Bee Cave Business Brokers Who Study the Numbers First
Owners call us to sell a company, get a business valuation or plan an exit on their own timeline. Buyers call for an established business or franchise. Before we suggest a price or a deal, we study the financials and operations and explain what we find in plain words. We work with clients from Lakeway to Dripping Springs.
- No cost to list
- Our fee comes at closing
- Private from day one
- Valuations at no charge
What Shapes What Your Business Is Worth
Buyers pay for future earnings and for how much risk comes with them. Two companies with the same revenue can be worth very different amounts. These are the factors we weigh most carefully during a valuation.
Your valuation is free and confidential. We walk you through the range we arrive at and the reasoning behind it, so you can decide your next step with the full picture.
- Clean, provable earnings
- We recast your financials to show seller's discretionary earnings, adding back owner perks and one-time costs. Lenders and buyers will check every add-back, so we only count what your records support.
- How much the business depends on you
- If the company only runs smoothly when you are in the building, a buyer has to wonder what happens after you leave. A trained manager and written procedures usually raise value.
- How spread out your customers are
- If a handful of accounts bring in most of your revenue, a buyer sees real risk in losing even one of them after closing. Sales spread across many customers are easier for lenders to finance and for buyers to trust.
- Lease terms and real estate
- A lease with years remaining and a clear right to assign gives buyers confidence. If you own the property, we look at whether selling the business and building together or separately makes more sense.
- Trends and growth
- Steady or rising revenue over three years carries more weight than one strong year. We also look at equipment age, since worn assets mean costs a buyer will factor in.
- Financing available to buyers
- Most small business deals use some outside financing. A business that fits common lender guidelines draws more buyers and often a stronger price.
Help for Sellers, Buyers and Partners
Most of our work falls into three groups. For sellers, we handle business valuation, exit planning and the full process to sell a business, including business and property sales when you own the building. For buyers, we help you buy a business or a franchise resale and give acquisition financing guidance so you know what lenders will want to see. For owners who are splitting up or handing over, we work on partner buyouts and succession, and on mergers and acquisitions when two companies want to combine.
Sell a Business
We review your financials first, set a price buyers can support, and market your business quietly to screened, qualified buyers.
Business Valuation
A free, confidential valuation built from recast financials and a close look at operations, with a value range and the plain reasons behind it.
Buy a Business
We help buyers find, review and close on an established business or franchise, with the numbers checked before you make an offer.
Exit Planning
A clear, confidential review of where your business stands today and a step-by-step plan for leaving it on your terms, whether that is next year or five years out.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Combining with another company, buying a competitor or selling to a strategic buyer, with a close review of both businesses before any recommendation.
Franchise Resales
Selling or buying an existing franchise unit, with the franchise agreement, transfer rules and unit numbers reviewed before anyone signs.
Business and Property Sales
Own the building your business runs in? We review the company and the property separately, then help you decide whether to sell both, lease or carry terms.
Acquisition Financing Guidance
We look over the business you want to buy and your own finances, then lay out which financing structures fit the deal before you talk to a lender.
Partner Buyouts and Succession
Buying out a partner or handing the business to family or a key employee, with a value and terms built on a close look at the real numbers.
How Working With Us Goes
The steps below describe a typical sale. Buyers and partners follow a similar path, adjusted to their side of the deal.
- 1
A confidential first conversation
You call, we listen. We talk through your goals, your timeline and any concerns, with no obligation and no cost.
- 2
A careful review of the business
We go through your financial statements, tax returns, lease and operations, then meet with you at our office or by phone and video to share what we found and what it means for value.
- 3
Preparation and quiet marketing
Together we prepare a confidential business profile and decide how to present it. Registered buyers hear first, and every serious buyer is screened and signs a confidentiality agreement.
- 4
Offers, negotiation and due diligence
We help you compare offers on more than price, including terms, financing and transition support. During due diligence we keep requests organized so the deal keeps moving.
- 5
Closing and handover
We coordinate with your attorney, CPA and the buyer's lender through closing, then help plan the training period so customers and staff are looked after.
