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WEST PALM BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, September 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Business Brokers of Florida (BBF) brought nearly 300 business brokers, industry professionals, instructors and guests from across the state together August 28–29 for its biennial conference at the Hilton West Palm Beach.

The two-day event focused on education, collaboration and relationships that help business brokers successfully serve Florida business owners. The program featured practical sessions covering artificial intelligence, legal issues, SBA financing, deal execution and other topics affecting today’s business brokerage profession.

Conference attendees connected with industry experts to exchange ideas and explore the latest trends shaping small business ownership, acquisitions and transactions in Florida.

“Bringing our members together is one of the most valuable things we do as an organization, especially because cooperation and co-brokerage are such important parts of how the BBF operates,” said Ryan Cave, Chairman of the Business Brokers of Florida. “Our members facilitate almost $1 billion in business transactions annually. Continuing to improve our skills, share what we know, and strengthen relationships across the state helps us better serve the business owners and buyers who depend on us.”

A distinguishing feature of the conference was the involvement of BBF members themselves. Educational workshops were led by experienced BBF members and affiliates who volunteered their time and expertise to help fellow brokers improve their businesses and transaction skills.

The conference also provided numerous opportunities for networking and relationship building. Attendees connected with fellow brokers, industry partners and other professionals during receptions, meals and informal gatherings throughout the event.

“Business brokerage is built on expertise, trust and relationships,” said Cave. “The energy and engagement at this year’s conference demonstrated the strength of Florida’s business brokerage community and the value of coming together to share knowledge and build connections.”

As the conference concluded, attendees left with new ideas, expanded professional networks and valuable insights they can put to work in their businesses and with their clients.

About Business Brokers of Florida

Business Brokers of Florida (BBF) is a statewide professional organization dedicated to supporting business brokers and promoting professionalism and excellence within the business brokerage industry. Through education, networking, professional development and industry resources, BBF helps its members better serve business owners and facilitate successful business transactions throughout Florida. To learn more visit www.bbfmls.com.

The process of selling a business can be very intricate. A successful sale requires being in tune with what buyers are looking for and addressing any potential risk factors. Consulting with a professional business broker can help shed light on what your business needs to work on. By getting an accurate valuation, can help you discover the company’s strengths and weaknesses. Here are a few of the most important tips that many business owners are not aware of when preparing to sell their businesses.

No one wants to buy a business where they have to work long hours

Running a business requires a lot of dedication and many sacrifices. You undoubtably had to work hard to build your company up to where it is today. However, if operating the business requires long hours for meager pay, nobody will be interested in buying it. Buyers are typically not looking for a full-time job when trying to invest in a business. For the ones who are okay with working long hours, at least to start, the salary has to be worth it. Having to continuously invest long hours in running the business can hurt its value and growth potential.

Your business would be worth more if you stopped working so hard

An absentee, or even a semi-absentee owner business is more valuable than an owner-operated one. Buyers see an owner-operated business as a risk because the core knowledge belongs to the person who is exiting the company. Understanding the risks and benefits of each model of business operation will help you to realize how the value of your company can greatly benefit from taking a step back and allowing your business to run itself.

You can pre-qualify your business for an SBA loan

If your business is qualified for SBA lending, you will greatly increase the number of potential buyers who are qualified to purchase it. This gives you a big advantage in marketing the business for sale to buyers who need the financing. Going through the pre-qualification process also helps you to properly prepare your financials for the sale process. Business brokers have relationships with lenders so they can help pre-qualify businesses for SBA loans before listing them. Working with one can help you to work through the requirements and complete the process quickly.

Keeping key employees is a critical part of selling a business

Buyers are looking for a smooth transition when taking over a business. If proprietary knowledge about the company is confined to one, or a few individuals, it poses a big risk to the success of the company moving forward. As an owner, it is not only important to take a step back, but also makes sure key processes and knowledge about the business are well documented. A thorough operations manual can help transition the new owner and quickly train new staff members. If you haven’t already, begin grooming a strong management team and have an employee succession plan in place. You should also make a concerted effort to retain key employees and incentivize them to stay on after the sale.

