Question 1

What makes FCBB Summit's 5-phase process different from other brokers?

Accepted Answer

Unlike traditional brokers who rush to list businesses for sale, our 5-phase process takes a consultative approach that results in an 87% success rate (vs. industry average of 20-30%). We assess business readiness before listing, prepare businesses properly, focus on finding the right cultural fit, and manage transitions for long-term success.

Question 2

What happens in Phase 1: Discovery & Assessment?

Accepted Answer

During this 2-4 week phase, we evaluate three key areas: Business Readiness (cash flow consistency, owner dependency, financial records), Market Attractiveness (competitive positioning, growth trends), and Owner Readiness (personal financial planning, timeline, valuation expectations). No listing agreement is required, and we only proceed if your business scores above 60% on our readiness assessment.

Question 3

What happens during Phase 2: Preparation & Optimization?

Accepted Answer

This 1-3 month phase focuses on enhancing business value through financial statement cleanup and recasting, operations documentation, management transition planning, growth initiative implementation, and employee retention programs. Businesses that complete our Preparation phase typically sell for 15-25% more than they would have without these improvements.

Question 4

How do you market my business while maintaining confidentiality in Phase 3?

Accepted Answer

Our Strategic Marketing & Buyer Pre-Qualification phase uses a two-tier approach with blind profiles initially. Only after interested parties sign NDAs and pass qualification do we share detailed information. We source buyers through our database of 12,000+ qualified buyers, strategic industry contacts, and targeted outreach to potential acquirers. This phase typically takes 2-3 months.

Question 5

How do you ensure a buyer will maintain my company's culture in Phase 4?

Accepted Answer

Our Legacy-Focused Buyer Matching includes a Cultural Compatibility Analysis evaluating leadership philosophy, employee treatment history, and growth strategy compatibility. We verify commitments through written agreements for employee retention (95% average retention 12 months post-closing), management continuity plans, and community presence continuation.

Question 6

How do you structure deals in Phase 5 to benefit both parties?

Accepted Answer

Our Win-Win Deal Structuring & Transition Management focuses on optimizing terms while ensuring buyer success, including employee protection clauses, transition support agreements, and performance-based earn-outs tied to retention. The closing process includes due diligence (30-90 days), purchase agreement negotiation, and transition planning with clear responsibilities and timelines.

Question 7

What results can I expect working with FCBB Summit's 5-phase process?

Accepted Answer

Our clients achieve 94% of asking price (vs. industry average of 85%), 4.7 month average closing time (vs. industry 9-12 months), 95% employee retention rate 12 months post-closing, 92% customer retention through transition, and 89% of sellers report their values and culture were preserved.

Question 8

Do I need to sign a listing agreement right away?

Accepted Answer

No. We start with a Discovery & Assessment phase with no listing agreement required. We only proceed to listing if your business scores above 60% on our readiness assessment, ensuring you're truly prepared to maximize value.

Question 9

How long does the entire 5-phase process take from start to finish?

Accepted Answer

The timeline varies based on business complexity and readiness, but our typical process takes 6-12 months total: Discovery (2-4 weeks), Preparation (1-6 months), Marketing (2-3 months), Buyer Matching (1-2 months), and Closing/Transition (2-3 months). This is significantly faster than industry averages while achieving better results.

Question 10

Will my employees and customers know the business is for sale?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality is paramount. Initially, only our team and pre-screened potential buyers who have signed NDAs will know. We work with you to determine when and how to inform key employees and customers - typically not until later in the process when a serious buyer has been identified. Our careful approach helps maintain business stability during the sale process.

Our Proven 5-Phase Process

Phase 1 --> Discovery & Assessment (No Listing Agreement Required)

Phase 2 --> Preparation & Optimization (1-3 Months Average)

Phase 3 --> Strategic Marketing & Buyer Pre-Qualification

Phase 4 --> Legacy-Focused Buyer Matching & Cultural Assessment

Phase 5 --> Win-Win Deal Structuring & Transition Management

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