Jim Tormey
Search fund and ETA advisor for aspiring acquisition entrepreneurs
| Hourly rate range | $80 to $160 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Founders and business owners |
| Also coaches | Executive coach |
Jim Tormey is a search fund and Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) advisor who guides people through buying and running a business. He spent 7 years leading companies for a San Francisco private equity firm and was CEO of two private equity backed companies. He then ran his own self-funded search, submitted an LOI six months in, and closed two months later. He has run that business since June 2024. He also speaks at SMBootCamp.
What Jim helps with
Jim helps searchers work through each stage of the ETA process, from defining a thesis to running the company after the deal closes.
- Deal sourcing
- Due diligence
- Fundraising
- Hiring
- Investment evaluation
- Search fund strategy
- Defining an investment thesis
- Building investor outreach materials
How Jim works
Jim offers structured packages that follow the search cycle. Topics include defining your investment thesis, building investor outreach materials, developing a deal flow engine, preparing an LOI and diligence toolkit, creating an operator readiness plan, and planning acquisition finance. He also offers custom hourly sessions.
Background and qualifications
Jim spent 7 years leading companies for a San Francisco private equity firm and served as CEO of two private equity backed companies. He also has investment banking and private equity M&A experience. He wanted more control over how a business is scaled and financed, so he started a self-funded search in 2023. He explored both traditional and self-funded search, and looked at proprietary and brokered deals. He closed on a business and has run it since June 2024. He is a regular speaker at SMBootCamp.
Jim Tormey pricing
Programs and services
- Define your investment thesis package, 5 hours
- Acquisition finance strategy package, 3 hours
- Custom hourly sessions
- Packages for investor outreach, deal flow, LOI and diligence, and operator readiness
Jim Tormey reviews
Jim Tormey has a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 7 reviews on Leland, as of September 2026.
The CoachVouch take
He has been through the full search fund cycle himself, from self-funded search to closing and running the business, after years as a private equity backed CEO.
Best for aspiring searchers who want guidance from someone who has closed and operated an acquisition.
Common questions
How much does Jim Tormey charge?
Coaching with Jim runs $80 to $160 an hour. Message Jim from this page for an exact quote.
What does Jim Tormey help with?
Jim Tormey helps with deal sourcing, due diligence, fundraising and hiring.
Does Jim Tormey have reviews?
Jim Tormey has a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 7 reviews on Leland, as of September 2026.
Does Jim Tormey work with self-funded searchers?
Yes. Jim ran a self-funded search himself and also explored the traditional search model. He advises on the full ETA process.
How do I contact Jim Tormey?
Send Jim a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.