Founded in 1994 as Grimes Business Brokerage, CBI+Team has grown to the largest business brokerage company in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma with four offices serving the Mid-America region.The idea of a business brokerage based on principles of integrity and fair dealing came to Carl Grimes in 199…
Founded in 1994 as Grimes Business Brokerage, CBI+Team has grown to the largest business brokerage company in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma with four offices serving the Mid-America region.
The idea of a business brokerage based on principles of integrity and fair dealing came to Carl Grimes in 1992 as he handled two closings for a local business broker as part of his duties as a closing agent in a title company Grimes had owned and sold. Grimes discovered that although business brokerage could be lucrative it was also fragmented and had an unsavory reputation. Grimes saw how Sellers and Buyers could be manipulated by a business broker who was only focused on collecting a commission, not doing what was best for the Sellers and Buyers.
Grimes wrote a business plan in 1992 and in December 1994 when his contract with the title company expired and he began operations in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
In March 1995, Grimes learned about Sunbelt Business Brokers, a national franchise network based in Charleston, South Carolina. After attending training in Dallas, Grimes bought the franchise for Northwest Arkansas and founded Sunbelt Business Brokers of the Ozarks.
In 1999 the Northwest Arkansas operation was named “Office of the Year” by the Sunbelt Network of over 250 worldwide offices.
In 2000 Grimes bought the franchise for Springfield, Missouri and established a full service business brokerage there.
In 2007 Grimes bought the Joplin, Missouri territory and added Fort Smith, Arkansas in 2009.
The company has moved its corporate offices to Lowell, Arkansas, the center of booming Northwest Arkansas.
In 2009 the company added the name CBI (Confidential Business Intermediaries) to represent the growing presence and ability of the CBI+Team to handle Mid-Market Mergers and Acquisitions.
The CBI+Team has handled numerous large M&A transactions and is a member of the International Business Brokers Association and Chambers of Commerce in Fayetteville, Springdale, Roger-Lowell and Fort Smith, Arkansas, Joplin, Missouri and Springfield, Missouri, the M&A Source and Grimes is president of the Professional Association of Arkansas Business Brokers (PAABB). Grimes was also the first president of the President’s Advisory Council, an organization Grimes established with some other Sunbelt office owners to represent the franchises of the Network.
The CBI+Team has handled hundreds of business sales with the best trained business brokerage force in the nation.
In November 2011, Grimes received the status “Fellow of the International Business Brokers Association.”
Grimes was selected to do the training DVDs for the entire Sunbelt Network in 2004. The DVDs are still being provided to new Sunbelt trainees around the world. Grimes also trained the broker force for the United Kingdom, Scotland and Wales and Ireland in 2006 as part of his duties as First Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of SBAN (Sunbelt Business Advisors Network) a group of 83 Sunbelt office owners that bought the Network from the founder, Ed Pendarvis.
SBAN was sold in 2005 and Grimes has been focused on growing The CBI+Team since.
In 2013 CBI+Team headquarters relocated to Springdale, Arkansas and an additional office was opened in Little Rock, Arkansas with Connor Grimes assuming the role of Managing Partner.
In 2014 CBI Chairman and founder Carl Grimes announced the official name of the largest business brokerage in the region is Confidential Business Intermediaries/The CBI+Team. CBI and Carl Grimes have eliminated association with Sunbelt.
With a current total of seven CBI+Team offices, the managing partners will now focus on the growth of CBI+Team and the brand nationwide.
Team (6)
Recent Transactions (10)
CBI Team
Full-Service Restaurants
Advised
Anonymous
in their acquisition by
Anonymous
May 2025
CBI Team
All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing
Advised
Anonymous
in their acquisition by
Anonymous
January 2025
CBI Team
Roofing Contractors
Advised
Anonymous
in their acquisition by
Anonymous
June 2024
CBI Team
Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers, Home and Garden E-Commerce
Advised
Confidential Company
in their acquisition by
Confidential Buyer
October 2022
CBI Team
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
Advised
Texas Best Organic Rices
in their acquisition by
Bob Schermer
February 2015
CBI Team
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing, Aircraft and automotive wire and cable (except aluminum, copper) made from purchased nonferrous metals (except aluminum, copper) in wire drawing plants, Aircraft and automotive wire or cable made from purchased copper in wire drawing plants, Aircraft carrier catapults manufacturing, Aircraft distributors (wholesalers), Aircraft engine cradles manufacturing, Aircraft engine instruments manufacturing, Aircraft engines and parts distributors (wholesalers), Aircraft equipment and supplies distributors (wholesalers), Aircraft hardware, metal, manufacturing, Aircraft lighting fixtures manufacturing, Aircraft loading hoists manufacturing, Aircraft Manufacturing, Aircraft seats manufacturing, Aircraft tire manufacturing, Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing, Ammunition (except sporting) distributors (wholesalers), Ammunition boxes, light gauge metal, manufacturing, Ammunition boxes, wood, manufacturing, Automotive or aircraft wire and cable made in aluminum wire draw
Advised
Pinnacle North Corporate Aircraft Interiors
in securing investment from
Confidential Investor
November 2014
CBI Team
Building Finishing Contractors, Death Care Services, Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors, Hospitals, House demolishing, Interior Design Services, Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services, Legal Services, Nursing and Residential Care Facilities, Personal and Laundry Services, Residential cleaning services, Residential Property Managers, Security Systems Services, Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services, Veterinary Services
Advised
Sunshine Dental Clinic
in their acquisition by
Arkansas Braces
October 2014
CBI Team
Building Finishing Contractors, Death Care Services, Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors, House demolishing, Interior Design Services, Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services, Legal Services, Personal and Laundry Services, Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services, Residential cleaning services, Residential Property Managers, Security Systems Services, Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services
Advised
R&L Transportation
in their acquisition by
Eric Harris
March 2013
CBI Team
Building Finishing Contractors, Death Care Services, Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors, Hospitals, House demolishing, Interior Design Services, Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services, Legal Services, Nursing and Residential Care Facilities, Personal and Laundry Services, Residential cleaning services, Residential Property Managers, Security Systems Services, Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services, Veterinary Services
Advised
Arkansas Orthodontics
in their acquisition by
Braces By Burris
March 2013
CBI Team
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services, Building Finishing Contractors, Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance, Death Care Services, Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors, Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, House demolishing, Interior Design Services, Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services, Legal Services, Other Support Services, Personal and Laundry Services, Residential cleaning services, Residential Property Managers, Security Systems Services, Services to Buildings and Dwellings, Special Food Services, Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services, Warehousing
Advised
AAA Tents for Events
in their acquisition by
Larry Heihn
February 2013
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