Business brokerage
Sell your business with confidence.
Confidential business brokerage for owners of established, profitable companies—from a realistic valuation through buyer screening, negotiation, due diligence and closing. Led by Mike Steward, a licensed business broker with more than 20 years of experience, in 34 states.
Who Vision Fox helps
For owners ready to turn years of work into their next chapter.
Most clients are owners of profitable, owner-led businesses thinking about retirement, a new venture or simply stepping back. Some are ready to sell this year; others are one to three years away and want to know where they stand.
Vision Fox works with most established businesses where the numbers and situation make sense, with particular depth in home services, B2B services, franchise resales, light industrial and property-related businesses. Vision Fox does not take restaurant listings.
Typical best fit
- Roughly $1 million to $10 million in annual revenue
- Profitable, with durable cash flow
- Five or more years of operating history
- One or a few closely involved owners
- Located in one of the 34 brokerage states
The process
Six steps from first conversation to closing.
Every sale is different, but a disciplined process protects confidentiality, value and your time.
Confidential conversation
Your goals, timing, what you want life to look like afterward, and whether selling now makes sense.
Valuation and readiness review
A market-based view of value and the issues a buyer will notice, so you can decide whether to sell now or prepare first.
Prepare the offering
Recast financials to show true earnings, then build a confidential profile and offering materials that tell the business’s story.
Confidential marketing
Market the business without revealing its name; screen buyers for financial ability and fit; require confidentiality agreements before sharing details.
Offers and negotiation
Compare letters of intent on price, terms, financing and your role after the sale—not just the headline number.
Due diligence and closing
Coordinate diligence, financing, the purchase agreement and transition with your CPA and attorney through closing day.
How deals are structured
Price is only part of the deal.
How you are paid matters as much as how much. Vision Fox helps you weigh each structure against your goals, taxes and risk, together with your CPA and attorney.
- Cash at closing from the buyer’s equity and bank financing
- SBA-financed purchases, a common route for buyers of businesses priced within the SBA’s $5 million loan limit
- Seller financing, where you carry a note for part of the price
- Earnouts tied to future performance, used when value depends on retaining customers
- Asset or stock sale, which affects taxes, liabilities and contracts
SBA financing at a glance
- SBA 7(a) loans are capped at $5 million per loan (SBA policy notice, May 2026).
- For a full business acquisition, the buyer must put in at least 10% equity, and the lender cannot waive it (SBA SOP 50 10 8.1, effective October 1, 2026).
- A selling owner can stay on as a paid consultant for up to 24 months after closing, up from 12 (SOP 50 10 8.1).
The market
What the small-business sale market looks like.
National data gives useful context; your valuation is driven by your business’s own earnings, risk and buyer demand.
Recent market data
- Retirement drove 72% of business sales in the $1M–$2M range, and about three-quarters of advisors called the $2M–$50M market a seller’s market (Market Pulse, Q2 2026).
- Depending on the sector, 60% to 90% of sellers had done less than a year of exit planning—or none at all (Market Pulse, Q2 2026).
- Main Street deals took about 6 to 10 months from engagement to closing; lower-middle-market deals took about 11 to 12 months (Market Pulse, Q2 2026).
- On average, sellers received roughly 83% to 92% of the price in cash at closing (Market Pulse, Q2 2026).
Client experience
Owners who sold with Mike.
“Mike did a great job in procuring a buyer for the sale of our business even in the tough times of Covid. Mike was able to make the business sale contract seamless… Mike is a great communicator and if our paths cross again I would gladly use him as a business salesman or coach.”
“Mike was fantastic to work with throughout the entire selling process. We had a very difficult buyer, but he helped keep me on an even keel through the rough times. Very professional and skilled at his craft.”
“We recently sold our business in Foley, AL. Mike did a great job finding the right people to purchase our business. He is very Professional, Courteous and Pleasant to work with.”
Frequently asked questions
Selling a business.
Common questions from owners considering a sale.
How long does it take to sell a business?
Many sales take several months to a year from going to market to closing, depending on the business, its preparation, the buyer’s financing and diligence. Preparing financials before you list can shorten the process.
How much does it cost to sell a business with Vision Fox?
Brokerage is primarily success-based: the commission is paid at closing and explained up front in a written agreement. Valuations are priced separately, starting at $995.
How do you decide what my business is worth?
Value is based mainly on the earnings a buyer can count on—usually seller’s discretionary earnings or EBITDA—adjusted for risk, growth, owner dependence and market demand. A professional valuation shows the range and what drives it.
How do you keep the sale confidential?
The business is marketed without its name, buyers are screened and sign confidentiality agreements, and sensitive details are shared in stages. Vision Fox works remotely, so there are no visits to explain.
Will I need to stay after the sale?
Most buyers ask for a transition period to learn the business and meet key customers. The length and terms are negotiated as part of the deal.
Should I sell assets or stock?
Most small-business sales are structured as asset sales, but stock sales are common in some situations. The choice affects taxes, liabilities and contracts, so decide with your CPA and attorney.
Can buyers use SBA loans to buy my business?
Yes. SBA 7(a) loans are a common way for buyers to finance acquisitions, which widens the pool of qualified buyers for many businesses.
What documents do I need to sell?
Typically three years of financial statements and tax returns, a current-year profit and loss, a list of equipment and key contracts, lease details and an overview of your team.
Does Vision Fox sell restaurants?
No. Vision Fox does not take restaurant listings. It works with most other established businesses where the numbers and situation make sense.
Which states does Vision Fox serve?
Vision Fox provides business brokerage in 34 states and valuation and coaching nationwide. See the full state list.
What if my business is not ready to sell?
Then the best move may be to prepare first. Vision Fox coaching and exit-readiness work helps strengthen earnings, reduce owner dependence and raise value before going to market.
Sources: IBBA and M&A Source Market Pulse, Q2 2026; NAGGL, SBA Policy Notice Clarifying Maximum Loan Limits for 7(a) and 504 (summarizing SBA Policy Notice 5000-879058); Starfield & Smith, Best Practices: Change of Ownership Transactions Under SOP 50 10 8.1. General information, not legal, tax or investment advice.
A confidential first step
You built the business. Let’s talk about what comes next.
A conversation can give you a clearer sense of value, readiness, timing, and the path forward—whether you sell now or decide to prepare first.