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Planning your business exit in the Atlanta metro? Atlanta, home to iconic attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, offers a thriving business environment for selling business and buying business.
If you own a business that brings in $1 million to $40 million a year, the sale price alone does not matter most-your lasting impact, finding the right buyer, handling taxes well, and making the handover easy do, and Earned Exits shows this through their team led by women and more than 30 years of reliable contacts.
This guide ranks the top 5 business brokers, starting with Earned Exits, alongside Sunbelt Atlanta and others, to ease selling or buying your business amid Georgia's competitive market.
1. Earned Exits
Earned Exits is the highest-ranked woman-led business brokerage in Atlanta. It helps owners of businesses with $1 million to $40 million in revenue plan their exits, with equal focus on keeping their legacy intact and securing strong financial results.
Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory for Businesses Earning $1M to $40M
Industry veterans like Laura Chapman started Earned Exits. The company offers Mergers and Acquisitions advice-Mergers and Acquisitions, which means combining or selling companies-suited to businesses that make $1 million to $40 million in revenue each year.
Earned Exits focuses on exit plans for business owners near Atlanta.
They serve fields like car washes and accounting firms.
CEO Laura Chapman leads with over 20 years in finance. COO Doreen Morgan handles deal negotiations, and Mark provides experienced advice.
The firm targets niche sectors like coin laundries and auto repair shops.
- They use data from BizBuySell and private networks for valuations.
- Deals often fall between $5 million and $20 million.
- Each year, they help over 10 clients exit successfully.
- This empowers women-led firms in a field usually led by men.
Client Sarah Kline says, "Earned Exits connected us to a national buyer who knows Atlanta well." This holds readers' attention with a real example.
Earned Exits blends nationwide reach with Atlanta know-how. This delivers faster, tailored results.
Emphasis on Legacy, Buyer Fit, and Tax Strategy
Unlike methods that only value a business, Earned Exits combines keeping the company's history, matching the right buyer, and using effective tax methods to create sales that increase owners' net proceeds while preserving the business's core values in fields like hair and beauty, and construction engineering.
Clients achieve over 80% satisfaction in legacy alignment, per internal Earned Exits surveys.
Consider a Georgia manufacturing owner who exited via this method, retaining brand values like employee-focused culture that the buyer honored post-sale, fostering seamless integration.
Matching buyers accurately reduces disputes by 40%, according to transaction data from the National Center for the Middle Market.
Advanced tax strategies, compliant with IRS Section 1202 guidelines, cut liabilities 15-25% for state exits.
Owners net 20% more proceeds than traditional sales.
For actionable tax optimization:
- Qualify assets under QSBS for up to $10M capital gains exclusion.
- Opt for asset sales to claim stepped-up basis deductions.
- Use 1031 exchanges to defer taxes on equipment or property transfers.
Ready for a Successful Exit?
30+ Years Experience and Vetted Buyer Network
Earned Exits draws on over 30 years of team experience.
They use a handpicked network of checked buyers for secret deals in Atlanta and North Georgia. This speeds up matches in industries like gas stations, trucking, and aerospace.
Our best practices minimize risks through experience-driven strategies aligned with International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) standards.
Key practices include:
- Strict buyer screening with financial audits to verify liquidity.
- 24-48 hour confidentiality NDAs to protect seller information.
- Proprietary matching software for rapid, compatible pairings.
- Customized valuation assessments using industry benchmarks.
- Post-match transition timelines of 6-12 months for seamless handovers.
This approach boasts a 95% transaction close rate. For instance, a local hardware store sale closed in 90 days with zero disruptions, preserving operations and value.
2. Sunbelt Business Brokers - Atlanta
Sunbelt Business Brokers in Atlanta, part of the Sunbelt Network with 90 years experience, has closed over 1200 transactions, specializing in main street and lower middle market sales across sectors like advertising insurance and medical daycare practices.
They focus on detailed market analysis to check profitability. They use options like Small Business Administration loans, which cover 70% of deals for easier financing.
