What is a business broker? How KBS delivers an elevated service
A business broker is someone who will aid the company sales process for business owners. But there are business brokers, and there are business sales advisers who provide a much more complete service. At KBS Corporate, we have proven throughout our history that we are at the forefront of the second of those distinct categories.
Whether you are preparing to retire, need a succession plan, are de-risking, require support for further growth or are seeking external funding, selling your business without a business sales adviser can be extremely complex. Throughout this guide, we will explain the role of a business broker, how KBS goes way beyond that description, and how our holistic service can help you get the best sale price for your business.
| With 25+ years of industry experience and unrivalled buyer reach, KBS is the UK’s No.1-ranked business sales company by both LSEG & Experian. We support our clients through the entire sale process, from identifying potential buyers to negotiating deals and managing the legal process. Visit our Business Brokers page to begin your confidential enquiry. |
What Does A Business Broker Do?
The fundamental role of a business broker is to match a vendor and a buyer to facilitate the sale of a business.
However, a broker may simply advertise the company on the leading commercial platforms for business sales, play a part in the initial negotiations and then step back to leave the client to navigate the more complex aspects of the transaction.
If instead you were to partner with a business sales adviser such as KBS, which offers a rounded service encompassing all elements of a deal, you can truly maximise the sales potential of your business.
Among the features included within our service are:
- Preparing Marketing Materials – Our dedicated team of in-house copywriters will prepare all necessary sales documents, including a confidential Opportunity Summary ‘teaser’ and an Information Memorandum, to portray your company’s unique and compelling features and showcase your business to buyers.
- Identifying Potential Buyers – Our cutting-edge Buyer Matching Engine harnesses the power of ‘big data’ to identify the best prospective buyer for your business, using features such as portfolio tracking, acquisition analysis and geographical mapping.
- Handling the Negotiation Process – Our experienced team of Deal Executives has successfully brokered more sales than any other UK company for decades. We maximise business valuations through positive, competitive deal-making.
- Managing the Legal Process – Your Deal Executive will guide you through the legal complexities of business sales, including due diligence, contracts and closing. We also provide you with access to our panel of legal partners whose services can be woven in with inclusive fees, ensuring a smooth and successful transaction.
- Safeguarding Confidentiality – We prioritise discretion at every stage of the sales process. From initial outreach to final negotiations, all buyer communications are carefully managed under strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), ensuring your business information remains secure and confidential throughout.
| At KBS Corporate, we are firmly established as the UK’s No.1 mid-market company sales adviser, selling SMEs with valuations up to £15million and sometimes more. Visit our previous post on selling a business properly to discover how to prepare your business for sale and maximise its value. |
Should I Use A Business Broker to Sell My Business?
Using the services of an expert business sales adviser is highly recommended, as they provide many benefits that selling solo does not. At KBS Corporate, our experience in all sectors and deep understanding of the UK economy give our business advisers the knowledge and resources to identify the perfect buyers for your business.
Some of the benefits of using a company sales expert for your business sale include:
- Experience & Expertise – Our advisers have over 25 years of experience in business sales, with a proven track record of success, expertise and technical knowledge.
- Unrivalled Buyer Network – Our brokers have relationships with 500+ private equity firms and trade buyers, holding 6,000+ investments. Visit our Buyer Reach page for more details.
- Maximised Sale Value – Our advisers are skilled negotiators who help you get the best selling price for your business. We present your company in the most favourable light, matching you with the ideal buyer.
- Save Time & Effort – Selling a company can be time-consuming. Our Deal Executives handle the difficulties and negotiations so you can focus on running your business.
- Access to Resources – Our Deal Executives have access to cutting-edge technology and resources that may not be available to you as an individual seller.
- Confidentiality – We maintain a strict standard of confidentiality throughout the business sale process to protect your sensitive information. Visit our Confidentiality Guide for more information.
