Thinking About Selling Your Business in New York?
Find Out What Your Business May Be Worth — Confidentially.
You spent years building your business. When the time comes to consider selling it, the first question is usually simple:
What is my business actually worth?
Astor Lane Realty helps small and mid-sized business owners in Westchester County, the Hudson Valley, New York City and surrounding New York markets understand the potential market value of their business and navigate the process of preparing, marketing and selling a privately held company.
Whether you're ready to sell now or simply beginning to think about an exit over the next few years, the process can start with a confidential conversation about your business, your goals and its potential value.
CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS VALUATION
No obligation. No public listing. Your inquiry remains confidential.
Selling a Business Is Different From Selling Almost Anything Else
For many business owners, the company represents years — sometimes decades — of work.
It may also represent a significant portion of your personal net worth.
That makes selling a business much more complicated than simply choosing an asking price and advertising it for sale.
A successful business sale can involve:
- Determining a realistic market value
- Recasting financial statements and identifying Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) or EBITDA
- Preparing the business for sale
- Protecting confidentiality
- Creating a confidential marketing package
- Identifying and qualifying prospective buyers
- Managing confidentiality agreements
- Evaluating offers
- Coordinating buyer due diligence
- Working with attorneys, accountants and lenders
- Negotiating deal structure
- Managing the transaction through closing
My role as a New York business broker is to help business owners navigate that process while allowing them to remain focused on what matters most:
Running their business.
Confidential Business Brokerage for New York Business Owners
Confidentiality is one of the biggest concerns owners have when considering a business sale.
And for good reason.
Employees, customers, competitors and vendors often do not need to know that an owner is considering selling.
The goal is to market the opportunity without unnecessarily exposing the identity of the business.
Potential buyers can be screened before receiving sensitive information, and confidentiality agreements can be used before identifying details and financial information are released.
That allows you to explore a potential sale while continuing to operate your company.
Business + Real Estate: One Important Advantage
Some business sales involve more than the operating company.
The owner may also own the:
- Retail storefront
- Office
- Warehouse
- Industrial property
- Mixed-use property
- Restaurant building
- Commercial land
That creates an additional question:
Should you sell the business, sell the real estate, lease the property to the buyer — or structure some combination of the three?
Because Astor Lane Realty is a New York real estate brokerage, I can bring a real estate perspective to situations where the operating business and underlying property intersect.
For some business owners, understanding both assets can be an important part of developing an overall exit strategy.
Who I Help
I work with owners of established small and mid-sized businesses throughout Westchester County, the Hudson Valley, New York City and surrounding New York markets.
Potential businesses may include:
Professional and B2B service companies • Distribution businesses • Logistics and transportation companies • Home service businesses • Contractors and trade businesses • Retail businesses • Automotive businesses • Manufacturing companies • Medical and healthcare-related businesses • Restaurants and food service businesses • E-commerce companies • Commercial service businesses • Franchise businesses • Other profitable privately held companies
Not sure whether your company is a fit?
Let's have a confidential conversation.
You Don't Have to Be Ready to Sell Today
One of the biggest misconceptions about contacting a business broker is that you should only do it when you're ready to put the company on the market.
Sometimes the better conversation happens before you're ready.
If your business is worth less than you expected today, understanding why may give you time to improve it.
You may discover opportunities to:
- Reduce owner dependence
- Improve margins
- Document operating procedures
- Diversify customers
- Build recurring revenue
- Strengthen management
- Clean up financial reporting
- Improve profitability
- Prepare the company for a future buyer
Even if your exit is several years away, knowing what drives the value of your company can help you make better decisions today.
Why Work With Stephen Zondorak?
Selling a business isn't only a sales transaction.
It's an operational and financial transaction as well.
My professional background includes business operations, logistics and supply chain management, finance, real estate and business brokerage.
Before founding Astor Lane Realty, I spent years working inside businesses focused on operations, process improvement, logistics, inventory management and cost reduction.
That experience gives me a different perspective when evaluating a company.
I don't only look at what the business sells.
I want to understand how the business works.
How does it make money?
Where does the owner fit into the operation?
What makes the company attractive to a buyer?
Where are the risks?
And ultimately:
What would make someone want to acquire this business instead of starting one themselves?
That is the story we want prospective buyers to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling a Business in New York
How do I know what my business is worth?
Business value can depend on profitability, Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE), EBITDA, industry multiples, growth, customer concentration, recurring revenue, assets, owner involvement and other factors. A business valuation or broker market analysis can provide a more realistic understanding of what buyers may be willing to pay.
How long does it take to sell a small business?
There is no universal timeline. The asking price, profitability, industry, financing availability, buyer demand and complexity of the business can all affect how long a transaction takes.
Can I sell my business without my employees knowing?
Confidentiality is a central part of many business sales. Businesses can often be marketed without publicly disclosing the company name, exact location or other identifying information. Prospective buyers can also be required to sign confidentiality agreements before receiving sensitive information.
Do I need a business valuation before selling?
Understanding the likely market value of the business is an important early step. Pricing a company significantly above what the financial performance supports can discourage qualified buyers, while undervaluing the company can leave significant money on the table.
What financial documents will I need?
Buyers commonly request items such as tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, payroll information, leases and other financial or operational records during the sale and due-diligence process. Requirements vary depending upon the business and transaction.
What is Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE)?
SDE is commonly used when evaluating owner-operated small businesses. It attempts to estimate the total financial benefit generated for one owner by adjusting reported earnings for certain owner compensation, discretionary expenses and other qualifying items.
Can I sell my business if I also own the building?
Yes. Depending upon your objectives, the business and real estate may potentially be sold together, sold separately, or the property may be retained and leased to the buyer. The appropriate structure depends upon the business, property and owner's financial objectives.
Can you help me even if I'm not ready to sell yet?
Yes. In fact, speaking with a business broker before you're ready to sell can help identify issues that may affect value and give you time to improve the business before eventually going to market.
Considering Selling Your Business?
You don't have to make that decision today.
Start by understanding what you've built.
Whether you're considering selling now, planning an exit in the next few years or simply wondering "What is my business worth?", I'm happy to have a confidential conversation.
Stephen Zondorak
Business Broker | Real Estate Broker
Astor Lane Realty
Scarsdale, New York
Serving Westchester County, the Hudson Valley, NYC and surrounding New York markets
Call: 914-712-6246
REQUEST MY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS VALUATION
No obligation. No pressure. Just a confidential conversation about your business and your options.