Built by someone who saw the problem up close.
The largest transfer of business ownership in history — now underway.
Mercato started in Hamilton, Ontario, with a frustration that wouldn't go away. Everywhere I looked, I saw owners who had spent 25, 30, 35 years building real businesses — trades, clinics, shops, service companies — and not one of them could answer a simple question: what is this thing actually worth?
These are people who built something real. They employ their neighbours. They show up every day. And when it comes time to think about retirement, the system makes it harder, not easier. Brokers want a retainer. Appraisers want thousands of dollars and weeks of waiting. So most owners do the only thing that feels safe — nothing. And the years slip by.
I could see the wave coming. Over the next decade, more business owners will try to retire than at any point in history — and most have no plan and no number. That problem was too big and too urgent to wait on. So I built Mercato with modern AI tools, because the owners living this don't have time for a five-year roadmap. They have a question that needs an answer today.
in business value will change hands as baby boomer owners retire.
of Ontario business owners have no succession plan in place.
The vision
A modern, seller-first platform that gives every business owner a dignified exit. Not a cold marketplace — a clear, honest starting point that respects the years of hard work behind every business, and helps owners take the next step with confidence instead of fear.
Where advisors fit in
We work with brokers, CBVs, and financial advisors — not against them. We're the top of funnel that sends them better-prepared, more informed clients.
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