Some Background to Our Approach:

Current ownership purchased Business-Trader.com at the end of 2007, prior to which, since 1996, we have operated a business brokerage firm. We’ve posted many Ads and have explored Ads on a number of business-for-sale web-sites, and have been instrumental in the purchase and sale of businesses, both for ourselves and on behalf of others.

• Over the past 35 years or so, we have owned and operated businesses of various sizes and in a number of commercial sectors. Since 1996, business operations have largely centered in a business brokerage firm, and in 2008, a business-for-sale website.
• Business ownership/operation has included businesses, ranging in size from start-up to about $40million annual sales. In the brokerage we have tended to represent businesses doing from $500thousand to $10-$15million, which is the general experience and size focus we bring to Business-Trader.com, although businesses of any size will be welcomed.
• In our brokerage experience, constants that we have found critical to the successful buy-sell process have been valuation, full factual presentation and a quiet confidential process, which are the specific experience, focus and resources we bring to Business-Trader.com.

Proactive Approach:

• Larger business brokerage firms, representing larger businesses typically, employ a deliberate, proactive, systematic valuation and representation approach.
• Businesses-for-sale-by-owner tend to take a less deliberate, less proactive and more reactive approach, not by plan but for lack of. The reactive approach often fails to prepare quantitative information and pricing is sometimes whimsical, frequently unrealistic; maybe stated as ‘negotiable’ just because the seller really doesn’t know.  
• We have looked at and/or purchased any number of ‘what’s your business worth’ programs, trying to find something suited to smaller business, but in the end, found them simplistic and inadequate and, over the years, have developed our own program; called ValuPro.

Buffer of Confidentiality:

• When a potential buyer makes inquiry of a business broker or other third party agent, the agent is in position to provide a buffer of anonymity and confidentiality to buyer and seller alike, by facilitating, through their own third-party hands, the necessary disclosure of value and other confidential information, in a quiet, controlled, confidential and non-identified manner; “disclosure without exposure.”
• But, buyers and sellers of “businesses for-sale-by-owner” tend to forfeit anonymity and confidentiality the moment of inquiry and response. Such forfeiture exposes both parties, but is particularly worrisome and critical to the business-owner, typically, and serves to fan the naturally conflicted interests of a seller who wants to protect the business until confident the buyer has serious intent, is capable and a good fit, and a buyer who just wants to know the business is a fit and makes sense, or move on.
• When there is no third party agent, Business-Trader.com is in position to provide that buffer of anonymity and confidentiality, and to facilitate the necessary disclosure of value and other confidential information through our third-party hands, in a quiet, controlled, confidential and non-identified manner. We offer safe and secure “disclosure without exposure” through our unique on-line intermediary services.

Success is in the Sale, or Purchase:  Although the majority of our clientele are business-sellers, it is business-buyers who bring ultimate success to the selling process. It’s only when a business SELLS that success has been achieved. Therefore, our objective will be to eliminate the clutter from Business-Trader.com, to advertize and present businesses-for-sale in ways that truly identify their fit and opportunity in the language of the buyer, and to assist buyer and seller alike generate and obtain the facts necessary to achieving that success.