ServicesSell a Business
Selling Your Business in Bastrop
The company you spent years building deserves a sale that stays private, runs in order and lands at a fair price. We get your financials ready, walk you through the ways a deal can be structured, and introduce buyers we have screened and who have signed confidentiality agreements. There is no charge to list your business with us at the start.
A sale built from the right pieces
Every business sale is assembled from the same raw pieces: three years of tax returns, a clean profit and loss statement, a list of equipment and inventory, the lease, and the people who keep things running. How those pieces are prepared and presented decides who buys, what they pay and whether the deal survives the lender's review.
We walk you through each piece and the choices attached to it. An asset sale or a stock sale. All cash at closing, or part seller-financed. A clean handoff, or a transition period where you stay on to train the new owner. Each option carries trade-offs in taxes, risk and timing, and we lay them out plainly so you choose with clear eyes.
This is the right call when you are ready to retire, move on or step back, and you want the sale handled confidentially by someone whose fee depends on the result. We Only Get Paid When The Seller Does.
What our sale service includes
- 01
A free, confidential valuation
We start by working out what your business is worth to a buyer, using seller's discretionary earnings, comparable sales and the condition of your assets. You get an opinion of value and the reasoning behind it. Our Business Valuation page explains the method in more detail.
- 02
Recast financials
Tax returns are written to lower taxes, not to show earning power. We add back owner perks, one-time costs and personal expenses so buyers and lenders see the true cash flow.
- 03
A confidential offering memorandum
We write a detailed profile covering history, operations, staff, customers and room to grow. Buyers see it only after signing a nondisclosure agreement and showing they can afford the deal.
- 04
Buyer screening
We check proof of funds, industry experience and financing readiness before anyone learns your business name. New listings go to registered buyers first, so serious candidates often appear early.
- 05
Deal structure and negotiation
We compare offers on more than price: down payment, seller note terms, earnouts, non-compete length, and how working capital and inventory are handled at closing.
- 06
Due diligence through closing
We organize document requests, coordinate with your attorney and CPA, and keep the lender's timeline moving. We stay with the deal to the closing table.
Questions about Sell a Business?
Call(512) 580-9359Signs a sale may be the right move
Retirement is on your mind
A well-prepared sale does not happen overnight. Owners who start a year or two before their target date usually have cleaner books and more options.
Your managers run the day to day
A business that runs without the owner present is simpler to hand over, and buyers pay attention to that.
The next stage needs money you would rather keep
When growing means another location, new equipment or a bigger team, a new owner with fresh drive and capital may be the right person to take it on.
You and your partner disagree on the future
If one partner is ready to leave and the other wants to expand, a sale or a structured buyout resolves it. Our Partner Buyouts and Succession page explains that path.
Buyers keep calling on their own
Interest from a competitor is nice to hear, but one bidder gets to set the terms. Taking the business to market quietly reveals its real value.
The path from your first call to the closing table
- 1
First conversation
We meet by phone, by video or at our office to hear your goals, your timeline and what matters to you for your employees. You sign nothing, and nothing leaves the room.
- 2
Value and readiness
We go through your financials, recast the earnings and settle on an asking price and the deal structures you are open to. Anything that could drag value down, like a short lease or no equipment list, gets raised at this stage.
- 3
Marketing without your name
Your business is listed anonymously. Buyers who show interest sign a nondisclosure agreement and pass our screening before they read the memorandum or meet you.
- 4
Comparing and negotiating offers
We line up every letter of intent next to the others, explain what each one gives and takes, and keep negotiating until the terms are ones you are ready to sign.
- 5
Diligence and closing
The buyer checks the books, the lease and the assets as the lender finishes its review. We hold everyone to the schedule until the money changes hands.
What you pay, and what drives your price
You pay nothing to list with us at the start. We do not ask for a retainer, and no extra charges are hidden in the paperwork. We earn a success fee at closing, and we show you how it is worked out during your consultation. What your business sells for comes down to the factors below.
- How steady and clean the earnings are
- Reliable, well-documented cash flow matters most. When your books match your tax returns and bank deposits, buyers and lenders trust the numbers.
- How much depends on the owner
- When customer ties and know-how sit only with you, buyers either lower their price or want you to stay on longer after the sale.
- Your lease or your building
- A lease with years left that can be transferred helps value. Owning the building and selling it alongside the business changes the deal, and our Business and Property Sales page explains that route.
- How buyers can pay
- Plenty of small business purchases combine an SBA loan with a seller note. If your business can qualify for bank financing, more buyers can afford it, and our Acquisition Financing Guidance page shows how lenders look at a deal.
- Assets and cash left in the business
- The shape your equipment is in, how much inventory you carry and the working capital that stays with the business at closing all change the final number.
What sellers want to know
Will my staff or customers learn that the business is for sale?
They will not hear it from us. Your name never appears in the listing, and every buyer signs a nondisclosure agreement before finding out who you are. Meetings with buyers are usually held after hours or somewhere other than your business, and the timing of telling employees is up to you.
How much time does a sale usually take?
Plan on several months from listing to closing, and longer in some cases. A sensible asking price, books that match up and a buyer who can get financing all shorten the timeline. Due diligence and the lender's review can take a couple of months by themselves.
Is there a charge to list my business?
No. Listing with us costs nothing at the start, and you will never be asked for a retainer. We are paid only at closing, from a sale that has actually gone through.
Is it smart to finance part of the sale myself?
In many cases, yes. Carrying a note signals your confidence in the business, brings more buyers into range and is often built into how a bank sets up the loan. The catch is that some of your money comes in over time, so we review the buyer's strength and the terms before we suggest it.
Can you help if my business is not in Bastrop?
Yes. We help owners throughout the surrounding area, Elgin, Smithville and Cedar Creek among them. We can meet at our office or by phone and video.
Learn what your business could bring
Begin with a free valuation, kept confidential, and an honest talk about timing, structure and price. Talking costs nothing and commits you to nothing.