Co. serves as a trusted advisor to founder, family, and employee-owned businesses. Having advised owners across more than 200 transactions totaling over $15 billion in value, our experience shows that no two business transitions are identical. Whether you are weighing a full or partial sale, exploring employee ownership, or seeking an accurate baseline valuation before committing to a path, we help you identify the strategy that fits your unique situation and objectives

Our Services

Each service below addresses a specific problem owners face. If you are not certain where you fit, the “Not sure which you need?” section at the bottom is the right starting point.

Sale transactions

Sale Transactions to Strategic or Financial Buyers

You are ready to sell — but you are not sure whether a strategic buyer, a private equity firm, or some combination gives you the best outcome for your employees, your family, and your legacy.

Who this is for: Founders, family business owners, and shareholders seeking a full or partial liquidity event through a sale to an outside party.

Explore Sale Transactions
Employee ownership

Employee Ownership Transactions (ESOPs)

You want to transition ownership without selling to an outside buyer, perhaps to protect your company culture, reward your workforce, or create liquidity on your own timeline, but you need to understand the complexity, the financing requirements, and the ongoing obligations before deciding whether an ESOP is realistic for your company.

Who this is for: Owners who want to transfer ownership to employees, either fully or partially, and who want an independent assessment of whether an ESOP structure is financially feasible for their business.

Explore Employee Ownership Transactions
Capital advisory

Capital Advisory
(Debt & Equity)

Your business needs growth capital, acquisition financing, or a restructured balance sheet, and you want guidance on the right structure and the right capital partners, not just whoever will write the check.

Who this is for: Business owners and CFOs seeking debt financing, equity investment, or a combination to fund a specific strategic objective.

Explore Capital Advisory
Valuation

Valuations & Fairness Opinions

You need to know what your company is worth; either because you are starting to think about a transition and want a realistic baseline, or because you need an independent opinion to satisfy a board, a lender, or an ESOP trustee.

Who this is for: Owners, boards, and ESOP trustees who need a defensible, independent valuation or fairness opinion for planning, transaction, or compliance purposes.

Explore Valuations & Fairness Opinions
Esop

ESOP Strategic Consulting

Your company already has an ESOP in place, and you need experienced guidance on managing, optimizing, or restructuring it, including repurchase obligation planning, trustee relations, or evaluating a secondary transaction.

Who this is for: Existing ESOP-owned companies and their leadership teams dealing with ongoing ESOP governance, plan design, or strategic decisions related to their current structure.

Explore ESOP Strategic Consulting
Sale transactions

Sale Transactions to Strategic or Financial Buyers

We advise business owners on sale transactions across a variety of industries.

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Employee ownership

Employee Ownership Transactions

We are industry leaders and understand all phases of the ESOP lifecycle, from initial buyout to recapitalizations.

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Capital advisory

Capital Advisory (Debt & Equity)

Our capital advisory team raises debt and equity capital and provides advisory services to privately-owned businesses, sponsors, and family offices.

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Valuation

Valuations & Fairness Opinions

Our team of valuation professionals has performed and managed thousands of valuations of privately held companies across a multitude of industries.

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Esop

ESOP Sustainability Services

We offer sustainability services to ESOP-owned businesses to help with their growth initiatives, ensuring long-term success for both employees and the company.

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Not Sure Which You Need?

Most owners we speak with aren’t sure which service applies, and that is exactly where a confidential conversation helps. Call us at 314.558.5116 or use the form below to tell us where you are in your thinking. We will help you figure out the right next step before you commit to anything.

Book a confidential discussion

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know whether to pursue a sale or an ESOP?

The answer depends on your priorities: liquidity timeline, legacy considerations, employee relationships, and your company’s financial structure. A sale to a strategic or financial buyer typically offers more immediate liquidity, while an ESOP can allow a staged transition that often utilizes company financing or leverage to fund the buyout. We typically start with a feasibility conversation before recommending either path.

What does the advisory process look like, and how long does it take?

Timelines vary depending on transaction type and complexity. A sale process typically takes several months from engagement to close; an ESOP transaction can take longer given the financing, trustee, and legal components involved. We will give you a realistic timeline estimate once we understand your specific situation — we do not give standard answers to non-standard situations.

Do I need a valuation before I can start?

Not always. Many owners engage us for a feasibility discussion before commissioning a formal valuation. That said, a current valuation is essential before executing any transaction, and in some cases — particularly ESOP transactions — an independent valuation is a regulatory requirement, not a recommendation.

Can ButcherJoseph & Co. help if my company is already ESOP-owned?

Yes. Our ESOP Strategic Consulting service is designed specifically for companies that already have an ESOP in place and need guidance on plan management, repurchase obligation planning, secondary transactions, or other governance matters. Existing ESOP companies have a distinct set of challenges from companies evaluating an ESOP for the first time, and we advise both.