Sun Acquisitions is a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that helps privately-held business owners buy, sell, and understand the value of their companies.
With over 400 completed transactions and a team of certified M&A advisors, the firm has built a structured, repeatable process designed to get deals done confidentially, strategically, and at maximum value for the client.
Key Takeaways
- Sun Acquisitions has completed over 400 business sale transactions across all industry sectors.
- The firm serves both buyers and sellers of privately-held businesses, operating nationwide from its Chicago headquarters.
- All advisors hold professional certifications in M&A, bringing credentials such as CBI (Certified Business Intermediary) and CPA designations to each engagement.
What Sun Acquisitions Actually Does
The firm operates in two primary lanes: helping owners sell their businesses and helping buyers find the right acquisition targets. Those two functions sound simple, but each one involves a multi-phase process that goes well beyond finding a match and handing over keys.
On the seller side, Sun Acquisitions runs what it calls The Business Sale Solution™ a proprietary process that covers everything from the initial consultation through closing. The steps include:
- Financial review and EBITDA analysis
- Business valuation and value driver assessment
- Buyer market research to identify the most likely acquirers
- Lender pre-qualification to verify the business is bank-financeable
- Deal structure modeling so sellers know their net proceeds before going to market
- Tax coordination with the seller's accountant or financial advisor
- Confidential marketing and buyer screening
- Offer negotiation and due diligence coordination
That last part about taxes is worth pausing on. Most sellers focus on the sale price. Sun Acquisitions pushes clients to focus on the "take home" number what actually lands in their pocket after taxes and deal structure. It's a distinction that changes how sellers evaluate offers.
The Buyer Side of the Business
| Service | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Business Acquisition Solution™ | Finding acquisition targets, deal guidance, market insight |
| Buyer Readiness Assessment | Financial and strategic preparation before going to market |
| Due Diligence Navigator™ | Guidance through the due diligence process to avoid costly surprises |
Buyers often underestimate how much preparation goes into finding and closing on the right business. Sun Acquisitions offers a Buyer Readiness Assessment a structured evaluation of whether a buyer is financially and strategically positioned to close a deal. This is a practical tool that filters out time-wasting scenarios before they start.
The Due Diligence Navigator™ is equally direct: it's advisory support specifically for the due diligence phase, where deals most commonly fall apart. Having an experienced team in that window matters.
The Team Behind the Transactions
Managing Director Domenic Rinaldi, CBI, leads the firm and holds the Certified Business Intermediary designation from the International Business Brokers Association.
Managing Director Larry Sanderman brings a CPA and MBA background along with experience across financial services, industrials, technology, and specialty chemicals.
Senior Advisor Toby Davis has over 40 years of experience in structuring and negotiating business purchase and sale transactions. That number is not a typo. Mike Walton adds 25 years across business ownership, operations, and deal management.
The advisory board includes Scott Humphrey, who spent 20 years on Wall Street advising on M&A and financings, including a role as Head of U.S. Mergers and Acquisitions for BMO Capital Markets.
Chris Somers, the firm's newest advisory board member, spent over 30 years in institutional financial services with stops at firms including Mercer, AIG, PIMCO, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Fidelity, and Ernst & Young.
That's a lot of combined experience for a firm serving the privately-held business market not the Fortune 500.
How They Handle Confidentiality
For business owners, confidentiality during a sale is often the top concern. Employees, customers, suppliers, and competitors all react when word gets out.
Sun Acquisitions structures its marketing approach specifically to maintain confidentiality throughout the process from how buyer inquiries are screened to how information is released at each stage of the deal.
The firm doesn't advertise client businesses openly without controls. Buyers go through a screening process before getting access to sensitive financials or operational details.
What "Nationwide Service" Means in Practice
Sun Acquisitions is based in Chicago but operates nationally. The firm's network of buyers and acquirers extends coast to coast, which matters because the right buyer for a business in the Midwest might be a private equity group in New York or a strategic acquirer in Texas.
Limiting a deal to local buyers is one of the fastest ways to leave money on the table. A broader buyer pool generates more interest, which produces more competing offers, which is how sellers maximize value.
Free Resources and Education
The firm maintains a fairly substantial free resource library that includes:
- An M&A Education Center with articles and guides
- A blog covering market trends, deal structures, and seller preparation topics
- A podcast on buying and selling businesses
- A Market Value Analysis™ service for owners who want to understand what their business is worth before committing to a sale
The Market Value Analysis™ is positioned as a standalone service not just a teaser for a listing engagement. Owners who aren't sure whether they're ready to sell can get a data-driven picture of their business's value and key value drivers without immediately entering the sales process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sun Acquisitions work with businesses in specific industries?
No. The firm works across all industry sectors, from manufacturing and professional services to healthcare and transportation.
Does Sun Acquisitions represent both buyers and sellers?
Yes. The firm has dedicated services for business sellers and separate services for buyers, including readiness assessments and acquisition advisory.
How many transactions has Sun Acquisitions completed?
The firm reports over 400 successful transactions.
Is Sun Acquisitions affiliated with any professional organizations?
Yes. The firm is a member of the Alliance of Mergers and Acquisitions Advisors (AM&AA).
Conclusion
Sun Acquisitions occupies a specific and practical niche: experienced M&A advisory for privately-held business owners who need more than a simple listing service.
For owners weighing an exit or buyers looking for structured acquisition support, the firm's combination of certified advisors, a proven process, and a 400+ transaction track record gives it a credible place in the Chicago M&A market and beyond.