Use a business valuation to defend your asking price

Getting an accurate business valuation not only helps you to prepare your business for sale, but also helps you to sell it. Financials play a huge role in formulating the value of your business, but there are many intangible factors that go into a valuation. A knowledgeable and experienced business broker will consider these in determining what your business is worth. While other professionals can provide you with a valuation, a business broker will be the subject matter expert on your business. Since they typically work with businesses from all industries and of all sizes, they are the most qualified to perform an accurate valuation, considering all factors. Their insight can help give you the guidance you need to boost your company’s value before the sale.

When preparing to exit your business, make sure you have an understanding of what buyers are looking for in an investment. Putting yourself in their shoes can help guide your decision-making throughout the sale process. Working with a broker will not only provide you with the expertise you need to sell your business for its maximum value, but also allow you to continue running it throughout the sale process, without dividing your time. While these tips are a valuable starting point for selling your business, having the right help can prevent you from making costly mistakes and greatly improve your odds of selling successfully.

The process of selling a business is difficult and complex, but selling a franchise is an even more elaborate undertaking. Franchise owners are often bound by the terms of their franchise agreement which can add a lot of obstacles to the process. Luckily, many franchises are desirable businesses, and a lot of buyers are looking for them.

Benefits of Selling a Franchise

There are several key elements of a franchise that make it an attractive option for people who want to start a business. One of the principal benefits is brand awareness. Having name recognition provides a competitive edge, since the business already has a reputation and the company has regional, or national appeal. It also helps with marketing and advertising. Even though franchise owners have fees to cover the cost, they get the benefit of widespread advertising without having to do the work for it. Franchises also come with formal training, and a proven business model. Prospective buyers are attracted to businesses that have consistent success in addition to documented methods for running the business. New owners can step into a turn-key business with a clear path to success. Not only is this attractive for buyers, but it also adds value to the business.

Obstacles When Selling a Franchise

One of the biggest caveats to selling a franchise business is that many franchisors must approve of the sale. Franchisors want buyers who are qualified to run the business successfully and will often have very specific financial requirements. Each franchisor is different, but they could require the franchisee to have a certain assets threshold, or put a large amount of money down when they purchase it. They may also want the buyer to have a certain amount of experience, or be able to commit to a training program. If you are an existing franchise owner, you should be familiar with these requirements, but might find it difficult to properly screen buyers and filter out those who don’t meet the criteria. A business broker can help you to find qualified buyers, and keep you from wasting time with unqualified ones.

Franchisors can also restrict franchisees from selling if there are any outstanding liabilities, especially if they are related to the franchise. For example, if a supplier is owed a large amount of money, the current owner must pay the debt before any sale can go through. Some franchisors have built-in protection that allows them to take over if the seller cannot pay their obligations. In this case they would take over both the franchise and the sales process. Make sure you do not have any large outstanding debts before you try to sell a franchise. If you find a buyer for your franchise, the franchisor may also get the right of first refusal. This means that if you get a written offer from a buyer, they have the chance to match that offer. In this case they must also match the same terms and conditions. While this might not seem like a bad thing, there are situations where it can hurt the seller. For instance, if a buyer were to offer a trade, such as property, as part of the deal, the franchisor wouldn’t be able to match the offer exactly. In this situation the franchise agreement may allow them to appoint an appraiser to value the business independently and give a fair valuation of the purchase price.

