“My name is Mark Lozano and I am a Business Broker and Advisor for small to mid-size businesses that are selling our buying a company. We help sellers obtain a valuation on the business, typically at no cost or low cost, list the company online, market it, vet buyers financially, prepare offers and eventually close the “deal”. To do this, we have to be licensed real estate agents as often times a business sale involves real estate. If you are still scratching your head on exactly what I do, think about me as a realtor for the business community. As a Business Broker, we help sell and/or buy companies that are valued from $250,000 (or maybe even less!) to businesses with revenue exceeding $25 million dollars a year! A huge range of values AND everyone really needs us to help facilitate the process.
If you think about selling a home, i.e. “For Sale by Owner”, or FSBO, think about the same when selling a company. The seller wants top, top dollar and doesn’t want to pay anyone to help. A vast majority of the time, it doesn’t play out well. Same thing for business owners, can’t fault someone for wanting top dollar, which we try to do but if someone thinks they can do it themselves, it’s a daunting task. Coming up with a value, marketing, finding actual real buyers, vetting them and getting all the legal documents from offer to closing, and there can be many. Also consider tax implications, financial preparedness – it’s a lot and we help guide and get the resources a seller needs. On the opposite side, we also can help buyers find the business they are looking for, here or just about anywhere in the United States.Our small business of now, eight brokers, has been in business for over 44 years. Opportunities in Business, or OIB, has handled business acquisitions from laundromats, liquor stores, steel manufacturing, restaurants, bars, staffing agencies, moving companies, advertising agencies, HVAC companies, commercial cleaning, residential and/or commercial property management, and the list goes on and on and on! Think about every storefront you see driving around, big and small (other than Target, Boston Scientific, Apple, etc.), all have owners. All have people that are looking to buy them. Its an incredible industry and I get lucky enough to meet the most amazing business owners and some fascinating buyers, and there are buyers everywhere. You’d be very surprised – I was when one of my cousins said “find me a business and I’ll buy it.” I thought to myself, where did you get this money?!?!?! None of my business but you’d be very surprised.If you want to learn more, ask questions and/or explore opportunities on both sides of a deal, call or email me anytime. I’d love to have an educational conversation with you or anyone you refer to me. And by the way, because I am a licensed realtor, I can pay a referral fee to another realtor! Its true, for real and completely legal. But that referrer does have to be a licensed realtor.I hope this has helped you learn a little more about our industry. On a side, I also have 30 years with Wells Fargo in mortgage banking, sales and then HR so I bring a very unique perspective to our clients. Consultant, counselor, advisor, and maybe even friend. Here to help everyone!Enjoy the summer and warmest regards to a success year to you.”