What are Business Brokers and What Do We Do?
What do business brokers do? Very few people know, as the profession usually operates under the radar. Business brokers are intermediaries who facilitate the sale of small to medium size privately held businesses by working with both buyers and sellers. There are important differences, but in some respects business brokers operate similarly to real estate agents; however, their practice is limited to business entities.
Licensing
Currently there are 17 States requiring business brokers to be licensed by their state’s real estate commission. All states require a real estate license if the business broker is handling real estate along with the sale of the business entity. However, the majority of small to medium size businesses are in leased locations with no real property as part of the sale. Florida is one of the States requiring that Business Brokers hold a real estate license.
Representation
In Florida most Business Brokers choose to act as transaction brokers, representing neither party as an agent but working to facilitate the transaction. In this situation, there is no fiduciary duty created and the broker deals with both parties on the same level.
Training and Qualifications
A business background from experience and/or education is essential to a successful business brokerage practice.
Training specific to business brokerage can be obtained from several professional associations or other organizations. The Business Brokers of Florida (BBF), as one example, conducts a mandatory 2-day training seminar for all new agents. With ongoing training for those who wish to improve their skills. On a global level the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) offers a wide variety of services to its members.
Credentials
Both Associations of business brokers in the U.S. offer credentials to brokers who have completed a level of education and experience in the profession.
The Business Brokers of Florida awards the Board-Certified Intermediary (BCI) credential. The International Business Brokers Association offers the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation.
Duties
Business brokers perform many duties including:
- Pricing the business with a professional valuation.
- Drafting an offering summary, sometimes called a confidential business review. This piece becomes one of the most important marketing tools for the offering and is provided to prospects only after they have signed a confidentiality agreement and been qualified by the broker.
- Marketing the business to the widest possible audience while maintaining strict confidentiality. This is one of the important distinguishing differences between business brokers and real estate agents. Real estate agents put a sign in front of their properties and typically without the need for confidentiality, advertise widely the specific location. Business brokers are trained to maintain strict confidentiality.
- Introducing prospective buyers to the business after insuring confidentiality agreements have been executed.
- Facilitating meetings between the seller and potential buyers.
- Writing offers to purchase the business.
- Handling negotiations between the parties after an offer has been made.
- Facilitating the due diligence investigation. Offers to purchase are almost always made contingent upon a further due diligence investigation.
- Assisting the buyer in obtaining business acquisition financing.
- Scheduling and facilitating the closing of the transaction.
Compensation
Business brokers have traditionally been compensated by the seller with a commission only fee arrangement which is detailed in a listing agreement and paid at closing. However, in recent years some brokers have moved to a partial upfront fee which may be credited to commission at closing. This helps the broker defray the initial expenses involved in marketing the business, and according to some brokers, also serves to identify serious sellers as opposed to those who just want “to test the waters,” which many brokers regard as a waste of their time.
The customary commission rate ranges from 8 to 12 percent. Generally, the smaller the business, the higher the percentage rate of commission.
Top 3 Issues Involved in a Business Transfer
Many business brokers agree that the top three issues involved in the transfer of business ownership are:
1. Confidentiality. Confidentiality is critical to the successful transfer of a business. If it becomes known that a business is for sale, several things start happening and none of them are beneficial for either the seller or buyer of the business. Business brokers are keenly aware of this and are experts at maintaining confidentiality.
2. Valuation. The issue of valuation is of critical concern to both buyers and sellers of businesses. Business brokers are professionals in determining the most probable selling price of a business.
3. Financing. Business acquisition loans were difficult to obtain in the recent past. Currently, however, banks and the SBA are again loaning money for business acquisitions. Business brokers stay informed as to the type and source of loans that are available from various lenders and assist buyers in arranging financing.
Asset Sale Versus Corporate Stock Sale
Transfers of privately held businesses handled by business brokers are asset sales rather than corporate stock sales. The selling entity (whether sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or LLC) sells selected assets to the acquiring entity. The selected assets are usually all assets of the business, including trade name, with the exception of cash in the bank and the accounts receivable which are usually retained by the seller.
Number of Business Brokers
Because there is no national registration or licensing of business brokers, there is not an accurate count of the total number of brokers. Estimates run from a low of 2,500 brokers to a high of 5,000 individuals in the U.S. in the profession. The Business Brokers of Florida is the largest association of Business Brokers in the world with over 1,100 members.
About Anthony John Rigney BCI
I am a Business Broker with 14 years of experience selling businesses in the State of Florida and Nationwide. My Company Quorum Business Advisors specializes in the sale of privately held businesses and Commercial property. While I am a Florida Licensed Real Estate Broker. However, I am not a realtor and I do not sell residential property. I am the past President of the North Florida District of the BBF and I sat on the State Board of that organization for 5 years. My credentials include prestigious designation of Board-Certified Intermediary (BCI) and Accredited Business Intermediary (ABI). If you are interested in my services, please reach out to me for a free and strictly confidential consultation. Please schedule your appointment today.