Founder & Principal: David R. Melton

As Founder and President of Melton Advisors, I advise owners across the Automotive, Commercial, and Recreational industries on M&A transactions, capital strategy, and real estate advisory — including sale-leasebacks, build-to-suit development, and real estate integration within buy-sell transactions. My work is built on a simple premise: owners deserve a dedicated advisory partner at the table who understands the business from the inside out, not just the property on paper.

With more than 40 years of firsthand experience — including operating dealerships, serving as a dealership COO, and advising owners across the Automotive, Commercial, and Recreational industries as a principal — I bring a perspective to every engagement that most advisory firms cannot. I have managed the decisions owners face from the inside. That experience informs every engagement we take on.

Unlike traditional CRE firms or generalist brokers, Melton Advisors is advisory-first. We don't lead with listings or placements. We lead with disciplined guidance — and when a transaction is the right outcome, we make sure it happens on the owner's terms, not someone else's timeline.

My advisory work centers on three integrated areas:

M&A | Buy-Sell Transactions

For owners across the Automotive, Commercial, and Recreational industries considering a sale, acquisition, or ownership transition, I provide principal-led M&A advisory from first conversation through closing. Every engagement is handled with complete confidentiality, disciplined execution, and a process designed to protect your interests and maximize your outcome. Having operated businesses and advised on transactions across all three industries, I understand how these decisions compound long after closing — and structure every engagement accordingly.

Capital | Structure & Deployment

For owners with growth objectives, acquisition targets, or capital structuring needs, I identify and structure capital solutions aligned with your goals — whether financing an acquisition, recapitalizing an existing platform, or deploying idle capital into income-producing assets across industries you already understand. Capital advisory is the foundation from which all other decisions flow. I partner closely with each owner's CPA, legal counsel, and lenders to coordinate capital decisions well in advance of any transaction or transition.

Real Estate | Equity & Strategy

For owners with appreciated real estate, I structure sale-leasebacks, build-to-suit solutions, and property repositioning strategies that unlock embedded equity, enhance financial flexibility, and align real estate with broader business and transition goals. I evaluate rent alignment, cap rate positioning, lease structure, and market conditions before any number is put on the table. The goal is a strategy that serves the owner throughout the full arc of their ownership — not just at a single point in time.

"Real estate is often the most underleveraged asset on an owner's balance sheet across the Automotive, Commercial, and Recreational industries. My role is to be the owner's advisory partner — structuring M&A, capital, and real estate decisions so that when a transaction occurs, it happens from a position of strength, not pressure."

— David R. Melton, Founder & President, Melton Advisors