Gamechangers

The Difference

A Culture of Higher Standards

Benchmark International is a place where everyone is in your corner, and everyone contributes. A place where opinions are valued and hard work is rewarded. Walk into any of our offices around the world and you will feel the team spirit and our company values in action.

We especially understand the importance of business culture because we study those of our clients in order to make deals that are a good fit. We strive to keep our employees inspired and always evolving ahead of our business. Whether you are a potential team member or a potential client, we look forward to hearing from you.

Belong & Thrive

I enjoy working in a dynamic environment, where we are all challenged as individuals daily to broaden our way of thinking and to enhance the value we deliver for our clients. Each day brings a new opportunity to excel, supported by colleagues and directors who boast unrivalled experience and expertise in this industry. 

Jack Redwood
Associate, Oxford

Each day working at Benchmark International poses new challenges. Challenges trying to match buyers with sellers, negotiating the right deal, and overcoming obstacles along the way. The team dynamics and collaboration across the company help us to overcome these challenges and benefit from being successful in what we do. It’s these challenges that make working here so rewarding.

Alex Forshaw
Associate Director, Manchester

Benchmark International is a welcoming environment that has allowed me to feel comfortable and confident in my working life - every day my colleagues and I are able to challenge one another to reach new heights. Working with such a team motivates me to push my limits.

Andrew Cullinane
Analyst, Cork

The professionalism from the top to the bottom is second to none, management are approachable and give help and guidance when requested, a good business to work for.

Peter Sale
Analyst, Manchester

Benchmark International is an exciting and dynamic place to work with the continual expansion of the brand worldwide. This brings with it many opportunities for employees at any level to grow and develop in their respective roles or transition into new ones.

Lorna Holden
Associate, Manchester

Benchmark International is a fantastic company to work for, after 23 years of only ever working for one company previously, I can truly say that I have never felt happier in my job and the company I work for. Your work is a large part of your life, and you are only truly satisfied and feel accomplished if you believe in what you do and you are passionate day-to-day. We are focused, determined, passionate and love what we do. I feel so thankful for the opportunity to work in M&A and Benchmark International teaching me all that I know right now and having fantastic mentors. The market is always growing and the company too, and I feel honoured to be a part of it.

Helen Sharples
Associate, Manchester

Benchmark give its employees the opportunity to progress and shape their future, giving great job satisfaction along the way. The atmosphere in the office is always buzzing and you can recognise that the company is continually investing, both in its employees and the business infrastructure, to be at the cutting edge of the industry.

Nick Lamont
Associate, Manchester

Benchmark is a great company to work for, all employees are valued and everyone is treated equally and with respect. This also goes for the clients too, every member of the team works hard to ensure the best results. I have worked here for 5 years and it is the best career move I’ve made. Friendly colleagues are always on hand to help with any questions you may have. I have learnt so much about M&A and have been given the opportunity to progress and gain new skills. This has helped me to develop knowledge in all areas of the company.

Imogen Platt
Associate, Manchester

Benchmark International has not only developed me in terms of profession, it has also helped me to develop as a person. The growth I have seen in my confidence through the years with the help from management is life-changing. I never thought sales would be a career suited to me, but now I can’t imagine doing anything different.

Niamh Connell
Senior Analyst, Manchester

By working at Benchmark International, my working life involves working with talented professionals who are constantly upscaling to be the best they can be to deliver an excellent service to our clients. In addition, there are always plenty of opportunities to socialise outside of work which I think is one of the reasons why we have such a happy team with a real sense of togetherness. You spend a hefty chunk of your life at work so why shouldn’t it be both professionally and personally rewarding? We think so!

