CEO Online Magazine (Ezine) - Small Business Brokers

Small Business Brokers  by Steve Valentino

Business brokers act as matchmakers in the world of business. They bring together small and medium-sized businesses. Small businesses have their own limitations owing to their limited presence in the market. Though most of the business brokerage firms help in selling all sizes of businesses, there are specialized business brokerage firms for selling small businesses also. Through their contacts with big corporations, they can get a good selling price for a small business.

For this they could charge a small fixed fee and then a commission. The commission is calculated with the sales price as the base. It is generally negotiable. Various surveys have indicated that as many as one-third of the business brokerage firms in the US fall into the "small businesses" category. The small business brokerage field can yield a lucrative income.

Even a sole proprietor in this business has an average income which runs into six figures. The smaller businesses can sell for around 200,000 dollars. That could mean revenue of around 10 to 15 thousand dollars from one single transaction, for a small business brokerage firm.

Many of the small business brokers operate in small towns and cities where big brokerage houses do not have branches. It only takes good networking, a small amount of capital and knowledge of the laws concerned to start this business.

You can take a franchisee of certain big business brokerage firms and start making matches in your hometown. The business has a low risk factor and can earn you good money. But remember: the margins are coming down increasingly, as competition is getting stiffer with the entry of several new businesses brokerage firms, which are keen to tap the small business sector also.

Business brokers help you in the sale and purchase of businesses. They charge fees for providing brokerage services. The fees depend on the size of the business, the final sale and the purchase price. There are different business brokers for dealing with different kind of businesses. For example, some of them might specialize in mergers, and others in acquisitions. Apart from the fixed fee, most of the brokers also charge commissions. The commission can be computed on the basis of the selling or purchase price of the business. The larger the price, the greater the leverage to negotiate commission rates with a business broker.

If you have sold your business or purchased a new one you might feel you don't need the help of a business broker, especially if you know the prospective seller or buyer well. But if you are entering a new industry, buying or selling a big business, or do not know the buyer or seller you are dealing with, then a business broker can be of great help. Business brokers not only help in negotiating and taking one through the complete transaction, but they have a wide range of contacts. They could find you a better deal through these contacts.

Business brokers are good at making discreet inquiries in the market to find potential buyers or sellers, and a much higher price than what you are presently being offered. If you have a small business to sell, you might not be able to get in touch with a big company which you see as a potential buyer. But a business broker could do that. They are in touch with most of the big corporations. In fact, some of the business brokers specialize in dealing only in small businesses. The list of business brokers in your area could be available either online or at the local chamber of commerce.

Business Broker Network

A business broker network is basically a group that has a number of independent business brokers or brokerage firms. These firms could be based in different countries. Such network groups offer a much wider range of business opportunities to their clients. The network groups are able to offer more businesses for sale or purchase. So if you want to buy, sell or start a new business, you could give one such network group a try.

There are several network groups in existence. Some of them specialize in creating business opportunities in certain geographical areas. But many of them are not region-specific, as their network has firms from various parts of the world.

The members of a business broker network readily share their databases with investors, corporate entities seeking mergers and acquisitions, and individuals who could be helpful in creating a business opportunity. The common access to this wide database helps you to meet the demand of your clients, not only at the local level but also at national and international levels.

The advantage of a business broker network is that one does not have to go to a large number of business brokerage firms. The brokers who are a part of this network are often known as affiliates. Many network groups keep on upgrading the technological and financial tools to ensure better co-ordination among its members. It also prepares various professional reports at regular intervals for the affiliates.

If you would like to be a part of one such network group, you can do so by visiting the local office of any of these groups, or by contacting them online. The association with a large and reputed group could give a major boost to your business, as you can expand your client base not only across the nation, but even across the globe.

About the Author

Business Brokers provides detailed information on Business Brokers, Small Business Brokers, Business Loan Brokers, Business Broker Network and more. Business Brokers is affiliated with Internet Businesses For Sale.

 

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