A Local Brokerage That Tells You What It Sees
We run this brokerage to give business owners in the Bee Cave area a straight answer. Too many owners are handed a flattering number to win the listing, then watch the business sit unsold for a year. We would rather spend time studying your company first and give you an honest read, even when it is not what you hoped to hear.
We meet clients at our office or by phone and video, whichever is easier for you. Some owners call us years before they plan to sell, which gives us time to help with exit planning. Others call ready to move. Buyers call too, looking for a solid company or franchise to run. In every case, the first call is free and stays between us.
Serving Bee Cave and the Hill Country West of Austin
We work with business owners and buyers in Bee Cave and nearby communities, including Lakeway, Steiner Ranch, Barton Creek, Belterra and Hudson Bend. We also help clients in West Lake Hills, Lago Vista, Dripping Springs, Shady Hollow and Jonestown.
- Bee Cave
- Lakeway
- Steiner Ranch
- Barton Creek
- Belterra
- Hudson Bend
- West Lake Hills
- Lago Vista
- Dripping Springs
- Shady Hollow
- Jonestown
Because much of the work happens by phone and video, distance is rarely a problem. If your business is a little farther out, give us a call and we will talk it over.
Questions Business Owners and Buyers Ask Us
What does it cost to sell my business with you?
You pay nothing up front when you list your business with us. Our compensation is a success fee collected at closing, since we only get paid when the seller does. You will not see retainers or extra charges, which is what we mean by no retainers and no hidden fees. We explain how the fee works in plain terms before you sign anything.
How do I find out what my business is worth?
The first step is our free, confidential valuation. We go through your recent financial statements, recast the earnings to show what an owner actually takes home, and weigh the things buyers focus on, such as how involved you are day to day, how your sales are spread across customers and what your lease looks like. Then we sit down with you and explain the range and the reasons behind it.
Will my employees or customers find out I am selling?
Not from us. Listings describe the business without naming it, and buyers must be screened and sign a confidentiality agreement before they learn more. We also talk with you early about when and how to tell key staff, usually close to the end of the process.
How long does a business sale usually take?
It depends on the business, how well it is prepared and how buyers will finance the deal. Many sales take several months from listing to closing, and due diligence and lender review often account for a good share of that time. A careful review up front helps avoid delays later.
What should I have ready before we talk?
Nothing is required for the first call. If you have them handy, three years of tax returns, recent profit and loss statements and a copy of your lease help us give you a more useful answer sooner.
I want to buy a business. How do I get started?
Call us to register as a buyer. We will ask about your experience, the kind of business you want and how you plan to fund it. New listings go to registered buyers first, so registering early gives you a head start, and we can also offer acquisition financing guidance if you are new to lenders.
Can you help if my partner and I want to split up?
Yes. Partner buyouts and succession plans start with an objective valuation both sides can understand. From there we help structure the buyout and timing so the business keeps running while ownership changes.
Why Owners and Buyers Call Us
Selling or buying a company is personal. We keep the process careful, quiet and clear, so you always know where things stand and why.
We look before we recommend
Every engagement starts with a real review: three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements, your lease, your staff and your customer list. You get our findings in plain language before we suggest a listing price or a strategy. If the business is not ready to sell yet, we tell you that too, along with what would change it.
Nothing up front, no surprises
You pay nothing up front when you list your business with us. Our fee comes out of the closing, because we only get paid when the seller does. That keeps our interests lined up with yours, and it means no retainers and no hidden fees along the way.
Your sale stays private
A sale that leaks early can unsettle your staff and give rivals an opening with your customers. Our listings describe the business without naming it. We screen each buyer before sharing details, and nobody sees your financials until they sign a confidentiality agreement.
Buyers who are already vetted
New listings go to registered buyers first. We talk with buyers about their experience, their available cash and their financing before introducing them, so sellers spend time with people who can actually close.
One point of contact, start to close
You will not be handed off to someone new halfway through. The person who reviewed your business answers your questions through negotiation, due diligence and closing.
Find Out Where Your Business Stands
A short conversation is the easiest first step. We will listen, answer your questions and explain what a careful review would show, with no pressure and no cost.