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For Sellers

The sale of your business can be a challenging process.   It is vastly different than selling real estate or other asset classes.  When you place your Las Vegas business for sale, there are many moving parts to consider. We add value to your business sale transaction by handling a challenging process for you that would otherwise be a very time consuming and costly process in a constantly changing market environment. We sell businesses professionally, and continuously monitor the pulse of the marketplace. Avoid the pitfalls of an expensive learning curve in the sale of your most important asset--your business.

What we do for you:

  • Market your business professionally and discretely while maintaining confidentiality.
  • Allow you to sell your business without any interruption in the day-to-day operations
    of your company.
  • Work with you to maximize your business value.
  • Bring only potential buyers to you who are financially pre-screened, and have a serious interest in your business
  • Provide the necessary separation between you and the buyer during negotiations.
  • Work through the details of due diligence, financing, and closing the sale.

Here are the steps to our process:

  1. Initial Meeting: The process starts with a confidential, no-cost, no-obligation consultation that is scheduled at your convenience. General information is exchanged, so that we can become acquainted with each other and our respective businesses.
  2. Valuation: A formal valuation for your business is always recommended to provide you with a price range that you can expect to realize in the marketplace. It is also an arms-length opinion that is unbiased. A formal valuation also accomplishes the task of essentially “auditing” your business financial records. This will greatly increase the confidence a buyer will have in buying your business. This will almost always result in a higher price. It will also make the buyer's due-diligence process for your business much easier. You and BBA work together in establishing the best asking price and terms to sell your business. We can if necessary, compute a “Broker’s Price Opinion” valuation. While this is a less-expensive option, it does not have the “arms-length” advantage of a formal valuation. The information required for either option to analyze your company includes the following:
    • Three to five years of detailed and up-to-date financial statements, including:
    • Income Statements (Profit & Loss)
    • Balance Sheets
    • Income Tax Returns
    • A list of furniture, fixtures, equipment, inventory, trade names, patents and other assets to be transferred with the company.
    • Real property and equipment leases.
    • Any contractual relationships of the business.
    • Other information which influences company operations.
  3. Listing Contract: A listing agreement is entered into between you and BBA, giving BBA the right to market your busienss as your exclusive representative for a specified time period and under specified terms and conditions.
  4. Marketing: With your input and approval, we create a unique campaign to market your business to potential buyers. The cornerstone of this "business for sale" campaign is a detailed business summary, which is a document that educates buyers about the operation, facility, marketing, financial status and future opportunities of your business. A national advertising campaign, using BBA’s extensive buyer database and search resources, is then implemented to confidentially target specific business buyers, as well as approach the general business-buying public.
  5. Buyer Screening: BBA works with each buyer by first having them sign a Confidentially Agreement, then determining if they are qualified financially and/or strategically to purchase your business.
  6. Business Operations: During the entire process you are responsible for maintaining or improving the value of your business by tending to daily operations. You are also responsible for providing current and/or additional information as requested by buyers.
  7. Offers: BBA confidentially schedules all showings at your convenience under controlled circumstances. We are available to assist the buyer and preparing in offer, and we conduct negotiations on your behalf. Working as a team with your professional advisors, we maximize the value of the sale price of your business..
  8. Closing: BBA coordinates the due diligence and contingency satisfaction process and oversees the preparation of closing documents. Finally, a formal closing takes place where legal documents are signed, funds are received and ownership is transferred.

The Reality of Selling a Small Business: What Owners Need to Know

Selling a small business often unfolds very differently from what most owners expect. Here are some insights into the process, with key challenges that sellers frequently face:

  1. Buyers Focus on Risks, Not Potential
    While you may see your business through "rose-tinted glasses," highlighting its strengths and opportunities, buyers will zero in on the negatives. They’ll ask tough questions about potential risks, what might go wrong, and other concerns. Glossing over these issues or trying to divert their attention can quickly turn buyers away.
  2. It’s About More Than Just Finding a Buyer
    Securing one buyer isn’t enough—you need to attract multiple interested parties to improve your chances of success. Even then, the hard work is just beginning. Buyers will inundate you with questions, request detailed financial documents, and demand in-depth analyses that you may not have prepared. Managing these requests is time-consuming and can feel like a full-time job, leaving little bandwidth for running your business simultaneously.
  3. Seller Financing is Often Part of the Deal
    Be prepared for buyers to request a portion of the sale price to be deferred. This means they take full control of the business upfront but agree to pay part of the price later. While this can be unsettling, it’s a common practice in small business sales.
  4. The Process Takes Time—and Often Falls Through
    Selling a business almost always takes longer than anticipated. Worse, over 70% of the initial "definite deals" fail to close, often late in the process. When this happens, you’ll have to start all over again with a new buyer.
  5. Selling Comes With Significant Costs
    Even if you don’t hire a business broker, legal and accounting fees are unavoidable. These professionals are essential to navigating the complex sale process, but their services can be expensive, and the costs can add up quickly.
  6. Buyers Don’t Care About Your Valuation
    You may have paid for professional valuations from the best firms in the industry, but buyers will often dismiss them entirely. They prefer to conduct their own independent assessments and will base their offers on their own criteria, not yours.

The Harsh Reality of Unplanned Exits

About half of all business exits are involuntary and unplanned, often due to unforeseen circumstances like illness or financial strain. Unfortunately, many of these exits result in the business closing because it lacks sufficient value to attract buyers.

Final Thoughts

Selling a business is far more complex and challenging than most owners anticipate. Understanding the realities of the process and preparing for the potential hurdles can increase your chances of a successful sale. If possible, seek professional advice early to navigate the process more effectively.