We look at normalized earnings, industry and market multiples, assets, owner dependency, growth, risk and the characteristics specific to your business.

The goal is a defensible market range, not an inflated number designed to win your listing.

Not unless and until you decide they should.

Confidentiality is central to the business-sale process.

No.

Confidential information is released in stages. Serious buyers are typically screened and required to execute an NDA before receiving sensitive information.

We can review the financials for legitimate potential add-backs and recast the earnings where appropriate.

Any adjustment needs to be reasonable and supportable.

Buyers and lenders generally place the greatest confidence in income that can be substantiated.

We can review whatever supporting documentation exists, but undocumented income should not be presented to buyers as verified earnings.

Usually there is some form of transition period.

How long you stay—and what you’re expected to do—is negotiable and depends on the business and transaction.

That doesn’t automatically make it unsellable.

But owner dependency can affect value, financing and the number of buyers who will be comfortable with the acquisition.

Sometimes there are things we can do before going to market to make that transition easier.

It varies.

Business size, price, financing, buyer demand, industry and transaction complexity all affect timing.

I’d rather focus on attracting a qualified buyer capable of closing than promise you an unrealistic deadline.

When business real estate is involved, the business and property strategy should be coordinated.

Depending on your goals, the property may be sold with the business, retained and leased to the buyer, or handled separately.

A confidential conversation and preliminary valuation.

You don’t have to decide to sell just to find out what your options are.