Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory

A Neumann & Associates, LLC

October 9, 2019

How to Choose the Right Business Broker in Maryland

By Achim Neumann

Growing a successful business in Maryland is quite the challenge, as it is anywhere in the US. For many business owners and entrepreneurs in the state, the light at the end of this long tunnel comes in the form of a lucrative buyout by a bigger entity or eager new operator.

However, getting to this endpoint requires the services of business brokers in Maryland who are competent and trustworthy and finding brokers of that nature can be a challenge. If you are a business owner in Maryland looking to sell your business, here is how to choose the right MD Business broker.

Gather Your Options

To choose the right business broker in MD, you need to take the time to build a list of qualified professionals to sift through. The best way to collate this list is to ask the people in your circle of operation for referrals. This is because being recommended or spoken about positively by others is a sign of competence. Ask other business owners who you know have successfully grown and sold their own companies, or ask any financial planners, accountants, estate attorneys, or other professionals in related fields who might know of reputable business brokers. These referrals can form the basis of your list. You can also search online to see if there are any brokers that have positive reviews. If there are any, add them to your list.

Create a Shortlist From Your Options

Go through your list and scrutinize each potential brokering company carefully. Firstly, take a look at their website. Does their website contain adequate information about the company, its principals and their working experience? How many business sales have they brokered since inception?

Go deeper and ask more questions. How long have they been in business? Can you verify their certification claims? Do they specialize in mergers and acquisitions advisory and business brokerage or are they just glorified real estate brokers? Do they have sufficient experience with finance and tax-related issues? Is their reputation solid, or do past employers speak poorly of them? These questions will help you identify which business brokers to shortlist and invite for further discussions and whom to screen from your list.

Interview Shortlisted Candidates

Once you have screened the initial candidates, you need to have a serious conversation with the remaining brokers so you can choose the right one for your business. In the interviews, ask important questions that highlight their competence. Do they have an existing business valuation plan that can be shared with you? Will an independent valuation firm be carrying out the process or will it be done in-house? Do they have a discreet, yet effective marketing plan in place to attract buyers? How will they screen buyers to weed out the unserious ones?

Consider the Cost

If a business broker in MD is able to sell your business successfully, the typical charge for this service can be between 7%-15% of the gross value of the sale. This, however, is variable and should be negotiated before engaging the services of the broker. Fees higher than 15% are usually unjustifiable and should not be entertained. Also, business brokers who request large advances/retainer fees should be avoided.

Successfully surpassing the challenge of growing a business in Maryland should be rewarded with a profitable sale. Use the guide above to choose the right business broker in Maryland to help you get the sale you deserve.

About A Neumann & Associates, LLC

A Neumann & Associates, LLC is a professional mergers & acquisitions and business brokerage firm having assisted business owners and buyers in the business valuation and business transfer process through its affiliations for the past 30 years. With an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, the company has senior trusted professionals with a deep knowledge based in multiple field offices along the East Coast and has performed hundreds of business valuations in its history. The firm’s competitive transaction fees are based on successfully completing transactions. For more information, please contact A Neumann & Associates at 732-872-6777 or info@neumannassociates.com

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Client Testimonials

“ I appreciate your diligent approach to screening buyers and sellers as well as the high quality CIM that you produce.”

Andrey O, Investor

“Finally enjoying retirement after recently selling my business using the services of A Neumann & Associates. Joe Oddo provided the conduit to a successful transaction. Joe knew when to inject input and when to simply listen and allow the buyers to vent, step back and regroup. The outcome met our expectations and got us to the finish line, which included my staying with the company six months in order for the buyers to get their footing and keep our workforce in the loop. He helped at every step by providing his expert guidance & resources. Thank you!”

Emily Parker Myers, Co-Owner - Myers McRae

“I had been in touch with Karin and Gary from A Neumann & Associates regarding some opportunities and was looking forward to meeting with them. Hence, when they organized a seminar in Princeton, NJ, I was quick to sign up. The seminar was very informative as the team walked the attendees through various scenarios and referenced real life buying/selling situations they had been through. The sessions by Gary, Karin and Achim were crisp and focused and brought clarity to potential seller and buyers. I strongly recommend the team and look forward to continue working with them.”

Gaurav Tyagi

“Thank you for your Event on "How to value, Sell, and Buy A Business for Maximum Profit" and the insight into ANA’s approach on what is involved in the Business Exit for sellers. Garys Hervieiou's "Business Valuation", Achim's "Deal structure" presentation and Karin’s "Preparing the Package" are real street knowledge shared. They answered attendees questions which makes it more interesting for learning from others. Great for small businesses like us. The presentations were totally worth our time and travel for the event to Princeton, NJ from Rockville MD. Ravi Bhutani, President, CIPS”

Ravi Bhutani

“Gary, this is to thank you for an excellent job done in selling our business. We could never have done it without your professional expertise, dedication and time put in without reservation to make it happen. We will gladly and highly recommend you to anybody in our position.  It was a pleasure to work with you.”

Pat Iammatteo, Owner

“Your vetting is simply outstanding, among the best I've seen from a broker.”

Eric H., Investor

“I recently contacted A. Neumann and Associates about getting a valuation of my business done. I spoke with Marc, who explained the process in detail. After meeting with Marc in order to get a clear understanding of my business, and what I was hoping to accomplish. His patience in answering all my questions and his knowledge of the proper way to market my business gave me great confidence that this is the firm I will be using to sell my business for max value. Working with Marc at A Neumann & Associates was very easy and professional. I did not know all that was going to be involved in selling my business but they helped me through the process. What I thought was going to be a just another one of those pushy sales companies was just the opposite. Polite, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to talk to and deal with. I highly recommend this firm to anybody who wants to sell now or down the road. Marc not only knows his stuff, but actually is a real nice guy.”

Double Diamond

“Used A Neumann & Associates to sale my business. could not imagine having done it with out the patience and experience Gary provided. Thanks Gary,”

Dennis Frazier

“Working with Marc and his company was a pleasure. What I thought was going to be a just another one of those pushy sales companies was just the opposite. Polite, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to talk to and deal with. Marc handled most of the interaction and he has one of the greatest demeanors. Again, it was a pleasure working with him and his firm.”

Douglas DiCeglio

“I recently completed an acquisition using A Neumann & Associates. Tony Valentino was very helpful and accessible during the entire process. They do a thorough job vetting both parties and got us to the finish line.”

Srini Mudambi
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Contact A Neumann & Associates, LLC

If you are considering selling your business, please contact us to learn more about our comprehensive service spectrum. Our experienced professionals will answer all your questions about selling a privately held business in complete confidentiality. Please fill out our contact form, or call us at 732-872-6777. We will contact you directly and will never identify ourselves to your employees.

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