Websites Used for Selling Your Business

November 29, 2024

by a searcher from Simon Fraser University - Beedie School of Business in Vancouver, BC, Canada

I'll be looking to sell some of my portfolio in the next few years and I'd like to hear how the process went for others here?

The businesses I'll ultimately want to sell in 2025/2026 include:
1) A property services business that does gutter cleaning, snow removal, pressure washing of townhouse/ low rise apartment complexes. Revenue ~$1 million CAD and EBITDA $0.3 million CAD
2) A designer and parts supplier for water features. Mostly working alongside landscape architects on some of the largest residential, commercial and government buildings. Revenue $2 million CAD and EBITDA $0.5 million CAD
3) A safety training and first aid training business. Revenue $7 million and EBITDA $2 million

My business partner on these businesses wants to see what we can do ourselves before hiring a business broker/ M&A advisor. How has your experience been posting on businessforsale.com vs searchfunder.com vs axial.net. Any others that could work before we use a business broker?

Thanks in advance!

Reply by a searcher
from The University of Chicago in Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Many brokers, especially LMM add tons of value to my eyes. I have been in some well run processes where they have negotiated me upwards significantly. Not great for me, but I respect their game! I don't think the seller would have been successful irrespective of their negotiating prowess.

Main street brokers are hit-or-miss. There are lots of listings sitting around forever, but probably has more to do with the business than the broker.

I haven't had great experiences with sellers that are marketing themselves outbound without a broker. A bit of snake oil IMO. I have also seen some that are later listed by brokers at a lower price.

For your use case I would consider rejigg. Itprovides a little more norming between parties and not too expensive

Axial, pemarketplace and others are great, but the finders fees are high and mostly brokered listings.

Reply by a professional
from Mount Allison University in Calgary, AB, Canada

Hi Andrew, www.villagewellth.com has a dominantly Canadian marketplace of self-funded searchers looking for deals in each of these size brackets you mention. You can browse their unique buyer profiles without publishing your deal for them to see, you can keep it private, view your buyer matches, favorite the profiles you feel are a fit and reach out at your leisure.

Buyers are supported with a education, weekly roundtables, acquisition advisory and debt advisory.

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