Thinking About The Future of Your Business?
You don’t have to be “ready to sell” to start getting real answers
Who
we are
City Shores Advisory is led by M&A attorney Matt Hartranft, who has advised on 50+ business sales totaling over $1.2B.
We connect with established, owner‑led U.S. companies to help answer big questions about the future:
What might my business actually be worth?
When would a transition make the most sense?
What paths are realistic for someone in my position?
Sometimes that leads to a fit for us to buy the business. Other times, the conversation is purely strategic. Either way, the goal is the same: confidential, practical insight from someone who has been in the room for dozens of real deals.
If you’d like a confidential, no‑obligation call with Matt about your situation, use the button below and we’ll follow up to schedule a time
What We Do
At City Shores, most conversations start the same way:
A business connects with us—not because they’re actively selling, but because they want a clearer picture of what an eventual transition might look like.
From there, one of two things typically happens:
There’s a fit to explore us buying the company.
If your business lines up with our criteria, we continue the conversation as a potential long‑term buyer and outline what that path might look like..Our experience is most useful as you plan ahead.
We stay in touch as a thought partner. Over time, that may mean one of two things:When the timing and fit are right, we revisit the idea of us buying the company, or
If you prefer a broader sale process, Matt may be able to help you through a separate, attorney‑led process through his M&A work.
In both cases, early conversations are focused on clarity, timing, and options, not pressure to make a decision.
Our Process
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In 20–30 minutes, we keep it simple:
Get a clear picture of how the business is set up today
Hear your story and how you’re thinking about the next chapter
Share what we’re seeing in your industry around timing, deal structures, and common paths
There’s no pitch on that first call.
We listen, ask practical questions, and see if it makes sense to continue the conversation as a potential buyer or planning partner. If it doesn’t, you still walk away with more clarity than you started with.
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After our initial conversation, we send you a one‑page Owner’s Exit Snapshot™ within 24 hours. It includes:
A reality‑based valuation range for a business like yours
A simple exit readiness score (what’s working, what isn’t)
A timeline estimate for when a realistic exit could happen if you started preparing now
The top 2–3 issues most likely to affect valuation or deal certainty
It’s not a formal appraisal or legal advice, but it gives you an investor‑level view of where you stand today, in plain English. Many owners find this useful even if they don’t plan to sell for several years.
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City Shores Advisory is led by Matt Hartranft, an M&A attorney who has handled 50+ business sales totaling over $1.2B from Main Street to middle market.
Matt’s deal work spans manufacturing and industrial, construction, healthcare, technology, and other owner‑led companies, including complex situations involving ESOPs, unions, and multi‑party transitions. That range gives him a practical view of what actually works in messy, real‑world deals, not just textbook scenarios.
After years of representing owners as their attorney during exits, Matt founded City Shores Advisory to focus on a small number of established, owner‑led companies where there might be a path for someone like him to eventually step in and run the business for the long term.
Matt also continues to practice law at Brutlag Law, representing owners and investors in M&A transactions. Any legal representation or formal sale process would be handled separately under its own engagement terms.
Contact Us
If you’re thinking about the future of your business, we’re happy to start with a simple conversation. Share a few details and we’ll follow up to schedule a short, confidential call.