How to Find A Business Broker
Partnering with a KBS Corporate business sales adviser allows you to streamline the sale procedure. Explore our Client Case Studies to see how we have helped businesses efficiently achieve their objectives throughout the closing process.
Identifying the right business sales adviser is vital to enhancing your company’s sales value. Here are a few factors to consider when searching for an adviser:
- Check Reviews & Credentials – Selecting a broker with a breadth of experience and credentials is important to the success of your deal. At KBS, our unique approach to business sales has been recognised by several awarding bodies – visit our Credentials page for more information.
- Search for Specialists – At KBS, we are run by directors who have previously owned and sold their businesses, providing us with first-hand experience in the company sales field. Explore our Team directory to learn more about our expert business sales advisers.
- Evaluate Resources – When choosing a business broker, it is important to consider the quality of their network of suitable buyers and necessary resources. Our combination of top-quality marketing techniques and investment into business intelligence systems allows us to streamline the company sales process and maximise your business value.
| At KBS, we have a rich history of securing investments for clients across a wide range of industry sectors with our corporate finance advisory services. We are dedicated to maintaining excellent relationships with clients & buyers – visit our Completed Sales page to find out more. |
Business Broker FAQs
While it is possible to sell your business without an adviser, we strongly advise against it. Without professional guidance, you open yourself up to vulnerabilities with warranties and indemnities, potentially resulting in a less favourable deal than the value of your company indicates. Using a business sales adviser also saves you time and stress, allowing you to focus on running your business.
Choosing a reputable adviser is essential to achieving your company sales goals. At KBS, our business transaction advisers provide full transparency throughout the sale process – our extensive buyer network and knowledgeable Deal Executives are what gains us our spot as the UK’s No.1 business advisory service.At KBS Corporate, we prioritise transparency with our fee structure for what is an elevated service compared to that of the average business broker. Clients will pay an upfront fee for initial costs, plus a success rate if your business sells. This ensures the interests of both KBS and our clients are aligned, fostering a strong partnership throughout the process.
At KBS Corporate, we prioritise transparency with our fee structure for what is an elevated service compared to that of the average business broker. Clients will pay an upfront fee for initial costs, plus a success rate if your business sells. This ensures the interests of both KBS and our clients are aligned, fostering a strong partnership throughout the process.
Although some transactions can take as little as 9 to 12 months, we advise patience because the most important thing is to achieve the best possible deal, regardless of how long it may take. The right preparation and readiness of the company owner will help to make the transaction smoother and potentially faster.
There is a retainer payment to engage our services, as we need to ensure we can deliver the right platform for your company sale. It is a two-way investment – we invest heavily in the process and ask for a small investment from the business owner also.
You are instructing us to bring you offers. We could bring you multiple offers, you could have a change of heart and decide not to sell. There is no guarantee for us that you will accept an offer. The business will always remain your business until the transaction is completed, so we ask for a level of commitment from you in the process.
We will deliver a team of people to work on your project – a deal leader, a document writer and researchers. They will all be instrumental in achieving a successful outcome for you.
We would always look to present on a ‘bids invited’ approach, as this will allow us to target a much wider pool of buyers, bringing several parties to the table that we would not capture should we put a fixed value on the business. Not only does it allow us to bring multiple parties to the table, but it also allows us to create competitive tension, which ensures we can obtain the optimum value for your business.
Maximise Your Business Potential with KBS Corporate
Selling your business is a significant decision, and navigating the complexities can be daunting. At KBS Corporate, we have been providing comprehensive guidance with company sales since 1998, ensuring you are supported every step of the way.
Our team of seasoned business sales professionals with a proven track record of success will work tirelessly to maximise your company’s value, ensuring the optimum outcome for your sale. With transparent fees, an unparalleled buyer network and access to our all-inclusive legal services, we ensure a smooth and successful transaction for both you and your buyer.
Partner with KBS Corporate to efficiently reach your business goals. Contact us today for a confidential consultation and discover how we can help enhance your company’s worth.