Andrew Roberts
Associate, Manchester

Explore

Our Instagram

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Testimonial Tuesday This week, we hear from Dan Boggio of PBK Architects, http://Inc., who reflects on how Benchmark International identified the company’s broader potential and connected PBK with the right partner, creating opportunities for continued growth and success beyond the transaction. #BenchmarkSuccess #BenchmarkInternational #TestimonialTuesday
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Think your business isn’t ready for the market? Here’s where to start. Dara Shareef and @jwilkins31 Managing Director at Benchmark International, explore how identifying gaps, working with a trusted advisor, and tracking the right metrics can help you understand what really makes your business tick. Find the gaps. 🤝 Get an outside perspective. Track what matters. 🎙️Tune in tomorrow at 6 AM. Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #BusinessOwner
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Celebrating the rich culture, contributions, and heritage of the Hispanic community and the many ways it continues to enrich our communities. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! #HispanicHeritageMonth #BenchmarkInternational
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👥 What does it take to build a culture where people can thrive? @kalgullapalli talks with host Dara Shareef about the lessons that strengthened his approach to leadership, company values, and putting people first. His experience with @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands comes back to a simple belief: “We’ve got to take care of our people. They’ll take care of the guest.” 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast
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More data doesn’t always mean better decisions. @kalgullapalli and host Dara Shareef discuss why operators should narrow their focus to the three to five KPIs that matter most, and then ensure they have the right people to move them . With operating experience across @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands, Kal has seen how the right metrics, people, and customer experience work together to drive performance. 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks
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We’re honored to be recognized as the 2026 New Community Partner of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Our partnership reflects Benchmark International’s commitment to creating opportunities and making a meaningful impact in the communities we call home. Through mentorship and education, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is helping young people build confidence, discover new opportunities, and reach their potential. We’re proud to support that mission and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the work happening across our Tampa Bay community. We look forward to continuing this partnership and finding new ways to give back. #BenchmarkInternational #SettingTheBenchmark #TampaBay #Partnership #BenchmarkInternationalPartnerships
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Wishing you a sweet, joyful, and meaningful New Year. Happy Rosh Hashanah from Benchmark International. #RoshHashanah #BenchmarkInternational
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What makes a riskier investment worth your time and capital? @kalgullapalli and host Dara Shareef unpack opportunity cost, hurdle rates, and why taking on greater risk should come with different expectations for return. Through experience with @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands, Kal brings an operator’s perspective to evaluating risk and return. 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business
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We pause today to honor the lives lost, the courage shown, and the unity that emerged. We will never forget. #PatriotDay #NeverForget #BenchmarkInternational
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“I just believe in radical transparency. People should always know where they sit.” - Kal Gullapalli For @kalgullapalli, clarity is key. People deserve to know where they stand, what’s expected of them, and what it takes to move forward. In this conversation with Dara Shareef, Kal shares insights and lessons from his experience with @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands Because sometimes, one honest conversation is all it takes to create clarity, build trust, and move things forward. 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, and share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #BusinessLeader
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Take it from the top. Cue our special guest. We’re live! When is an opportunity worth the risk? @kalgullapalli joins host Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks to talk about risk and returns, KPIs, building the right team, protecting culture, and making smarter decisions as you grow. Kal shares lessons from operating 77 units across @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands. What has he learned along the way? 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #closingremarks
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Testimonial Tuesday This week, we hear from Kim O’Connor of Palm Coast Sales, http://Inc., who shares how Benchmark International’s strategic approach and industry outreach helped generate strong buyer interest and support a successful transaction. #BenchmarkSuccess #BenchmarkInternational #TestimonialTuesday
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🤔 What if your biggest strength isn’t building the playbook, but knowing how to grow with it? Through experience, @kalgullapalli discovered where he creates the most value: taking a proven playbook and putting the right people and processes in place to grow. His journey includes experience across @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands. 🎙️ Tomorrow on Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef talks with Kal about how that realization influenced his path from investing to franchising. Tune in at 6 AM.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #BusinessLeader
