Avenue M Advisors vs Cary Street Partners
Comparing two boutique M&A advisors · Last updated April 23, 2025
| Attribute | Avenue M Advisors | Cary Street Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Boutique | Boutique |
| HQ | Chicago, IL | Richmond, VA |
| Founded | 2010 | 2002 |
| Sector focus | Lower Mid-Market | Lower Mid-Market |
| Deal size | $10M-$100M | $10M-$100M |
| Senior team |
|
|
| Rating | Locked | Locked |
| Reviews | 0 verified | 0 verified |
Choosing between Avenue M Advisors and Cary Street Partners
Avenue M Advisors and Cary Street Partners both work in Lower Mid-Market. Founders running a sell-side process in those categories often see both names on their advisor longlist, which is why this comparison comes up. Both firms position themselves as boutique advisors, so the choice is less about category and more about pattern recognition, senior attention, and process fit.
Avenue M Advisors is headquartered in Chicago, IL and was founded in 2010, while Cary Street Partners operates out of Richmond, VA and was founded in 2002. Geography matters here: Avenue M Advisors's Chicago relationships and Cary Street Partners's Richmond relationships will overlap on national strategics but diverge on the regional private equity buyer set most likely to push price. On deal-size focus, Avenue M Advisors states $10M-$100M while Cary Street Partners states $10M-$100M.
For founders deciding between Avenue M Advisors and Cary Street Partners, the honest recommendation is to take a working session with each named partner before signing. Read the firm-level reviews on BankerNotes for the pattern that matters most: did the partner who pitched the mandate run the buyer calls and final negotiations, or did the work slide down the org chart by week six. That pattern, more than league-table position, is what separates a good outcome from a mediocre one.
Avenue M Advisors is a boutique headquartered in Chicago, IL and founded in 2010. The firm focuses on Lower Mid-Market and typically advises on transactions in the $10M-$100M range. Key dealmakers include Mike McKenna (C...
Cary Street Partners is a boutique headquartered in Richmond, VA and founded in 2002. The firm focuses on Lower Mid-Market and typically advises on transactions in the $10M-$100M range. Key dealmakers include Hunter McGu...
Frequently asked questions
- What is the main difference between Avenue M Advisors and Cary Street Partners?
- Avenue M Advisors is a boutique HQ'd in Chicago, IL (founded 2010), focused on Lower Mid-Market, with a typical deal range of $10M-$100M. Cary Street Partners is a boutique HQ'd in Richmond, VA (founded 2002), focused on Lower Mid-Market, with a typical deal range of $10M-$100M. Beyond those facts, the most reliable differentiator is senior banker attention, which BankerNotes reviews are designed to surface.
- Which firm has better founder reviews, Avenue M Advisors or Cary Street Partners?
- Avenue M Advisors's current rating is Locked (reviews unlock after five verified founders submit ratings). Cary Street Partners's current rating is Locked (reviews unlock after five verified founders submit ratings). Read the individual firm profiles for the full review breakdown.
- Should I shortlist both Avenue M Advisors and Cary Street Partners?
- For most founders evaluating sell-side advisors with overlapping sector and deal-size fit, putting both on a shortlist is reasonable. The point of a bake-off is to test how the senior team behaves under pressure, how the firm shapes the buyer universe, and how it handles a difficult diligence question. Treat the shortlist as an interview, not a beauty contest.
- How does BankerNotes verify reviews of Avenue M Advisors and Cary Street Partners?
- Every review is submitted by a founder who confirms they hired the firm as their sell-side advisor. We verify the reviewer privately using work email, LinkedIn, and approximate engagement timing. The verified identity is never published. Only the rating, written review, and a generic sector label appear on the public page.
Related advisor comparisons
Browse sectors covered
Last updated: April 23, 2025