This has the potential to hurt your profits. Some franchise agreements also allow the franchisor to take up to 30 days to match an offer, which could slow down the sale process, although many make their decision much quicker. All franchise agreements are a little different. It’s best to study yours to understand your rights before you make the decision to sell. Because you do not have complete control over the process, it would be a good idea to hire a business broker to help you sell the franchise. A broker can help you review your agreement, point out potential obstacles, and assist you in preparing the necessary documentation for the sale. They can also be invaluable in screening buyers, performing due-diligence and negotiating. Brokers typically already have lists of qualified buyers looking for established franchises for sale, so they could help you find a pre-screened buyer quickly. This can save you loads of time and frustration over trying to find someone who meets the criteria of your franchisor.

BBF Members,

We’re heading into August with a lot of momentum, and I want to touch on two things: our upcoming conference and an issue that’s increasingly important to the future of our association.

First, online conference registration closes soon. I assume you’ve received the updates. If not, I hope you’ll register and join us in West Palm Beach. The conference is built around helping you close more deals and build stronger businesses. It’s one of the best investments you can make in your business this year, and I look forward to seeing you there.

Now for a more serious topic.

Unfortunately, we continue to have reports that some members are choosing not to post listings to the BLS or are not cooperating with fellow brokers who have qualified buyers.

I understand the temptation. Everyone wants both sides of a deal.

But BBF isn’t a listing platform you use when it’s convenient. We compete for listings and clients, then cooperate to get the best outcome for the buyer and seller. That only works if members actually participate.

When a broker withholds a listing from the BLS, or won’t engage with another member who has a real buyer, that’s not doing the right thing. That’s taking the benefits of membership without honoring what membership requires and is ultimately hurting the clients we represent.

A new BBF committee has been quietly reviewing these cases and gathering information. This has the full attention of BBF leadership, and some difficult decisions are coming.

Remember, BBF membership is a privilege.

If you’ve been posting your listings on the BLS and cooperating in good faith, thank you.

If not, this is your chance to fix it. Post your listings. Actively co-broker, not just when it’s convenient for you.

Personally, over 20 years, the BBF co-brokerage structure has put far more money in my pocket (and the pockets of my clients) than trying to game the system ever would have. I believe in the BBF because I’ve lived it.

Please treat others how you’d want to be treated.

Thank you for being a member of the BBF.

Ryan Cave

Members of Business Brokers of Florida® (BBF) closed over $900 million in business transactions in 2025, a 5% increase over 2024 and the second consecutive year approaching $1 billion in statewide deal volume.

BBF is the largest state association of business brokers and M&A advisors in the United States, connecting more than 900 members across Florida. The organization runs the state’s primary cooperative listing platform and brings together brokers, lenders, attorneys, CPAs, and valuation professionals who collaborate on deals and refer clients across markets.

“What sets BBF apart is active cooperation,” said Ryan Cave, Chairman of Business Brokers of Florida. “Our members regularly work opposite sides of the same deal – one representing the seller, another the buyer. Most associations have no real culture of that. It means Florida sellers reach more qualified buyers and get to the closing table faster.”

BBF expanded member education in 2025, with its five districts hosting luncheons and networking events across the state. The sessions give brokers direct access to experienced deal makers, SBA lenders, transaction attorneys, and valuation experts on the issues that stall or kill deals: preparation, financing gaps, due diligence, and seller expectations.

That focus carries into BBF’s statewide member Conference, held August 27–29 in West Palm Beach. The three-day program features IBBA- and M&A Source-accredited courses alongside working sessions on SBA financing, deal structuring and tax strategy, financial recasting, AI and technology in brokerage, and the legal pitfalls that derail transactions — taught by practicing lenders, attorneys, and top-producing brokers.

“A listing platform is easy to copy. A trusted network built over decades, where our professionals cooperate confidentially to co-broker deals, is not,” Cave said. “That’s what Florida business owners are really buying when they hire a BBF member to sell the business they spent years building.”

About Business Brokers of Florida®

Business Brokers of Florida® is the largest state association of business brokers and M&A advisors in the United States. BBF operates a cooperative listing system across five Florida districts and provides education, ethics standards, and deal exposure to its more than 900 members. Learn more at www.bbfmls.com.