By: Matt Emma

A new partnership is connecting UK and US expertise with a shared mission: help American founders secure stronger outcomes when selling their businesses. The Grafter, a UK-based exit consultancy, has partnered with Exitwise, an M&A advisory firm based in Michigan, to provide business owners with support that begins in the preparatory phase and continues through to completed transactions.

The Grafter and Exitwise both stand out because they are built and led by entrepreneurs who have exited their businesses. This shared philosophy shapes their approach, which centers on experience, empathy, and the belief that founders deserve guidance from people who have walked the same path.

The Challenge Many Founders Face When Preparing to Sell

Selling a business can be one of the most significant moments in a founder’s career, yet many enter the process without adequate preparation. When critical issues go unaddressed, deals fall apart, or business owners accept lower outcomes than they could have achieved.

“Most founders spend years building their businesses but only weeks preparing to sell them,” said Rachel Murphy, CEO of The Grafter. “We built The Grafter because we have lived through exits ourselves. We know exactly where founders get stuck and what buyers actually look for.”

Murphy sold her previous company, Difrent, for $ 17 million. Her team of nine “Exiteers” uses The Grafter’s structured “Grow Raise Exit Acquisition” methodology to identify and resolve deal-killers, such as customer concentration, owner dependency, and gaps in financial reporting. The approach has supported over 50 companies and unlocked over $200 million in value.

Two Teams With a Shared Background of Experience

To support founders once they reach the transaction phase, The Grafter has aligned with Exitwise. The Detroit firm was co-founded by Todd Sullivan and Brian Dukes, both longtime entrepreneurs with practical experience in building and selling businesses.

Exitwise specializes in pairing founders with investment bankers, M&A attorneys, and deal advisors who focus on the seller’s specific industry. Their platform includes certified valuation services and a network of exited founders who mentor business owners through the emotional and strategic complexities of selling.

“Having built and sold four businesses myself, I have seen how strong preparation influences the final outcome,” said Sullivan. “Together, we can help founders get their companies ready, and then introduce them to deal teams who fit their goals and sector.”

Dukes added, “Both teams are composed of founders who have been through this experience. We understand the emotional journey, not only the mechanics of the transaction. Rachel and The Grafter team know how to get businesses truly ready for sale, and that foundation is essential.”

How the Partnership Will Operate

The collaboration follows a clear sequence. The Grafter will work with American founders to help grow their revenues before preparing their companies for sale, focusing on operational systems, risk reduction, and strategic readiness. Once the business reaches a sellable state, Exitwise will take the lead by matching the founder with vetted bankers and attorneys and providing valuation insights.

Exitwise will also connect each founder with a mentor from its network of nearly 100 exited entrepreneurs. These advisors offer perspective, reassurance, and practical guidance as the founder moves through negotiations and due diligence.

Through this combined approach, the partners expect to unlock close to $ 50 million in additional value for founders in the future.

Support That Addresses Both Strategy and Emotion

This collaboration focuses not only on the technical steps required for a successful business sale but also on the human side of the process. Selling a company often brings a mix of excitement and stress, and both firms believe that guidance from experienced peers can make that journey smoother and clearer.

With The Grafter preparing founders at the operational level and Exitwise guiding them through the transaction itself, American business owners gain a structured pathway supported by people who have lived through the challenges themselves.