IBA (International Business Associates), commonly recognized in the business community as a market leader for knowledge & experience, maintains a blog featuring content from our professional team and industry colleagues as a library resource.   Information published in the venue is focused on selling and buying privately held companies and family businesses, plus topics relevant to successful entrepreneurship in the Pacific Northwest. The president of IBA, Gregory Kovsky, frequently provides content for the blog.  Mr. Kovsky has approximately 30 years of experience in mergers & acquisitions, business brokerage, and commercial real estate. He has personally completed over 300 transactions involving manufacturing, distribution, industrial, marine, education, retail, service, and technology companies.

IBA, the Pacific Northwest’s premier business brokerage firm since 1975, is available as an information resource to the media, business brokerage, mergers & acquisitions, and real estate communities on subjects relevant to the purchase & sale of privately held companies and family businesses.  Video and audio content from IBA is available on the video page of this website: Videos – IBA Business Brokers.  IBA is recognized as one of the best business brokerage firms in the nation in terms of successfully negotiating transactions that are “win-win” in an environment of full disclosure while employing “best practices” between the parties.

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Blog article submissions are welcome from the accounting, legal, banking, financial planning, and other industries affiliated with the sale or purchase of businesses and real estate.

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Sell a Business Articles

Selling A Construction or Home Services Company in 2024

The construction and home services components of the American economy are significant and good barometers of the health of the ecosystem.  In 2023, the revenue generated by the construction industry as an element of GDP in the United States was estimated at $1,960 billion (https://www.contractormag.com/construction-data/article/21280009/contractors-2024-economic-forecast), an approximately 6% increase over 2022.  In January 2024, over…

Transaction Legal Negotiations: Why You Want A M&A Intermediary Involved.

I am not an attorney.  I did not go to law school.  I do not provide legal advice.  I am a mergers & acquisitions intermediary.  I have negotiated and facilitated successfully to close over three hundred transactions involving the sale of privately held companies during my thirty years in this profession.  My firm, IBA, has…

The Seven Reasons Location Matters in the Sale of a Business

The famous quote, “The three most important things when buying real estate are location, location, location” is attributed to Lord Harold Samuel. Although businesses can be successful anywhere, location can be a significant influence on the value of a privately held company or family business. The following are seven factors that can contribute to a…

Buy a Business Articles

The Significance of Business Experience When Buying A Business

IBA, as the premier business brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest, is firmly established as a respected professional service firm in the legal, accounting, banking, mergers & acquisitions, real estate, and financial planning communities.  Periodically, we will post guest blogs from professionals with knowledge to share for the good of owners of privately held companies…

Understanding What a Truly Neutral Closing Agent Looks Like in Your Transaction.

IBA, as the premier business brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest, is firmly established as a respected professional service firm in the legal, accounting, banking, mergers & acquisitions, real estate, and financial planning communities.  Periodically, we will post guest blogs from professionals with knowledge to share for the good of owners of privately held companies…

Entrepreneurship Opportunity in the Suburbs & Exurbs

A foundational element to being able to provide sage advice is relevant knowledge and experience.   IBA, as a nearly fifty-year-old business brokerage and commercial real estate firm that has facilitated almost 4300 transactions, is blessed to have accumulated significant knowledge and experience related to valuing, negotiating, and closing sales of privately held companies and family…

Entrepreneurship Articles

The Story of Jeffrey Heininger of Heininger Holdings

American Dream Achieved IBA, as an approximately fifty-year old business brokerage firm serving the entrepreneurial community of the Pacific Northwest, has been uniquely positioned since before the American Bicentennial celebration of 1976 to witness and hear the stories of thousands of people who have lived the American dream through entrepreneurship creating beloved businesses by employees,…

The Story of Dana & Diana Johnson of Mt. Baker Roofing

American Dream Achieved IBA, as an approximately fifty-year old business brokerage firm serving the entrepreneurial community of the Pacific Northwest, has been uniquely positioned since before the American Bicentennial celebration of 1976 to witness and hear the stories of thousands of people who have lived the American dream through entrepreneurship creating beloved businesses by employees,…

Female Entrepreneurs Often Shine in Challenging Situations and Evolving Marketplaces

Secretariat is one of the best athletes in American history and perhaps the greatest thoroughbred stallion of all time (https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016464.html). The name is historically iconic in a similar manner to Pele, LeBron, and Serena.  However, like most exceptional athletes the story of their success is as much about the team around them as their individual…

Business Brokerage Articles

Q1 2024 IBA Activity Update

The calendar year 2024 started approximately seven weeks ago.  The year of the Wood Dragon started February 10, 2024, according to the Chinese Lunar calendar. The Year of the Dragon (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-is-the-year-of-the-dragon-considered-so-lucky-180983764/) according to Chinese astrology is about action, dynamism, and taking concrete steps to manifest the reality we want for our lives.  I am not…

No One Ever Listened Themselves Out Of A Deal

My cousin, Linda Wolff, and a partner, Joyce Burk Brown, recently wrote a children’s book, The Magic in Listening (https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Listening-Adventures/dp/B09PMKNDN9). The targeted audience for the book is children, but like many works of children’s literature, the lessons conveyed are valuable for incorporation into life and business. I had a client that made all his employees…

Autumn 2023 IBA Activity Update

It is hard to believe that the leaves on the trees are in the process of turning yellow, orange, and red from green; the Seahawks were playing football on Monday night yesterday; and we will shortly be seeing witches, super heroes, and princesses on our streets seeking treats on their Halloween night journeys. Where has…

Information Resources

What You Need to Know if Cannabis is Rescheduled from a Schedule 1 Drug to a Schedule 3

IBA, as the premier business brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest, is firmly established as a respected professional service firm in the legal, accounting, banking, mergers & acquisitions, real estate, and financial planning communities.  Periodically, we will post guest blogs from professionals with knowledge to share for the good of owners of privately held companies…

Do You Own a Business Based on Intellectual Property?

IBA, as the premier business brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest, is firmly established as a respected professional service firm in the legal, accounting, banking, mergers & acquisitions, real estate, and financial planning communities.  Periodically, we will post guest blogs from professionals with knowledge to share for the good of owners of privately held companies…

Risk and Hard Work Precede Achievement and Financial Rewards

The Kansas City Chiefs traded up in the NFL draft in the spring of 2017 paying, what was viewed by many at the time, as a steep price for an unproven professional talent to obtain the rights to Patrick Mahomes (https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-trade-up-for-qb-patrick-mahomes-at-no-10-0ap3000000803405). Seven seasons later the Chiefs will be making their fourth trip to the Super…

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