ServicesSell a Business
Sell a Business in Elgin
We price your business from its real earnings, point out which problems are worth fixing first, and market it to screened buyers without revealing your name. Listing costs you nothing at the start, and our fee comes only from a closed sale.
Fix what is worth fixing, then sell
Selling a business means turning three years of tax returns, a lease, an equipment list and your customer relationships into a package that both a buyer and a lender will accept. We do that work. We recast your financials, price the business from its seller's discretionary earnings, market it confidentially and manage the deal from the first conversation through closing.
Ahead of any listing, we tell you what is worth fixing. A lease with a year and a half left, personal expenses mixed into the books, or one customer providing nearly half of revenue can each lower the price or stall an SBA loan. Some of those take a few months to correct and pay back well. Others would take years, and selling now at a fair price is the smarter move. We explain which is which and why.
We have over $5 million in businesses sold, and our fee comes out of a closed deal, never out of your pocket in advance.
What our sell-side work includes
Recast financials and SDE
We add back your salary, a personal vehicle, one-time legal bills and other non-operating costs to show seller's discretionary earnings. Buyers and lenders price on that number, so it has to be documented line by line.
Pricing from comparable sales
We apply earnings multiples from similar completed sales, then adjust for inventory, furniture, fixtures and equipment, and working capital. If you own the building, we cover that on our Business and Property Sales page.
Confidential marketing
Your listing goes out blind, with no name or street location. Buyers sign a nondisclosure agreement to receive the confidential information memorandum.
Buyer screening
We ask for a personal financial statement, proof of funds and relevant experience, and no buyer meets you until that is on file. New listings go to registered buyers first.
Offer and LOI negotiation
We negotiate price and structure: asset or stock sale, seller note, earnout, training period, non-compete and how inventory is counted at closing.
Due diligence and closing
We coordinate with your CPA, attorney, the buyer's lender and your landlord on the lease assignment so documents arrive on time and nothing stalls at the closing table.
Signs it is time to sell your business
Retirement is a few years out
Buyers pay for clean, steady earnings over the last three years. Starting early leaves time to fix weak spots so they do not drag down the numbers buyers review.
An unsolicited offer arrived
A competitor or supplier has made an offer and you have no idea whether it is fair. A valuation gives you a number to measure it against.
Growth needs more than you want to give
The next stage needs a second location, new equipment or debt you would rather not sign for. A buyer with fresh capital may value that upside.
A partner wants out
If one owner wants to exit and the other does not, see Partner Buyouts and Succession. If you both want out, a full sale is often cleaner.
Earnings are slipping
Selling while revenue is flat or rising protects the multiple. Waiting through two down years usually costs more than it saves.
How a sale runs from first call to closing
- 1
Confidential valuation call
We talk by phone, then review your tax returns, profit and loss statements, lease and equipment list. You get a value range and the reasoning behind it.
- 2
Fix-or-sell-now review
We list the issues a buyer or lender will flag and say which ones are worth correcting first. Then we write the recast and the information memorandum.
- 3
Marketing and screening
The blind listing goes out, registered buyers see it first, and only qualified, NDA-signed buyers get details or a meeting with you.
- 4
Offers and due diligence
We compare letters of intent on total value and terms, not just headline price. During due diligence we answer document requests and keep the lender's timeline moving.
- 5
Closing and handover
Funds move through the closing attorney or title company, and the agreed training period begins so customers and staff transfer smoothly.
What selling costs and what moves it
Listing with us costs nothing at the start. There is no retainer, and nothing is hidden in the fee. We charge a success fee paid from the proceeds at closing, with the terms written out ahead of the listing agreement. Your net result depends on a few things worth understanding early.
- Size and type of deal
- Sale price and structure set the fee. A seller note or earnout changes when you receive part of your money.
- Condition of the books
- Clean, reconciled financials shorten due diligence. Messy records mean CPA time and buyers who discount for risk.
- Real estate and multiple locations
- Selling a building with the business, or several sites at once, adds appraisals, title work and more documents.
- Third-party costs
- Your attorney, CPA and any lease assignment fees from your landlord are separate from our fee. We flag them early so the net figure holds.
Questions sellers ask us
Something not covered here? (512) 881-0683
Will my employees or customers find out?
Not from us. Listings are blind, buyers sign an NDA to see any details, and we schedule visits after hours or by video. Most sellers tell staff once the deal is near closing.
Should I fix problems first or list now?
It depends on the problem. Renewing a short lease or separating personal expenses from the books often takes a few months and raises the price. Rebuilding a customer base would take years, and selling now usually makes more sense. We tell you which applies to you.
Will this be an asset sale or a stock sale?
Most small business deals are structured as asset sales. The buyer acquires the equipment, inventory, goodwill and contracts, while you keep the legal entity along with its liabilities. With a stock sale, the buyer takes over the entity itself, history included. Your CPA should review how each structure affects your taxes.
Can buyers get financing for my business?
Many buyers use SBA 7(a) loans, often with a seller note for part of the price. Lenders want documented earnings and a transferable lease. Our Acquisition Financing Guidance page covers this in more detail.
What do I owe if the business does not sell?
Nothing. We only get paid when the seller does, so our fee depends on a closed deal.
Find out what your business would sell for
Start with a free, confidential valuation by phone. We will tell you what it is worth, what is worth fixing first and what a sale would look like.