Sell or Buy a Business

Full-service, quick-service, cafés and franchises. Liquor licenses, lease assignments and equipment lists handled.

Salons, barbershops, nail studios, cleaners and auto repair: recurring-client businesses buyers finance easily.

Cash-flow businesses with equipment value, plus convenience, liquor and specialty retail across Chicagoland.

Mixed-use and owner-occupied commercial. We value the operation and the real estate separately, then package them.

1. Valuation & exit plan (week 1-2): we recast your P&L to true owner earnings (SDE), review lease and licenses, and set a defensible asking price.
2. Confidential marketing package (week 2-4): blind teaser plus a full Confidential Information Memorandum. Your name and address never appear publicly.
3. Buyer outreach under NDA (month 1-3): our buyer and investor network, business-for-sale marketplaces and targeted investors. Every buyer signs an NDA and shows proof of funds before seeing financials.
4. Showings & offers (month 2-4): after-hours tours, owner Q&A, and letters of intent negotiated on price, structure and training period.
5. Due diligence (30-45 days): tax returns, bank statements, leases, equipment and licenses organized in a data room.
6. Lease, licenses & financing (30-60 days): landlord consent, liquor and health license transfers, SBA lender coordination and attorney review.
7. Close & transition: asset purchase agreement, escrow, inventory count and an agreed training and handover period.

1. Buyer profile & budget: industry, hours you want to work, cash available and SBA eligibility.
2. Deal sourcing: listed businesses plus off-market owners in our network who would sell to the right buyer.
3. Underwriting: we recast financials, verify them against tax returns and bank statements, and model debt service.
4. Offer & structure: price, seller financing, earn-outs, training, non-compete, inventory and working capital in your LOI.
5. Financing & diligence: SBA 7(a) lender introductions, lease assignment, license transfers and attorney review.
6. Close & take over: escrow, final inventory and a training period with the seller written into the contract.

• Restaurants & bars: 1.5 - 2.5x
• Salons & services: 1.75 - 2.75x
• Laundromats: 2 - 3.5x
• Retail & convenience: 1.5 - 2.5x
• Trades & home services: 2 - 3.5x
• Manufacturing / distribution: 3 - 5x

Illustrative Chicagoland ranges for owner-operated businesses, not an appraisal.

• 3 years of tax returns and year-to-date P&L
• 12 months of bank and merchant statements
• Current lease, options and landlord contact
• Equipment list with age and condition
• Licenses and renewal dates
• Staff roster, pay and tenure (no names needed)

• SBA 7(a): 10% down, up to 10 years (25 with real estate)
• Seller financing: common for 10-30% of the price
• Cash / investor partner: fastest close, best price leverage

Not from us. Marketing is blind (no name, address or storefront photos), every buyer signs an NDA and shows proof of funds before seeing financials, and showings happen after hours. You decide when staff and landlord are told.

For owner-operated businesses, price is Seller's Discretionary Earnings times an industry multiple, adjusted for lease, equipment, staff and how dependent the business is on you. Inventory and real estate are usually priced separately.

Typically 4-9 months from valuation to closing. Liquor license transfers or SBA financing add 30-60 days at the end.

Business brokerage is success-fee based: nothing is due until you close. We walk you through the fee schedule and typical attorney and license costs up front.

Yes, that is our specialty. We value the operation and the real estate separately and coordinate both sales to one closing.

In most transactions the seller pays the brokerage fee. We tell you up front if a specific deal is structured differently.