How Our Business Brokers in Aurora Prepare a Company for Sale
Buyers rarely pay for potential they cannot verify, so most of the work that protects your price happens early.
- Owner earnings, documented. We recast your profit so it reflects the income a buyer would keep, taking out personal spending and one-off costs, and we file the support a lender will want to see.
- Customer and contract review. For manufacturers, distributors and trade contractors, we measure how much revenue depends on a few accounts and whether key agreements can pass to a new owner.
- Equipment and real estate. Machinery lists, maintenance records and lease terms often decide how large a loan a bank will offer your buyer, so we organize them early.
- Licenses across four counties. Aurora reaches into Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties. We confirm which city, county and state permits apply to your location and which ones a buyer must obtain.
- Management depth. Buyers look hard at who runs daily operations when you step back. A capable second-in-command can widen your pool of interested buyers.
When an Aurora Company Needs an M&A Process
A standard listing works well for most owner-operated businesses. Some Aurora companies are better served by a structured sale: those with stronger earnings, more than one location, or a product line that a larger competitor or a private equity group would want. In those cases our M&A advisors in Aurora write a confidential information memorandum, contact a targeted group of strategic and private equity buyers at the same time, and run one timeline so offers arrive together.
Comparing those offers means more than reading the headline price. We lay out cash at closing, seller notes, earnouts and any rollover equity so you can see what each bid is really worth. That matters for the manufacturers, distributors, healthcare practices and contractors that make up much of the local middle market. Before a buyer orders a quality of earnings review, we test your numbers the same way so nothing in that report surprises you. See how our M&A advisory work is organized.
Six Steps From First Call to Closing Day
- First conversation. We talk about your reasons for selling, your timing and what you want for employees and customers.
- Records review. We gather recent tax returns, monthly statements, payroll, the lease, equipment lists and major contracts.
- Value and positioning. A supported price range, plus a short explanation of why the right buyer should pay it.
- Quiet marketing. An unnamed profile goes out first. Your name comes out only after a buyer has signed an NDA and proven the funds are there.
- Offers and terms. We negotiate price, structure, working capital and how long you stay on.
- Diligence and closing. We keep lenders, attorneys and accountants moving until the funds are wired.
Meeting other firms too? That is a smart move. Before those meetings, skim how to find a business broker, then judge every brokerage, ours included, by the same yardstick.
What Moves the Price of a Fox Valley Business
| Factor |
What a buyer checks |
What you can do now |
| Adjusted earnings |
Seller’s discretionary earnings or EBITDA after add-backs |
Keep personal costs off the books and document one-time items |
| Customer spread |
Share of revenue from the largest accounts |
Grow smaller accounts and put key relationships under contract |
| Lease |
Remaining term, renewal options and assignment rights |
Talk with your landlord about an extension before listing |
| Equipment |
Age, condition and upcoming replacement needs |
Gather service records and list planned purchases |
| Staff |
Who stays and who holds key knowledge |
Write down core processes and cross-train your team |
