Best UK business broker

Emma Cain

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Jan 14, 2020
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Which UK business broker give best solution for free market valuation in business sale???
 
Thanks @The Byre for recommending my website.

@Emma Cain , I'm the only UK expert on business brokers. What's the size of your business (turnover and profit)? And what type of business is it (sector / industry)?

Be aware that most micro businesses have a value of £0 but many business brokers will give you a high number just to get you all excited. Be warned! There are a lot of dodgy brokers around.

Before you go speaking with brokers, first decide whether a business broker is right for your business.
 
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@Mark T Jones , LOL.

Yes, there are about a dozen brokers with really, really bad reputations who get tons of bad press and feedback online. The amazing thing is that most small businesses still end up with these brokers rather than the 1000 others!

It's mind boggling. I put that down partly to the aggressive marketing that these brokers do. They'll pester and pester and come and see you and swear on their mother's life they can get you millions for your business. But why don't business owners go do some research online before signing up?

For many years I've been the main adviser to CEBTA, a non-profit that exists solely to help business owners who've been swindled by business brokers; it's run by a lady called Jane . I don't have the time to deal with these muppets myself - the greedy/ignorant people who signed up with the likes of KBS and paid £5K without doing any research - but I've pumped thousands of pounds of time/money into CEBTA to help these people indirectly. (I just don't have the patience to work with them directly myself. I know my limitations.)

With respect Turner Butler, I first met Shaun Sweeney of Turner Butler about 20-25 years ago when it was Turner & Co (Shaun subsequently sold the business). Nice enough chap. But, as with all brokers, he talked a good game but couldn't deliver. I had a business listed with him for about 6 months back in the nineties (partly because he offered a seductive "no-sale-no-fee" deal). Needlessly to say, it didn't sell.

I wish I knew then what I know now!
 
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@Mark T Jones , LOL.

Yes, there are about a dozen brokers with really, really bad reputations who get tons of bad press and feedback online. The amazing thing is that most small businesses still end up with these brokers rather than the 1000 others!

It's mind boggling. I put that down partly to the aggressive marketing that these brokers do. They'll pester and pester and come and see you and swear on their mother's life they can get you millions for your business. But why don't business owners go do some research online before signing up?

For many years I've been the main adviser to CEBTA, a non-profit that exists solely to help business owners who've been swindled by business brokers; it's run by a lady called Jane . I don't have the time to deal with these muppets myself - the greedy/ignorant people who signed up with the likes of KBS and paid £5K without doing any research - but I've pumped thousands of pounds of time/money into CEBTA to help these people indirectly. (I just don't have the patience to work with them directly myself. I know my limitations.)

With respect Turner Butler, I first met Shaun Sweeney of Turner Butler about 20-25 years ago when it was Turner & Co (Shaun subsequently sold the business). Nice enough chap. But, as with all brokers, he talked a good game but couldn't deliver. I had a business listed with him for about 6 months back in the nineties (partly because he offered a seductive "no-sale-no-fee" deal). Needlessly to say, it didn't sell.

I wish I knew then what I know now!

Sadly greed and laziness will always be fertile ground for crooks.

My industry is no better

'Rates from'
Offer letters that aren't really offers at all
Outright lies (they are clever enough not to put them in writing)
Then the 'urgent' sign up - removing others from the market.

Wise business owners want to understand, gullible fools just want to hear nice things.
 
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