Honest Comparison

EvalyMe vs Traditional Exit Advisor

Choosing between AI-powered exit planning and traditional advisory? Here's an honest, side-by-side comparison to help you make the right decision for your startup.

$199,500

Average savings with EvalyMe vs traditional advisor

12 months

Early preparation time vs last-minute 3-month rush

24/7

AI availability vs limited advisor hours

Feature

EvalyMe

Traditional Exit Advisor

Cost

$0 - $249

One-time payment per valuation

$50,000 - $200,000+

Plus success fees (2-5% of exit)

Time to Start

7 minutes

Instant access, start immediately

2-4 weeks

Vetting, contracts, onboarding

Engagement Length

12+ months

Long-term preparation, lifetime access

3-6 months

Short-term, right before exit

Availability

24/7

AI always available, instant answers

Business hours

Scheduled calls, email delays

Valuation Analysis

Included

AI-powered, industry benchmarks

Included

Manual analysis by expert

12-Month Exit Roadmap

Included ($249)

AI-generated, personalized tasks

Included

Custom strategy by advisor

Weekly Coaching

Included

AI emails with focus areas

Not typical

Bi-weekly or monthly check-ins

Buyer Introductions

Coming Soon

Marketplace feature in development

Included

Network of qualified buyers

Negotiation Support

Guidance only

AI recommendations, frameworks

Direct support

Advisor on calls, deal structuring

Best For

Early preparation (12-24 mo out)

• Bootstrapped founders
• First-time exits
• $100K - $10M valuation

Active exit process (3-6 mo)

• VC-backed startups
• Complex transactions
• $10M+ valuation

Choose EvalyMe If...

You're 12-24 months away from exit and want to prepare properly
You're bootstrapped or early-stage without budget for expensive advisors
You want hands-on guidance to maximize value before listing
You prefer DIY approach with AI support vs full-service advisory
Your valuation is under $10M (advisors may not take smaller deals)

Choose Traditional Advisor If...

You're actively selling in the next 3-6 months
Your valuation is $10M+ and advisor fees are justified
You need buyer introductions from their network
You want hands-on negotiation support during deal closing
You have complex deal structure (earnouts, equity rollover, etc.)

💡 Pro Tip: Use EvalyMe first to prepare, then hire an advisor only when actively selling. Best of both worlds.

The Smart Hybrid Approach

Many successful founders use both—here's the strategy:

MONTHS 12-6 BEFORE EXIT

Use EvalyMe

Prepare your startup, fix weaknesses, improve metrics, build documentation

Cost: $249

MONTHS 6-3 BEFORE EXIT

Continue with AI

Execute roadmap, track progress, refine positioning, prepare pitch deck

Cost: $0 (included)

FINAL 3 MONTHS

Add Advisor

Buyer introductions, negotiation support, deal structuring, closing

Cost: $50k-200k

Save 40-60%

By handling preparation yourself with AI, you reduce advisor engagement time and costs while still getting expert support when it matters most.

Ready to Start Planning Your Exit?

Get your free startup valuation and see if EvalyMe is the right fit for your exit journey. No credit card required.

✅ Free forever plan available • ✅ 12-month preparation time • ✅ $199,500 average savings