Exit. — Acquire. Maximize. Exit.™

Exit.

Stage III — Full Exclusive Seller Representation

You have built something real. Now it is time to transition it — on your terms, at the right price, to the right buyer. We provide full exclusive representation from the moment you decide to sell through the day you close, protecting your interests and maximizing your outcome at every step.

90days
Average time to closeFor a properly priced, well-prepared business with qualified buyers engaged.
$15B+
In transactions representedBy the First Choice Business Brokers national network since 1994.
100%
Exclusive representationWe represent you — the seller — and no one else. Every decision is made in your best interest.
"A successful exit is not defined only by the final number. It is defined by how well the business transitions."
— Acquire. Maximize. Exit.™
Why Exit Now

The window for an exceptional exit is not always open.

Timing is one of the most misunderstood aspects of selling a business. The right time to sell is not simply when the owner feels ready — it is when the business is performing well, the market is favorable, and preparation has been done. When all three align, the outcome reflects it.

01

The Largest Wealth Transfer in History

Over $15 trillion in privately held business value is expected to change hands this decade. Qualified buyers are actively seeking well-prepared businesses right now — and competition among buyers drives better prices and better terms for sellers.

02

Businesses Sell When They Are Strong

Buyers pay a premium for consistency and upward trends. The best time to bring your business to market is when performance is at or near its peak — not when you are ready to step away, which is often when performance begins to soften.

03

Urgency Narrows Your Options

When timing is driven by necessity rather than choice, buyers recognize it. Urgency suppresses valuation and reduces negotiating leverage. When you are in control of your timeline, you are in control of your outcome.

Full Exclusive Representation

Everything required to sell your business — expertly managed.

Selling a business is not like selling a property. It requires specialized expertise in valuation, marketing, confidentiality, negotiation, deal structuring, and transaction management. Our team handles every aspect of the process — so you can continue running your business without distraction while we work to maximize your outcome.

What we handle for you.

Business ValuationObjective assessment of market value using proven methods including our proprietary Market Price Analysis (MPA).
Confidential MarketingStrategic positioning and marketing to qualified buyers — without exposing your business identity prematurely.
Buyer QualificationEvery buyer signs an NDA and provides proof of funds before receiving detailed information about your business.
Negotiation LeadershipExpert negotiation on price, terms, structure, and contingencies — always with your best outcome in mind.
Deal StructuringCreative structuring including seller financing, earnouts, and transition terms to maximize total value received.

What you never worry about.

SBA Financing CoordinationWe work directly with SBA-approved lenders to ensure buyers can finance the transaction efficiently.
Due Diligence ManagementOrganized, systematic due diligence that moves buyers toward closing rather than creating friction or uncertainty.
Third-Party CoordinationLandlords, attorneys, escrow officers, lenders — we manage all third-party relationships through to a smooth close.
Transition PlanningStructured transition support, training agreements, and post-close continuity planning that protects your legacy.
Business ContinuityYou keep running your business. We handle the transaction. Your employees, customers, and vendors remain unaware until closing.
The Process

Your business selling journey — step by step.

A successful transaction is never a single event. It is a sequence of deliberate steps, each one building on the last. Here is exactly how we guide you from the decision to sell through the day ownership transfers.

01

Book Your Consultation

Schedule a confidential consultation with your dedicated AME advisor. This is where we learn about your business, your goals, and your timeline — and where you learn exactly how the process works.

02

Prepare Essential Documents

Compile the financial statements, tax returns, lease agreements, and operational documents requested by your advisor. Organized, clean documentation accelerates every subsequent stage of the process.

03

Comprehensive Discovery

A deep-dive session where we develop a complete picture of your business — its operations, financials, team, customer base, and competitive position. This informs how we position and market the opportunity.

04

Determine Market Value

Using our proprietary Market Price Analysis (MPA) — which considers discretionary income, expenses, market comparables, and the eight value drivers — we establish a competitive, defensible asking price.

05

Listing Agreement & Authorization

You grant us formal authority to represent you in the sale of your business through a Listing Agreement. This establishes the terms of our exclusive representation and protects your interests throughout.

06

Tailored Marketing Strategy

We craft a customized marketing approach for your specific business — targeting the right buyer profile across our national network, qualified buyer database, and strategic channels. You review and approve all materials before anything goes live.

07

Vigilant Buyer Engagement

Every prospective buyer signs a Confidentiality Agreement (NDA) and provides proof of funds before receiving detailed information about your business. We qualify buyers rigorously — so your time is only spent on serious, capable candidates.

08

Confidential Buyer Meetings

We arrange and facilitate confidential meetings between qualified buyers and you — structured to protect your business identity, maintain operational stability, and create the conditions for serious offers to emerge.

09

Expert Offer Facilitation & Negotiation

We assist in evaluating, structuring, and negotiating all offers — going beyond price to address terms, contingencies, financing structure, transition support, and seller protections. Our goal is a deal that closes, not just one that looks good on paper.

10

Seamless Transition to Close

From offer acceptance to closing day, we manage the entire timeline — coordinating with landlords, lenders, escrow officers, and attorneys to ensure a smooth, efficient transfer of ownership that protects your legacy and delivers your outcome.

Confidentiality

Your business sale stays completely confidential.

Unlike the sale of a home or commercial property, a business sale must remain entirely confidential. Employees, customers, suppliers, and competitors must not know the business is for sale until ownership has transferred. We have built our entire process around protecting that confidentiality at every stage.

No Public Disclosure

Your business has no "for sale" sign. We market to qualified buyers confidentially, without ever identifying your business publicly until the appropriate time in the process.

