FAQs for Sellers

With unsurpassed experience since 1994, RBA has had some of the best-trained business brokers in the industry. We’re the clear choice when choosing a business brokerage to represent you. Our brokers are experienced in valuation, business sales, marketing, and negotiations to satisfy sellers and buyers alike.

Unlike selling a home or commercial building, businesses do not want to have a “FOR SALE” sign up in their front window. Business sales must be kept confidential – all involved must sign an NDA (buyer confidentiality agreement) before detailed information about your business is provided. An NDA helps prevent employees, suppliers, customers, and competitors from finding out about your business being for sale.

With Results Business Advisors, your business will be on the highest-rated websites specifically for your area and national and international sites listing businesses for sale. Other advertising mediums and networking techniques may be employed based on your type of business.

The average correctly priced and marketed business sells in about 90 days. However, this time frame can vary significantly based on your business’s income, type of business, the terms offered, and the area it is located in. Your RBA sales professional will provide more information on your local market.

After a buyer has signed their NDA, reviewed initial information, and expressed continued interest in your business, your RBA agent will schedule a meeting with you and the potential buyer to view your business at an appropriate time.

Most buyers will be represented by a business broker, who will assist them in writing an offer that expresses their price, terms, contingencies (if any), and request for further documentation (if any). The offer will be presented to you for your approval by an RBA agent or the buyer’s agent.

Your RBA sales professional is trained to handle these inquiries – often just “tire kickers” and help determine which buyers might be ready to move to the next level.

Your RBA sales professional will work closely with you in dealing with negotiations. We’ll help you navigate the entire process with you every step of the way.

The length of training is negotiable, but we have found that most buyers will ask for around 30 days. Some types of business require only a week or two, while other, more complicated business may require a more extended familiarization period. If a longer period is required, we often find that sellers will negotiate a consulting fee after a certain period.

All buyers will ask that you sign a covenant not to compete within a specific area and time, but yes – you can build a different business if you desire.

There is no requirement that you “carry paper” on your business; however, in today’s market, it is prevalent that buyers will ask for some ‘seller carry note,’ which, in reality, opens your business to a larger pool of buyers.

While you may have a close relationship with your employees, it has been proven over and over that the best time to tell your employees is when you introduce them to the new owners. Announcing new owners to employees may be difficult for you emotionally; however, experience dictates that silence is the best practice.

An exception to this rule would be if a “key” employee is part of the negotiation for the buyer to ensure they stay on after the sale.

Results Business Advisors does not check buyers’ credit; however, we can request that information while working through the offer and acceptance process. Checking credit is only sometimes asked of the buyer, as the property owner and landlord will likely be obtaining a credit report for their review.