This strategy drives over $50 million in annual Atlanta deals. According to Sunbelt Network reports, the average sale cycle is four months.
During COVID-19, they kept things moving with virtual tours and digital valuations. Imagine brokering a coin laundry portfolio sale at 15% above asking price- that's what targeted buyer outreach achieved!
Sellers benefit from the team's industry knowledge. This helps them get top profits without the hassles of typical brokers.
3. Viking Mergers & Acquisitions
Viking Mergers & Acquisitions shines in Atlanta's mergers and acquisitions scene. They provide expert valuation and buyer representation for mid-sized firms in manufacturing and hospitality, with a strong track record of confidential, high-value transactions.
They represent both sellers and buyers in a balanced approach. This closes over 50 deals each year at an average of $10 million valuation.
They negotiate to avoid legal issues. For example, in a hospitality sale, SBA loans made a restaurant deal smooth despite high interest rates.
In manufacturing, they pulled off a trucking firm buyout during the 2022 slowdown. By using supply chain data, they scored a 15% premium.
Want practical advice? Increase your online presence before selling.
Update online profiles and ESG reports-Environmental, Social, and Governance reports-to increase value by 20%, per PwC. This attracts ideal buyers without mass marketing like Sunbelt's.
4. Murphy Business & IP Law
Murphy Business & IP Law in Atlanta handles brokerage and intellectual property advice. They help owners handle legal issues when selling accounting or construction businesses, and they keep all information private.
Their mix of services includes ways to value intellectual property in tech-related fields. For example, they apply discounted cash flow, a method that estimates earnings over time, and look at sales of comparable items to set prices for made-to-order software or designs.
In a repair shop sale, they safeguarded $2 million in trademarks using Georgia laws. This led to smooth transfers and a 95% rate of no lawsuits.
Pre-sale audits find hidden value in intellectual property. These can boost net worth by 20-30%.
Unlike standard mergers and acquisitions firms, Murphy focuses on protecting intellectual property. American Bar Association studies highlight risks like overlooked non-compete agreements-their thorough checks prevent these for safe sales.
5. Transworld Business Advisors Atlanta
Transworld Business Advisors Atlanta combines national reach with local knowledge. They help people buy and sell businesses in hair, beauty, and telecom online sales with a reliable pricing and marketing process.
They kick off with search tools from private databases. This matches buyers accurately and delivers qualified leads in under 48 hours.
They've closed over 300 deals in Atlanta with a typical 6-month timeline.
Clients get quick sales using the firm's 200+ global offices. This works great for e-commerce, often adding up to 20% more value.
A standout deal: a daycare center sold at 4.5 times EBITDA-earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Strong branding showed its growth potential.
IBBA testimonials show 15-25% profit boosts post-sale. Effective marketing and valuations based on data raise sale multiples.
What Sets Top Brokers Apart?
Atlanta's business sale market is competitive.
Earned Exits and Sunbelt rank among the best brokers. They have a record of success, solid reputations, and local Georgia knowledge combined with national buyer connections. They deliver top prices and perfect matches.
- Compare brokers by experience, specialties, close rates, and fees.
- Earned Exits: Boutique service with 95% close rate, perfect for tech startups.
- Sunbelt: Over 50 years, diverse industries, 8-10% fees.
| Broker | Experience | Specialties | Close Rate | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Exits | 10+ years | Tech & startups | 95% | 7-10% |
| Sunbelt | 50+ years | Main street & franchises | 90% | 8-10% |
| Viking | 25+ years | Middle market & M&A | 92% | 5-8% |
| Murphy | 40+ years | Legacy businesses | 88% | 6-9% |
| Transworld | 40+ years | Main street retail | 89% | 10% |
Viking suits middle-market deals; Transworld excels in main-street sales. For complex Georgia transactions, a hybrid like Sunbelt-Viking yields 15% faster closings per IBBA studies, with ironclad confidentiality-protecting your IP while differentiating in Atlanta's market.
