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.

Guest Articles

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.

Submit Article

Read the Latest Articles

Featured Articles

Most Popular Articles

Sell a Business Articles

Six Reasons it is Prudent to Engage a Business Brokerage Firm with Licensed Real Estate Professionals to Sell Your Business

IBA was honored to be included again in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s list of the largest Commercial Real Estate Brokerages serving the Puget Sound Region (https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/subscriber-only/2023/08/11/commercial-real-estate-brokerages.html)  in the August 11-17 issue of the publication with a ranking of 16th in terms of number of Washington licensed real estate professionals. The ranking reflected a five…

Selling a Bakery

The ambiance of a business meeting dramatically changes when fresh baked goods and coffee are present.  Simple, but wonderful pleasures.  In some cases by design and others by happenstance, IBA’s four offices in the Pacific Northwest all have bakeries in close proximity to bring products in for meetings in our conference rooms when the discussion…

Selling a Company With a Recurring Revenue Stream

In 1994, as a University of Texas McCombs School of Business graduate exploring my second professional career path post-college, I entered the world of business brokerage.  The founder of IBA, G. William Ososke, and my sage mentor in this business as part of my training provided me with a comprehensive overview of the marketplace for…

Buy a Business Articles

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…

Should I Buy an Established Business or Franchise as an Entrepreneur?

IBA is one of a few professional service firms in the United States serving the entrepreneurial community that has experienced, knowledgeable, highly skilled brokers specializing in Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Brokerage, and Franchise Brokerage with the ability to also sell commercial real estate. One of the questions we frequently receive from people interested in transitioning…

The Process Associated with Buying a Business

IBA, over its nearly fifty-year history as a business brokerage & commercial real estate firm serving the Pacific Northwest, has been sought after frequently as a speaker by business schools, trade schools, banks, non-profit organizations, and government entities.  One of the topics we are asked to cover is the process associated with acquiring a privately…

Entrepreneurship Articles

The Story of Tamara Simon (Koss Property Management)

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,…

Recognizing the Contribution Business Owners Make in Our Communities on World Entrepreneurs Day: August 21

August 21 is the day, World Entrepreneurs Day (https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/world-entrepreneurs-day/), around the globe for recognition and gratitude for the entrepreneurs who provide valued products & services, create employment, generate taxes for social services, and generally make our lives better in their communities.   The following are a few statistics to consider related to this valuable component of…

The Story of Eric & Michelle Johnson (Washington Generators)

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,…

Business Brokerage Articles

Don’t Underestimate the Value of Experience When Selecting a Business Broker

As a college football fan, resident of Seattle, and University of Texas graduate I have been following the career of Steve Sarkisian as both a high performing college quarterback and coach for decades ( https://populartimelines.com/timeline/Steve-Sarkisian).  His athletic skill, intellectual ability to process information, and execute at a high level under pressure were evident at BYU…

Spring 2023 IBA Activity Update

Spring 2023 IBA Activity Update The Real Mother Goose (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1001896.The_Real_Mother_Goose), originally published in 1916 is a source for the saying, “March Winds and April Showers, will bring May Flowers”.   If recent weather has been any indication, the Pacific Northwest should be in for a “blooming” good May in 2023.  Hoping the next couple weeks brings…

IBA Opens 4th Pacific Northwest Office to Satisfy Regional Demand for M&A Intermediary Services

IBA is pleased to announce that it recently opened a second office in Oregon and its fourth physical office location in the Pacific Northwest in Bend, Oregon.  The office featuring the opportunity to meet confidentially in person with IBA business brokers and for our intermediaries to facilitate meetings between buyers, sellers, and their advisors in…

Information Resources

Recognizing & Articulating the Value of Intangible Assets in a M&A Transaction

The valuation of tangible assets (Equipment, Rolling Stock, Inventory, Real Estate, etc.) in a mergers & acquisitions transaction is a fairly straight forward activity.  In most cases, direct market comparables provide readily available reference points for establishing value.  Websites like Commercial Truck Trader (https://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/) allow brokers, buyers, sellers, and appraisers to assess values for equipment…

How Non-U.S. Citizens Can Open or Acquire a U.S. 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…

No Cash But Big Business Aspirations? No Problem

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…

Best of Last Year

IBA Broker Awards