NDA Before Everything

Every prospective buyer signs a Confidentiality Agreement before receiving any detailed information about your business — protecting your financials, operations, and identity throughout the process.

Proof of Funds Required

We require buyers to demonstrate financial capability before advancing in the process — ensuring your time and information are only shared with serious, qualified candidates.

Employee Protection

Your team learns of the sale when you introduce them to the new owner. We guide you through the exact timing and approach to protect morale, retention, and operational continuity.

Staged Information Release

Buyers receive information in stages, matched to their level of qualification and commitment — ensuring sensitive details are only disclosed when it is appropriate and protected.

Your Business Keeps Running

While we manage the transaction, you focus on what matters most — maintaining and growing the business that buyers are paying to acquire. No distraction. No disruption.

Timing Your Exit

The difference between a good exit and a great one.

Two businesses with similar performance can produce very different outcomes depending on when and how they go to market. Timing is not about finding a perfect moment — it is about aligning the condition of the business with the outcome you want to achieve.

Poor Timing

Reactive, rushed, and limited.

  • Driven by urgency — health, partnership, burnout
  • Business performance declining or inconsistent
  • Financials not clean or clearly documented
  • Owner still essential to daily operations
  • Limited time to address value suppressors
  • Fewer qualified buyers willing to proceed
Ideal Timing

Intentional, prepared, and in control.

  • Decision made from a position of strength
  • Business performing consistently with upward trends
  • Financials clean, documented, and buyer-ready
  • Business operates independently of the owner
  • Value drivers optimized in advance
  • Maximum buyer pool and negotiating leverage

"The business is often most attractive when it is performing well — which is also when the owner may feel the least urgency to sell. Understanding this dynamic changes everything."

278+
Licensed FCBB brokers — national buyer reach
119
National offices providing local market expertise
$15B+
In transactions represented since 1994
30+
Years of business brokerage expertise
Common Questions

What sellers ask most.

Why should I use a business broker to sell my business? +
Selling your business yourself takes your focus away from operating it at exactly the moment when performance matters most to buyers. A broker will properly value your business, reach buyers you cannot, maintain strict confidentiality, and navigate the transaction process based on experience. The most common mistake sellers make is comparing this to selling a house — it is fundamentally different, and the cost of getting it wrong is significant.
How is my business kept confidential during the sale? +
Unlike real estate, businesses do not have a "for sale" sign. All prospective buyers are required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement (NDA) before receiving any detailed information about your business. This protects you from employees, customers, suppliers, and competitors learning about the sale prematurely.
How long will it take to sell my business? +
A properly priced, well-prepared business typically sells in approximately 90 days. This can vary based on financial performance and how clearly it can be documented, the type of business, the terms being offered, and local market conditions. Your advisor will give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation.
How will my business be marketed to buyers? +
Through the FCBB national network of 278+ brokers across 119 offices, our qualified buyer database, and strategic digital channels — all while maintaining complete confidentiality about your business identity until the appropriate stage of the process.
When should I tell my employees I am selling? +
Experience consistently shows the best time to inform employees is when you introduce them to the new owner. This protects morale, retention, and operational stability throughout the sale process. The exception is a key employee who is central to the buyer's acquisition decision — your advisor will guide you through the right timing for that specific situation.
Will I need to finance part of the sale? +
There is no requirement to carry financing, but seller carry notes are very common in today's market and typically open your business to a significantly larger pool of qualified buyers. In many cases, offering seller financing also increases the total value you receive by making the deal more attractive to better buyers.
How long will I need to train the new owner? +
Training periods are negotiable. Most buyers request 30 days, though simpler businesses may require less and more complex operations may require more. Extended consulting arrangements beyond the initial transition period are typically compensated separately and can be structured into the deal.
What is the difference between Exit. only and the Maximize. + Exit. program? +
Exit. only is full exclusive seller representation for owners who are ready to sell now. The Maximize. + Exit. program is for owners who want to first spend 2–3 years increasing enterprise value before going to market — with the advisory retainer credited 100% toward the success fee at closing. Your advisor will help you determine which path is right based on your timeline and current business position.
Your Advisors

Dr. Leilani Felix-Acosta & Dr. Fernando Acosta

Certified M&A Advisors, Certified Business Intermediaries, and owners of First Choice Business Brokers in Phoenix and El Paso. They have guided transactions across healthcare, manufacturing, construction, professional services, technology, distribution, home services, and many other industries. Their commitment is not only to the transaction — but to the legacy behind it.

Dr. Fernando Acosta
DM · MBA · MSIM · CM&AP · CBI · Value Builder Advisor

Fernando brings deep expertise in business valuation, exit planning, deal structuring, SBA financing coordination, negotiation strategy, and transaction management. A Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, he has been involved in transactions ranging from first-time sellers to complex multi-million dollar M&A engagements. He serves in leadership with the Arizona Business Brokers Association and maintains active membership with the IBBA and M&A Source.

Dr. Leilani Felix-Acosta
Business Strategist · Exit Planning Advisor · Value Builder

Leilani understands that selling a business is not simply a financial event — it is one of the most personal and emotional transitions an entrepreneur will ever experience. Her background in healthcare executive leadership, operations, and organizational development gives her a unique ability to see the human dimensions of every exit. She works alongside sellers to ensure the transition protects not only the financial outcome, but the legacy they have spent years building.

Ready to Begin?

Great businesses deserve great exits.

Schedule a confidential consultation and discover exactly what your business is worth today — and how to ensure the exit reflects the value you have built.

Book a Consultation

Complimentary · Confidential · No obligation