@Mark T Jones , LOL.
Yes, there are about a dozen brokers with really, really bad reputations who get tons of bad press and feedback online. The amazing thing is that most small businesses still end up with these brokers rather than the 1000 others!
It's mind boggling. I put that down partly to the aggressive marketing that these brokers do. They'll pester and pester and come and see you and swear on their mother's life they can get you millions for your business. But why don't business owners go do some research online before signing up?
For many years I've been the main adviser to
CEBTA, a non-profit that exists solely to help business owners who've been swindled by business brokers; it's run by a lady called Jane . I don't have the time to deal with these muppets myself - the greedy/ignorant people who signed up with the likes of KBS and paid £5K without doing any research - but I've pumped thousands of pounds of time/money into CEBTA to help these people indirectly. (I just don't have the patience to work with them directly myself. I know my limitations.)
With respect Turner Butler, I first met Shaun Sweeney of Turner Butler about 20-25 years ago when it was Turner & Co (Shaun subsequently sold the business). Nice enough chap. But, as with all brokers, he talked a good game but couldn't deliver. I had a business listed with him for about 6 months back in the nineties (partly because he offered a seductive "no-sale-no-fee" deal). Needlessly to say, it didn't sell.
I wish I knew then what I know now!