If you can answer "yes" to one of these questions, it is a good time to sell:

1. If you are in your 60s and your business is profitable, you should sell now.
2. If you are in your 50s, your business is profitable, and your children are grown, you should find out the current value of your business. If the business is doing well and you could get enough to retire, you should sell now. The buyer may well be a private equity firm that may want you to stay on for five years

For business sales, we represent the seller only, not the buyer or the bank. Our commission comes from the seller. We may represent a buyer for financing the purchase of a company we do not represent.

See the Services page.

We represent a wide range of manufacturing, service, distribution, and dealership companies with a market value of $750,000 to $50 million. See the Services page for details.

We work primarily in the Pacific Northwest and also in Alaska and California.

We have our own current extensive database of domestic national and international buyers and contacts with investment firms who are looking for businesses to buy, which we expand continually. We search out buyers through outside sources as well. We also consider qualified people within your existing business management.

We write a comprehensive marketing packet for your business, about 30-70 pages long. The content of the packet is based on your replies to a questionnaire we send you, together with your financials. We are noted for our professional and complete packets, which effectively front-load the due diligence process. The packet goes to serious buyers and to banks considering financing the sale.

Our standard agreement to represent a seller is for 12 months. We usually are able to find a buyer, arrange financing, and close the sale in that time period.

We set a realistic selling price, which becomes part of our marketing agreement with you. We will not sell lower than that. If your business declines substantially after you have engaged us, however, it will then be worth less and therefore we may need to ask you to accept a reduced price if you still wish to proceed.

A strong business that a bank is happy to finance will get 80-90% cash at the close. A strong business is one that has had rising sales and profit for three successive years. Weaker candidates are negotiated on an individual basis. However, we have an excellent track record of selling the business for exactly the same price as stated in the engagement agreement

One can always sell. The issues are 'for how much?' and 'with what type of financing.' If a business is not strong enough to obtain bank financing, you will need to hold the buyer's note. The skill we bring to the table is to arrange financing that provides you most of the price in cash at the close.

We will tell you where you need to be to get the best possible price. You can work out an exit strategy from there or we can direct you to a consultant who can help you analyze exactly what changes you need to make to best position your business to get the best possible price. The consultant can also work with you closely to achieve that end.

Our principals can give you a highly accurate informal estimate based on their years of experience and knowledge of the current market. When a client formally engages us, one of our associates, a certified business appraiser, may do a formal appraisal and present a formal valuation report. The current market and current profitability are key factors.

Any ads we place are written 'blind', that is, in general terms without revealing the name and location of your business. A prospective buyer must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement to see further details. We take great care to keep our communications with you discreet (email, private phone lines, and cell phone) and we do not talk about your sale with anyone not involved with the transaction.

A business broker sells smaller businesses than we do and does not arrange the financing for the purchase. The financing is up to you. We represent the sellers of larger businesses and arrange the financing of the sale as well as finding and qualifying a buyer.

We only take on clients whom we feel we can help. However, weakening financial performance during the selling period will stop a sale from going through at the original price and decrease the value of the business. In that case, we may need to ask you to accept a lower price than the original price in our agreement with you if you still wish to proceed.

Another reason a sale can stall are unexpected issues that arise during the due diligence process. We work with all parties to ensure that all issues are disclosed up front to avoid unpleasant surprises. We front-end the due diligence in the comprehensive marketing packet we prepare for each client’s business to present to prospective buyers, banks, and private equity groups.

The current owner usually stays on for 4-8 weeks to ensure a smooth transition. If he is required to stay on longer, he is paid. The length of the transition period depends on the complex nature of the business.

Either is possible; you can choose which you prefer. You may seek to sell the business alone, leaving rental income for you, or decide to sell both the business and its building and property together. However, the real estate appraisal is significantly higher if occupied by the owner. Thus we recommend including the real estate in the sale.

A buyer needs to qualify financially. A buyer submits a Personal Financial Statement to us before we will send him detailed information about your business and work with him. We also look for a buyer who has familiarity with your industry and the potential to take it to the next level.

No. We always have more buyers than sellers. Usually several qualified buyers are seriously interested in a good business. The choice of buyer then falls to you.

We provide financing services only if desired using our network of connections with local and regional banks and our financial expertise.

Private equity firm are becoming increasingly important as buyers. We market to them as well. If a private equity firm buys your business, it will pay you the asking price and expect you to stay on as manager for a number of years. You will thus become their employee. You need to be willing and able to do this to sell to them. If you want to retire now, this is not for you. However, if you still want to work for a number of years, this type of sale can provide you an investment nest egg, employment, and stable financial and management backup for your business. With the private equity firm’s help, you may be able to take your business to a higher level.