What if the secret to surviving the future of business brokerage isn’t more technology, but deeper relationships? Are you investing enough in face-to-face trust, or are you relying on tools that promise shortcuts but sacrifice connection?

There is a common belief that digital efficiency can replace the hard-earned authority and rapport every broker needs, but real transformation comes not from chasing shiny automation, but from cultivating the network, credibility, and confidence that set you apart—from old-school belly-to-belly connection, to knowing the best sources of high-value referrals.

In this Bonus Episode, Curt Maier of IBA Pacific Northwest Business Brokerage, joins Jason Cutter to discuss what brokers will need to thrive through 2030, the real impact of AI and tech on M&A, and why franchise opportunities are accelerating in today’s market. Curt’s insights reveal that success still hinges on relationships, local authority, and a relentless approach to building a network that delivers quality leads and lasting deals.

Share this episode with a fellow broker who’s ready to shift from hoping for deals to strategically growing their pipeline—then subscribe for more conversations that help you move from transactional to truly trusted advisor.

Are you investing in relationships or just collecting connections? What if your pipeline’s greatest asset isn’t the number of listings, but the depth of your referral network?

Massive growth for business brokers isn’t about chasing random leads; it’s about strategically building and nurturing relationships with the people business owners trust most. When brokers focus on quality referrals and network-driven authority, they move from transactional dealmakers to sought-after advisors that clients actively seek out.

In this episode, Jason Cutter welcomes Curt Maier, Vice President of Business Development at IBA, the Pacific Northwest’s leading business brokerage and M&A firm. Curt shares his journey from Navy submarines to Fortune 300 management to thriving entrepreneur and broker, offering tangible lessons for brokers hungry for growth. From being “in business for yourself, but not by yourself” in franchising, to leveraging referral partners like CPAs and attorneys, to the power of consistently showing up where business owners gather, Curt lays out actionable strategies. He also reveals why knowing your seller’s true motivation and focusing on win-win deals leads to repeat business—and why your network truly is your net worth.

Share this episode with another broker ready to build stronger referral relationships—and subscribe for more battle-tested advice on growing your pipeline and elevating your influence.

What happens when business brokers try to scale without real systems in place? And what can a broker learn from someone who sees behind the scenes of nearly a thousand firms across the country?

In this episode, you’ll learn why the most successful brokers aren’t the ones relying on memory, spreadsheets, or guesswork — but the ones who have clarity, structure, and automation built into every stage of their pipeline. You’ll also discover the hidden pitfalls that quietly kill deals, how time becomes a broker’s biggest enemy, and why “systems thinking” might be the missing link between inconsistent months and predictable growth.

Our guest today is George Wellmer, founder of Tupelo, a CRM + automation platform built specifically for business brokers. With firsthand experience working with nearly 1,000 brokers and an earlier career automating SBA valuations, George brings rare insight into what actually works — and what keeps brokers stuck. He shares the power of narrowing your target market, becoming an industry expert, leveraging automation for repetitive tasks, building a team around your highest-value activities, and preparing listings correctly so deals don’t collapse from delays. If you’re ready to stop hoping for deals and start engineering your pipeline with modern tools and proven systems, subscribe to the Business Broker Growth Show, leave a review, and share this episode with a broker who needs it.

What role will technology, especially AI, play in shaping the future of business brokerage by 2030? How can brokers navigate industry uncertainty, such as shifting economic policies and unpredictable deal flow, to maintain steady business growth?

Brokers of the future must embrace AI—not only for valuation accuracy and buyer research, but also for streamlining process efficiency. Alongside tech adaptation, brokers must cultivate resilience and a consistent marketing approach to weather market instability. Staying visible, engaging with clients, and never turning off the "marketing machine" are key strategies for smoothing out the peaks and valleys of deal flow.

In this Bonus Episode, Dave Long, from Arizona Business Sales Advisors, joins Jason Cutter for a rapid-fire Q&A digging deeper into topics beyond the main episode. Together, they explored what brokers need to survive in the 2030 landscape—like solid marketing, powerful tech, and AI fluency—plus lessons from this year’s market challenges and the thrill of discovering unique business opportunities.

If you’re a broker determined to grow past the transactional grind and become a trusted advisor, this after-show is packed with actionable insights and inspiration. Catch the main episode for the full journey, and tap into the wisdom of Dave Long to start future-proofing your career.

What will brokers need to stay relevant by 2030? And if you could wave a magic wand to automate just one marketing strategy, which one would truly transform dealmaking?

Mastering AI and embracing technology won’t be optional. The brokerage landscape is moving toward data-driven matchmaking, faster and more transparent transactions, and global buyer accessibility. AI will streamline noisy, time-consuming tasks like buyer fit analysis, document management, and market preparation.

In this Bonus Episode, Andy Cagnetta, CEO of Transworld Business Advisors, brings decades of insight across brokerage, global expansion, and tech innovation. Andy offers a candid look at the challenges of staying ahead of technology, the realities of funding small businesses worldwide, and the evolution every broker must make to stay competitive.

If you’re a broker, advisor, or entrepreneur ready to ditch outdated tactics and position yourself for long-term growth, this episode is a must-listen. Don’t wait for deals to fall into your lap, build a smarter pipeline and join the movement redefining the future of business brokerage.

What can business brokers do to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry? And how should they balance new technologies like AI with the indispensable human elements of the deal-making process?

Anticipating industry trends is more crucial than relying only on historical strategies. On the tech front, while AI offers powerful data tools and efficiencies (especially for market research in property or financial modeling), brokers should be wary of over-relying on tech without considering local nuances and the trust factor that only human relationships deliver.

In this Bonus Episode, Gregory Kovsky, President and CEO of IBA, joins Jason Cutter. Together, they unpack lessons from Greg’s 30+ years in business brokerage, covering industry cycles, embracing change, and navigating today's landscape of baby boomer sellers, hungry buyers (from private equity to immigrants), and the impact of government and economic turbulence on deals.

Looking to elevate your business brokerage career? Dive into this episode’s actionable insights and real stories. Don’t forget to check out part one of the conversation for even more strategies and hacks.