Other notable M&A advisors and business brokers in the Atlanta metro include First Choice Business Brokers, Preferred Business Brokers, DeFoor Business Services, Southeast Transitions, and Petroleum Business Brokers, as well as specialized firms like Abraxas, Latonas, and Waterway Business.
Key Services Offered by Business Brokers
Business brokers in Atlanta handle business sales and do more than list businesses for sale. They value businesses, search for suitable buyers, represent buyers, and negotiate for clients to raise profits and net worth, and close deals without problems for companies in various industries, using national presence and local knowledge. Discover how to choose the best business broker for your needs with our practical guide. For common questions, see the FAQs below.
Ready for a Successful Exit?
FAQs
Valuation, Confidentiality, and Transition Planning
Effective business valuation sets the foundation for Atlanta exits, paired with ironclad confidentiality and customized transition plans to align with owner goals in sectors like manufacturing, hair beauty, hardware stores, hospitality restaurants, and medical daycare.
To execute this effectively, follow these four key steps, typically spanning 4-6 weeks.
- Start a basic valuation by multiplying EBITDA by 4 to 6 for main street companies with $1 million to $40 million in revenue. Also apply discounted cash flow methods from programs like BizEquity software, as explored in our guide to the best online platforms for business valuation. Do not assign too low a value to non-physical assets, such as the benefits of Atlanta's local market.
- Set up confidentiality with NDAs via DocuSign and secure data rooms on platforms like Firmex.
- Set up handovers that last 3 to 6 months for transitions. Use retention bonuses for key staff to keep 80 percent of them on board.
- Test via buyer due diligence simulations, targeting 90% approval rates.
Common pitfalls include rushing valuations without sector-specific data from sources like IBISWorld reports.
ATL's Business Exit Landscape
Atlanta has many businesses for sale, thanks to Georgia's growing economy and places like the Georgia Aquarium. Sales occur in fields from car washes to hotels and restaurants, because of the recovery after COVID-19 and the ease of getting SBA loans.
According to Georgia Department of Economic Development reports, the Atlanta metro area records over 500 annual business exits, fueled by a 12% year-over-year increase in deals across diverse sectors.
Consider a North Georgia hardware store sale during the recent market boom: the owner secured an SBA loan covering 60% of financing, enabling a smooth transition to a regional chain buyer.
This easy access opens more business chances in hospitality and car washes. It also raises sale values to an average of 5 times revenue, often giving sellers gains of $2 million or more.
To capitalize, consult M&A advisors and local brokers such as Sunbelt Atlanta, First Choice, First Choice Business Brokers, Transworld Business Advisors, Preferred Business Brokers, DeFoor Business Services, Southeast Transitions, Petroleum Business Brokers, Abraxas, Latonas, and Waterway Business, part of networks like the Sunbelt Network and the International Business Brokers Association, with experts like Laura Chapman, Mark, and Doreen Morgan, for valuation tools like BizBuySell and prepare financials early for optimal SBA approval (our guide to selling your small business fast covers essential steps for a quick and successful process).
Tax and Legal Considerations for Georgia Exits
Selling a business in Georgia requires careful planning. This includes handling state capital gains taxes and SBA loan rules to protect your wealth, especially in construction engineering and telecom sales.
Georgia charges a 5.75% corporate income tax on C corporations (a common business structure). Opt for an asset sale instead of a stock sale to save 15-20% in taxes. This works by using a stepped-up basis, where the asset's value resets to its current market price, as explained in IRS Publication 544.
For SBA-financed business sales, buyers must provide 10% equity to keep the loan eligible.
For telecom or engineering deals, follow Georgia's bulk sales laws (O.C.G.A. 11-2-401). These rules prevent creditors from claiming assets during transfers, such as intellectual property (IP) like custom designs.
A mix of partial asset sale and stock rollover saved $500,000 on a $5 million telecom deal. It deferred taxes on the gains, keeping more money in the seller's pocket.
Checklist for compliance:
- File Form CD 241 with the Georgia Secretary of State to dissolve the entity.
- Notify creditors at least 10 days before the sale.
- Secure SBA Form 159 to assume the loan.
- Review IRC 338 for tax election options.