Start the Sale With a Broker Who Handles Owner-Operated Businesses
Selling an owner-operated business is not like selling a house or a franchise unit. Most of the value sits in things that never show up on a balance sheet. The customer relationships you built yourself. The crew that knows how the work actually gets done. A local name people recognize and trust.
That is the kind of company we sell.
The customer relationships you built yourself. The crew that knows how the work actually gets done. A local name people recognize and trust. We work throughout Orange County, Carrboro included.
The work comes down to three things. Establishing what your business is genuinely worth. Keeping the sale confidential while it is underway. Finding a buyer who can close and will protect what you spent years building.
The first conversation is free and confidential.
Start a Confidential ConversationRequest My Free Business Valuation
Durham Business Brokers
Find Out What Your Business Is Worth Before You Talk to a Buyer
Many owner-operated small businesses are valued using Seller’s Discretionary Earnings, or SDE. That is your net profit plus your salary and the personal expenses legitimately run through the company.
The appropriate multiple depends on the industry, financial performance, recurring revenue, owner involvement, customer concentration, and other factors. A restaurant, a contracting business, and a professional practice do not price the same way.
The initial valuation is free, and there is no obligation to sell.
Owners who ask a year or two before they plan to exit usually end up in a stronger position because they still have time to address the items holding the number down.
Know What Buyers Examine Before They Look at Your Business
A buyer is purchasing future earnings and the confidence that those earnings continue after you leave. A handful of areas carry most of that weight:
- Owner dependence, meaning whether the business can operate without you in it every day
- Employees, and whether the team is likely to stay through a transition
- Customer relationships, and whether they belong to the business or to you personally
- Recurring revenue, such as contracts, maintenance agreements, and repeat customers, rather than one-time jobs
- The lease, including remaining term, rent, and whether the location is essential to how the business operates
- Brand and reputation, meaning a recognizable local name a buyer can continue to trade under
- Financial records a lender can review quickly and without follow-up questions
A loyal customer base and a recognizable local brand can strengthen a business’s appeal to buyers. Clean, well-documented financial records can also make a business easier for buyers and lenders to evaluate.
We will tell you which of these apply to your company, and which are worth addressing before going to market.
See How a Confidential Sale Actually Works
The first question most owners ask is this one:
How do I sell without my employees, customers, or competitors finding out?
We market your business without naming it. Buyers sign a nondisclosure agreement before receiving any details. We release financial information only after we confirm a buyer is qualified. We schedule meetings and walkthroughs away from your staff and customers.
Clean financials and a realistic asking price are what shorten that timeline. We can discuss what your business may be worth and what selling it would involve.
Get Most of Your Cash at Closing
Most buyers finance a business purchase. With SBA financing, you can typically receive 80% to 90% of the purchase price in cash at closing, rather than financing most of the sale yourself.
We work with SBA lenders and help prepare the business for the financing process before bringing buyers to the table. The lender finances the purchase, allowing you to receive most of your proceeds upfront while the bank assumes the repayment risk associated with the buyer’s loan.
Our compensation is a success fee paid at closing. The engagement agreement explains the fee and all terms before you commit.
Start With the Page That Matches Your Company
A few industries make up most of what we sell. Find yours, then call.
- Business Valuation
- HVAC Business Sales
- Plumbing Business Sales
- Electrical Business Sales
- Roofing Business Sales
If your company is not on that list, call and ask. We have handled restaurants, salons, auto shops, landscaping companies, print shops, and general contractors throughout the Triangle.
Before You Decide to Sell
You do not need to have everything figured out before you call.
You can start with three questions:
What is my business worth?
Could I sell it without employees or customers finding out?
What would the process look like if I decided to move forward?
Call 919-746-7038 for a confidential conversation.
Find Out What Your Carrboro Business Is Worth
You do not need to be ready to sell. Start with a confidential conversation about your business, its potential value, and what a sale could look like.
