Your next opportunity is just on the horizon!
At Horizon Business Brokers, we specialize in navigating complex transactions, ensuring smooth negotiations, and maximizing value for our clients.
Founded in 2006 by Dustin Zeher, Horizon Business Brokers is based in Northern Virginia. Dustin is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) and President of the Maryland Business Brokers Association. He is also a board member of the Carolinas-Virginia Business Brokers Association. Horizon has sold nearly 400 businesses for business owners from all parts of the D.C. metro area.
What is a Business Broker?
Business brokers act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers of businesses and work to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes for both parties. They are vital in the sale and acquisition process, offering expertise in valuation, negotiation, and transaction management while confidentially connecting buyers and sellers of privately held businesses.
Today business brokers have access to advanced technology and use sophisticated tools like data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide more accurate market insights and valuations, helping clients make informed decisions. They manage complex deal terms and ensure that the process is smooth and efficient, ultimately helping sellers maximize their returns while also fostering positive relationships with buyers to ensure they are getting a great business at a fair price.
Frequently a business seller wants to maintain a level of confidentiality, so hiring a broker enables them to maintain discretion when sharing information as the broker will be the first point of contact during the sale process.
The broker will acquire information from potential buyers prior to releasing any sensitive details about the business that is listed for sale to ensure buyers are professionally and financially qualified and to obtain their confidentiality. A business broker also creates sales and marketing materials to highlight the business and its strengths and opportunities for growth, while also managing the marketing and advertising efforts of the business.
Using a number of different platforms, a business broker will reach out to their internal database of buyers as well as their professional contacts to let them know the business is for sale, all in a confidential and effective manner. When using a business broker, there is a higher probability of a sale versus trying to sell the business on your own, and more often than not, a broker is able to sell the business for a higher price in a shorter time period.
An overwhelming majority of small business sales are private transactions so there is not a publicly accessible database of final sale prices from recent years. A broker will be able to provide a business owner with a reasonable asking price based on business performance, the value of any tangible assets, intellectual property or patents, goodwill, and inventory. Many brokers offer business valuation services to determine a fair market value and the most probable selling price of a business.
If an offer is accepted, the broker will assist the buyer in conducting due diligence to verify that what has been presented in the offering materials is accurate, and to ensure that the seller is only sharing information that is absolutely necessary and will not be detrimental to the operation and sale of the business. A knowledgeable broker will also be able to provide guidance for working with landlords to transition the lease to a new party, if needed, and to pre-qualify the business for an SBA backed loan to help expedite the financing if necessary. An experienced broker will also likely have established relationships with attorneys, accountants, and bankers who may be involved at various phases of the sale process to assist both the buyer and the seller.
Before a business owner decides to engage with a broker, they should do research and interview multiple brokers to see which one best fits their goals. The average time to sell a business is roughly 6-12 months, but there are times when it takes longer for a variety of factors so you will want to make sure your broker is someone you trust and will enjoy working with as you navigate the process.
Whether you’re selling your business or looking to grow through acquisition, buying your first business, or having your business valued, partnering with a reputable business brokerage firm can make all the difference.
Contact us today for a complimentary consultation to explore how we can help you achieve your business goals!
Dustin Zeher, CBI
Founder and Principal Broker/M&A Advisor
Horizon Business Brokers, LLC.
Office: 703-910-7384
Cell: 571-437-5135
dustin@horizonbrokers.com
www.horizonbrokers.com
