IBA - Business Brokerage in Seattle, WA - Buy a Business, Sell a Business

IBA - Business Brokerage in Seattle, WA - Buy a Business, Sell a Business

Business Brokerage Services

IBA is a full service business brokerage company that offers its clients complete and comprehensive representation in the sale of privately held companies and family owned businesses. Our service package starts with an introductory consultation and complimentary "fair market" value evaluation of the business. The introductory consultation provides the business owner with an overview of the sale process. The "fair market" value evaluation provides the business owner with the range of prices that different types of buyers would likely pay for the company. Upon completion of this preliminary process, the business owner and IBA will both make decisions regarding whether a business relationship should be established for the sale of the company. If no relationship is established the business owner is under no obligation to IBA. If a business relationship is established a representation agreement will be established between the parties and marketing activity by IBA commenced.

IBA offers its clients a marketing program for their businesses that is specifically developed for the type of company being represented and its unique confidentiality issues. This program includes the following: development of a professional presentation packet for the business, strategic marketing to individuals & companies in our internal buyer database and potential acquisition candidates, mainstream and trade publication advertising (Seattle Times, Puget Sound Business Journal, Wall Street Journal, Etc.), network marketing in the legal, accounting, and banking communities, and when the situation merits advertisement in the commercial real estate multiple listing service. The results of this proactive marketing program are documented in the high number of potential buyers who review the companies we represent and the relative short time the companies we represent stay on the market versus similar entities represented by our competition.

We believe that the environment created for negotiations between the buyer and seller is critical to the successful transfer of ownership of a business. That environment should provide for an atmosphere of confidentiality and full disclosure. IBA as the facilitator of negotiations will control that environment and make sure that what is important gets discussed prior to the start of negotiations. Our negotiations are conducted from positions of knowledge by both the buyer and seller. This fact is the reason that a very high percentage of IBA’s clients sell their businesses after reaching agreement the first time.

The disclosure process between a buyer & seller generally takes place in a series of meetings over a couple of weeks. Following that exchange of oral and written information, negotiations are commenced by IBA with the buyer or their agent on behalf of the seller. It is generally important at this stage that the buyer & seller do not interact directly. The reason for this separation is that negotiating the purchase or sale of a business can be an emotional activity and it is generally critical for the success of the buyer that the goodwill of the parties remain intact following the completion of negotiations when transition training commences. This is where IBA’s transactional experience and professional negotiation skills become invaluable to the transaction. A willing and able buyer and seller now exist. The goal is to get them to agree on the price and terms for the transaction. IBA is very familiar with this transaction territory and will with the seller’s goals clearly in mind proceed to negotiate the terms of the deal. It is our philosophy that if our client is not happy we have not achieved our goal and will keep on negotiating. We want 100% satisfaction and our proof to that achievement will be nothing short of a signed agreement.

IBA’s representation does not stop with tentative agreement. Our representation continues after that point until the transaction is completed. There are a lot of i’s to dot and t’s to cross in the purchase or sale of a business. IBA is aware of the administrative steps necessary to transfer ownership and will make sure that both sides of the transaction are aware of what needs to be done to end one owner’s tenure at the helm and start the next.

Please contact our office if you have any questions regarding the representation we provide our clients or if you would like to schedule a time to meet with an IBA professional.

	"The most important wings on an airplane are on the pilot"
	T. Allen McArtor