Is it a problem if my broker also works for buyers looking in my industry?

Not necessarily, and it's actually common — many business brokers build relationships with active buyers in particular industries precisely because that network is what makes them effective at finding you a buyer quickly. The concern arises only if the broker ends up representing one of those specific buyers in a deal involving your business, since that's when a genuine conflict of interest emerges rather than a broker simply knowing people who might be interested.

Ask directly whether any buyer they're bringing to you is someone the broker also represents, or has a financial relationship with beyond this one transaction. A broker who discloses this upfront and is transparent about how they'll handle it is in a very different position than one who lets it surface only once you're deep into negotiations with that buyer. If a genuine dual-representation situation exists, you're entitled to understand it clearly and decide whether you're comfortable proceeding on those terms, or want the broker to step back from that specific buyer relationship. A Treadstone business lawyer can help you evaluate the disclosure and decide how to proceed.