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 over 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

The Emotional Side of Selling Your 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…

The Fundamentals of Business Valuation – EBITDA Times a Multiple

I was raised in a family where teaching was frequently a chosen profession. My mother, her sister, an uncle, 1st cousin, and others pursued the noble career path of developing minds for future success in society.  Knowledge is power.  One of the most important valuation principles in mergers & acquisitions uses a math principle, most…

How to Deal with Multiple Offers: Choosing the Right Buyer for Your 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…

Buy a Business Articles

Why 2025 is an Excellent Year to Sell or Buy a Manufacturing Company

“Opportunities are like sunrises.  If you wait too long, you miss them.” William Arthur Ward A philosophical change in the approach to managing the United States economy will arrive in Washington DC in January 2025. New leadership is focused on enhancing the role of the American manufacturing sector in the world economy. Domestic manufacturing creates…

Acquisition Advantages of Buying a Specialty Retail 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…

Mergers & Acquisitions in the Technology Sector

IBA was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1975 and expanded to the Seattle metropolitan area in 1991 based on regional demand for our business brokerage services. One year prior in 1974 to IBA’s formation under the leadership of G. William Ososke, Intel (https://youtu.be/yJrFLKUYx9E?si=bl1uO7ggXhLMYQTm) established operations in Oregon. Today, Intel’s largest corporate operation in terms of…

Entrepreneurship Articles

Multiple Generation Family Entrepreneurship

On average, the self-employed in the United States are wealthier than the non-self employed and are significantly wealthier than workers and retirees (https://advocacy.sba.gov/2021/08/17/small-business-facts-the-importance- -business-ownership-to-wealth/).  This reality, often without documented research, is frequently conveyed around America by parents & grandparents sharing wisdom with younger generations at family kitchen tables serving pot roasts, lasagna, carne asada, sushi, chelo kabab…

Life Insurance: Important Safety Net or Unnecessary Expense for an Entrepreneur

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…

The Story of Dylan Wentworth of Ertell Electric

American Dream Achieved IBA, as a 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, customers,…

Business Brokerage Articles

Why IBA is Celebrating 50 Years of Quality Representation of Business Owners in 2025

In 1975, a group of senior, successful business brokers led by G. William Ososke, created IBA in an effort to offer the state of Oregon superior representation in the sale of privately held companies and family businesses than was currently being offered in the marketplace. From that humble beginning, the company has grown to represent…

Buddha’s Business Brokerage Wisdom

On a December 2024 family trip to Thailand & Cambodia, I read Karen Armstrong’s book, Buddha (https://www.amazon.sg/Buddha-Karen-Armstrong/dp/0143034367), to better understand the dominant religion in that part of the world.  Over 93% of the population of Thailand observes the Buddhist faith. The percentage exceeds 97% in Cambodia.  Three elements of Buddha’s teachings resonated with me as…

Happy Holidays

True wealth is found in family, friends, and experiences shared together. They fill our minds with happy and inspirational thoughts, the true gold of life. Thank you for being part of our world in 2024.  It is with great gratitude we say thank you for the opportunities provided us, the people who trusted us, the…

Information Resources

Providing Younger Employees With the Necessary Resources to Better Understand Their Benefits

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…

Valuation Levers: Factors that Impact a Business Valuation

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…

Cash Flow Calculations Explained from a SBA Lender Perspective

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…

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