5 Steps Before We Sold Our Bonita Springs Business 

When we finally decided to list our Bonita Springs business for sale, there were many things we needed to do in order to proceed with a business broker.  

We initially had no intent on selling when we first started our business back in 2006.  We planned to remain small and really have the business for the long term.

But as we grew, we thought, “hey, this could definitely be a business we could sell and alleviate the time and headaches of owning a small business."  So, we got to work!

We Needed to Get Our Financials Together Before Listing Our Bonita Springs Business For Sale

The business we listed and sold in Bonita Springs was our Real Estate Brokerage.  The first thing we did was go through all of the financials (we used Quickbooks at the time) and organize all income and expenses very carefully so a prospective buyer could get a clear picture.  

This included explaining and outlining personal expenses we ran through the company that another buyer would not necessarily have, one-time expenses that a new buyer wouldn't have as recurring, reducing any wasteful spending not necessary for the business, and continuing to increase revenue showing it was a growing and profitable business.  

Compiling an Asset List of the Bonita Springs Business We Were Selling

Many times, business owners do not know what they have when they are selling a Bonita Springs business.  

We sat down and listed as much as we could think of.  Starting with the obvious such as office furniture, computers, etc.  Then other items like tech infrastructure, trademarks, goodwill, employees, and agents.

As well as us staying on as real estate brokers and maintained 20% equity ownership which I think made everyone more comfortable.  

Clear Vision of the Bonita Springs Business We Were Selling

I think having simple, easy-to-read documentation of what the business is all about, who runs what, what a new buyer’s expectations are, and finally where the business could go in terms of growth with continual strategy or implementation of other strategies for success.  

We wanted to keep this as simple as possible.  Like you were buying a house or a car with simple descriptions of its features.  

Being Available to Meet & Answer Questions About the Bonita Springs Business For Sale

We knew besides listing with a business broker, that we (the owners) would be the best salespeople for our Bonita Springs Business.  

Now, this is a personal decision, as some sellers likely would want to be discreet depending on the business and allow the brokers to do their jobs.

But, in our case when we sold our real estate brokerage, we were selling a “book of business.”  It was really the profit of our 60+ agents.  So, we wanted to give a sense of comfort that the agents were there to stay assuming no major changes would occur like commission agreement renegotiations, etc.  

The Exit Strategy When We Sold Our Bonita Springs Business

And finally…  What happens when we sell our Bonita Springs Business?  

What would it look like?  Who do we want to sell to?  Will they keep it the same?  We still wanted to remain in the business and were selective in this process of choosing a buyer.

We met with several buyers and one we liked, who was brought to us by the Edison Business Advisors, was adamant about keeping everything exactly the same.  This is what we wanted for us and our agents and their families.  

We just did not want a large conglomerate to come in and change everything that we built.  

Thank you for reading about our experiences in selling our Bonita Springs business.  My name is Steve Daria and we ended up selling our Real Estate Brokerage back in 2018.  I can say it was one of the best experiences and the brokerage still runs the same as it did the day we sold.  Present day, we are still with the brokerage and are Real Estate Investors.