Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” IBA, as the oldest & largest business brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest with a distinguished resume built through the sale of over 4300 businesses since 1975 has historically represented entrepreneurs who executed successfully on their vision, enjoyed what they did, experienced personal fulfillment, and had financial prosperity. We commonly say at IBA that our clients do not need to sell but want to sell. The most common reason business owners hire IBA to sell their privately held companies and family businesses is because they want to retire. The second most common reason is they have taken a company as far as they can/want and are ready for a change.
Our twenty intermediaries working out of seven offices in Washington & Oregon have had the honor of representing entrepreneurs who have built business models with almost as many variations in terms of types and locations as the diverse scenic beauty found in the region which within a few hours drive from the metropolitan areas of Seattle & Portland can include ocean beaches, rain forests, waterfalls, alpine lakes, river gorges, mountain meadows, groves of evergreen & deciduous trees, and the high desert. Each of the described natural locations are special and so are the products and services offered by every business represented for sale by IBA.
IBA welcomes the opportunity to represent franchised concepts and bread & butter business models found everywhere like janitorial businesses, groceries, and auto repair shops. These companies are valued in their communities and are often wonderful investments. However, the businesses that get our firm talking by the watercooler are the one-of-a-kind entities and people that approach us to sell their businesses created with inspiration and grown with passion. The following are some examples of those projects divided by sector:
Retail
Many entrepreneurs are motivated to create E-commerce and traditional retail businesses because they are frustrated consumers who cannot find desired products. The transactions IBA has facilitated involving unique retail companies have included an online store that sold metal detecting & prospecting equipment; multiple Nordic equipment retailers selling skis, snowshoes, and associated apparel; kitchen stores for those that love to cook; and a horse, cargo, & utility trailer dealership. Recent unique retail company sales by IBA have included The Quilting Bee (https://quiltingbeespokane.com/), Fisherman’s Marine & Outdoors (https://fishermans-marine.com/), Vancouver Woodworks (https://vancouverwoodworks.com/), and Heininger (https://www.heininger.biz/).
Service
A family favorite television show is Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives). It is my opinion the show illustrates how many ways exist to create the same item differently producing a variety of superior well received outcomes that can be monetized through engagement with the public. In the classic movie Field of Dreams there is a classic scene (https://youtu.be/5Ay5GqJwHF8?si=Mn-Km9CAgJHudyxf) where a voice says in a cornfield, “If you build it, he will come”. This is also true for providing quality service. If you perform it, they will come (customers). IBA’s past clients who provided superior service and built a loyal customer base have ranged in the services they provided from boat repair (https://ibainc.com/blog/nesha-ruther/the-story-of-jeanna-jim-rard-marine-servicenter/) to environmental chemistry audit services (https://ibainc.com/blog/nesha-ruther/the-story-of-ann-bailey-ecochem/) and from bank consulting services (https://ibainc.com/blog/nesha-ruther/the-story-of-joanna-bruno-jr-bruno-associates/) to home entertainment system design & installation (https://ibainc.com/blog/nesha-ruther/the-story-of-bryan-levy-eastside-a-v/). These diverse examples although illustrative, are similar to pointing out four stars in the sky on a clear night. 100’s more examples could be provided by our associates that are as diverse.
Manufacturing
Elon Musk has been quoted as saying, and I paraphrase, creating the prototype is easy next to manufacturing something at scale. Everyone knows someone who has created a widget in their garage or kitchen. Frequently, the widgets are innovative and perform at a high level. IBA has the honor of working with entrepreneurs who have not only created wonderful products but taken them to market successfully, producing increasing revenues and profit as a reward for their efforts. IBA’s past clients have created products as diverse as needle point looms (http://www.adp-usa.com/ez-stitch-lap-stands), dog toys (https://chuckittoys.com/), nuclear industry products (https://www.lancsindustries.com/), and exceptional alcohol (https://www.seattlemade.org/manufacturers/3-howls-distillery/).
It is enjoyable to reminisce about yesterday’s achievements, but IBA is a forward-looking company focused on present day achievements. As has been the case for the last fifty years, IBA has a deep & varied selection of companies available for acquisition. Present engagement projects include a dance studio; a jewelry studio specializing in products for the LBGT community; a company that provides the products & strategic support for corporate event speakers and seminars; a retailer specializing in products for nursing home residents; a manufacturer of molecular size components; a bar where you can bring your dog; a company that supports law enforcement personnel with innovative, state of the market equipment; and an E-Commerce store that will help you find the component part to repair your espresso machine.
If you are considering the sale of a unique company that sells, fabricates, distributes, or provides services, IBA would welcome the opportunity to learn about your business, exit strategy objectives, and provide an overview of our services. Our client support services include the ability to price unique business models (Historically our business valuations are within 10% of the eventual sale price for companies); market companies in an environment of confidentiality, so customers, employees, and vendors don’t become aware it is for sale until a public announcement is desired; and negotiate/facilitate the transaction to closing employing best practices. In addition, all conversations with IBA are held in strict confidence and no payments will need to be made to IBA until the transaction is successfully completed and you are paid.
Live the dream as an entrepreneur. Create, innovate, execute, and achieve. IBA will be there to help you turn your hard work into cash through the sale of your business when the time is right.
IBA, the Pacific Northwest’s premier business brokerage firm since 1975, is available as an information resource to the media, business brokerage, mergers & acquisitions, real estate, legal, accounting, banking, and wealth management communities on subjects relevant to the purchase & sale of privately held companies and family businesses. IBA is recognized as one of the best business brokerage firms in the nation based on its long track record of successfully negotiating “win-win” business sale transactions in environments of full disclosure employing “best practices”.