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💭 Sometimes a business sale starts with a simple question: What could my business be worth? Dara Shareef talks with @thomasjfrey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, about how that curiosity opened the door to exploring a potential sale. While Thomas was exploring his options, Cboe Global Markets approached him about an acquisition. 🎙️ What happened next? Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks
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Happy Labor Day from Benchmark International. Honoring the dedication, talent, and hard work that drive progress forward. #LaborDay #BenchmarkInternational
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Did you miss our conversation with Derrick Brooks?   As USF football gets back on the field, we’re revisiting a great conversation with a Tampa Bay and USF legend on leadership, business, brand-building, and the power of community.   🎙️ Catch Derrick Brooks in conversation with Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks. Watch the episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, and share.     #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #BenchmarkInternational #Community #TampaBay
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👥 How much more could you build with the right people beside you? For @thomasjfrey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, learning to let go and bring great people in became an important leadership lesson. Thomas shares what building a small team taught him about talent, mentorship, and helping others succeed in his conversation with Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks. 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #SoftwareEngineering #Business
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“I was the typical founder that thought I could do it all myself.” - @thomasjfrey For Thomas Frey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, one of the biggest lessons was learning when to let go, delegate, and bring great people into the business. On Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef and Thomas explore how learning to trust and empower others can shape the way a founder leads and grows. 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Founder #Business #Leader
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Cue host. Stand by talent. We’re LIVE! What does it take to build, lead, sell, and keep evolving? @thomasjfrey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, joins Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks to talk M&A, delegation, AI, great people, and one of the biggest questions for any founder: What comes next? 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #AI
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Testimonial Tuesday This week, we hear from Tim Wood of KGM, who reflects on the complexities of the M&A process and the value of having an experienced partner by your side. With numerous moving pieces and important decisions throughout the transaction, Benchmark International brought the expertise and coordination needed to successfully navigate the process. #BenchmarkSuccess #BenchmarkInternational #TestimonialTuesday
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What can happen when you follow an interest and see where it leads? For @thomasjfrey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, an interest in financial markets led him into software engineering and eventually to building a business later acquired by Cboe Global Markets. Tomorrow on Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef talks with Thomas about the path from building to selling, and the lessons that shaped what came next. Where did that path take him next? 🎙️ Tune in tomorrow at 6 AM.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks
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🤝 An exit isn’t just about getting the deal done. What happens after closing matters too. When Symphony Ventures was sold, @ian_barkin, founder of @bemagentiq, says the structure gave the founders room to focus on their craft, integrate into the new organization, and continue growing the business without highly restrictive earnouts. On this week’s episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef and Ian explore the side of M&A that owners have to consider beyond the transaction itself: what life and work will actually look like on the other side. 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #AI
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Sometimes better business starts with a “shoe swap.” Long before @ian_barkin, founder of @bemagentiq, was thinking about AI agents, he was thinking about empathy. Ian shares how an initiative he called the “shoe swap” encouraged business partners to see the world from each other’s perspective. The goal was simple: understand what the other side is trying to achieve before you plan, negotiate, or collaborate. On this week’s episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef and Ian discuss why the human perspective still matters, even as technology changes how business gets done. 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Business #Podcast #AI
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An idea. Roughly 350 professionals. An exit. Four years. That’s how @ian_barkin, founder of @bemagentiq, describes the sprint behind Symphony Ventures. Timing mattered, but so did being able to execute when the market opportunity appeared. On this week’s episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef talks with Ian about the journey from a bold entrepreneurial leap to scaling a company and ultimately reaching an exit. For business owners, it’s a look at what can happen when opportunity, execution, and the right team come together. 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #AI
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What if getting your business ready for AI also made it easier to sell? Ian Barkin has already lived through one automation revolution. Now, he sees familiar mistakes emerging as companies race toward AI. In the latest Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef sits down with @ian_barkin, the founder of @bemagentiq, to explore what robotic process automation can teach us about AI agents, why “AI first” is an ambition but “AI ready” is a plan, and how the work required to prepare for AI could also prepare a company for an eventual exit. What does an AI-ready business actually look like? 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Business #Podcast #AI