Business intermediary is the profession's own word for the person who stands between a seller and a buyer. It covers main street brokers and M&A advisers alike, and because none of the titles is protected, what matters is the work they will do rather than the noun they use.
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What the job actually is
Presenting the business, finding and screening buyers, managing the flow of information, negotiating on the seller's behalf and keeping a diligence process moving. In a good engagement the intermediary is also the person who says the difficult thing to the buyer so that the seller does not have to, which is worth more than it sounds.
Credentials and what they mean
Trade bodies offer designations that require coursework and, in some cases, evidence of closed transactions. They are a signal about training rather than a license, and they do not test whether the person has buyers for your business. Where a sale involves real property or a lease, a state real estate license may separately be required.
What to verify instead
Closed transactions in your sector at your size in the last two years, with sellers you can call. The number of buyers they intend to approach and how many they have closed with. Who does the work day to day. The minimum fee and the tail. Those four tell you more than any title.
Questions people ask about business intermediary
Is an intermediary the same as a broker?
In practice yes, with intermediary being the profession's more formal word. Advisers running processes for larger companies also fall under it.
Are they licensed?
Business brokerage is not a separately licensed profession in most states, though real estate licensing can apply where property or a lease is involved. Ask what the firm holds.
What does one cost?
A commission at closing with a minimum, or a retainer plus a success fee for a run process. Published US commissions on this site run from 5% to 15%.