
GABB Class: Securing and Managing Listings, Aug. 17
Whether you’re new to the profession of buying and selling businesses, or have limited experience as a business broker, this Aug. 17 GABB class will teach you the best practices to secure and manage listings for businesses for sale.

Matt Wochele, CBI
Securing and Managing Business-for-Sale Listings (GREC#73352) will also help you when you’re selling someone else’s listing, review marketing strategies, cover ethical issues, help you analyze the financials of businesses for sale, and teach you how to guide a client through meetings with prospective buyers, negotiations, financing and closing. The class will be taught by GABB’s Vice President Matt Wochele, CBI, founder of Preferred Business Brokers, Inc. and a Life Member of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers’ Multi- Million Dollar Club.
This class is part of the GABB’s Board-Certified Broker credential program. Students who successfully attend all three hours of the class and pass the test will be eligible for credit through the Georgia Real Estate Commission. The class will be held both in person and online via Zoom, although the instructor is urging students to attend the class in person.
To encourage students to attend the class in person, the GABB will offer attendees several prizes including a one-year membership to the GABB and Starbucks giftcards. Only students who attend the class in person are eligible for these incentives.
The class (GREC #73352) will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the classroom of the Georgia Association of Realtors at 6065 Barfield Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Per GREC rules, students who arrive promptly and stay for the entire class are eligible to earn three hours of continuing education credit through the Georgia Real Estate Commission and the GABB’s Real Estate School, GREC #8074. Students who prefer to attend via Zoom must remain on camera; the link will be sent after you register.
The class fee is $49 for GABB members, $75 for non-members, and $225 to register for the BCB program and one class. Note that the BCB program is only open to GABB members. Contact GABB Executive Director Diane Loupe at diane.loupe@gabb.org or text her at 770-744-3639 for more information.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
After attending Bucknell University and St Joe’s University Matt Wochele started his professional career as a stockbroker in NJ in 1978. In 1981 he was transferred to Atlanta to head up the firm’s investment banking business in their Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Houston offices. After 18 years working with public companies, Mr. Wochele started Preferred Business Brokers, Inc. in 1996. He has sold more than 300 main street and lower middle market businesses in the past 25 years. Mr. Wochele is a Certified Business Intermediary, a Life Member of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers’ Multi- Million Dollar Club, a GABB Phoenix Award recipient, a member of the International Business Brokers Association and is currently serving as Vice President of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers’ board.
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GABB Class: Business Broker Models, July 13
Business brokers will learn how to set up their practice, identify and define their market, identify clients, conduct feasibility studies; recruit, supervise and train staff, and the ethics of different broker models, in this July 13 class presented by the Georgia Association of Business Brokers.
Business Broker Models will be offered both in person and via Zoom on July 13, and is part of the GABB’s Board-Certified Broker credential program. Students who successfully attend all three hours of the class and pass the test will be eligible for credit through the Georgia Real Estate Commission.
The class will be taught by former GABB president Michael Ramatowski, CBI, chief executive of RamBizGroup Business Solutions, a specialty M&A business brokerage firm. Mr. Ramatowski’s business brokerage profession began in 1992.

Michael Ramatowski, CBI
Mr. Ramatoswki’s clients include general brokerage and candidates for merger by acquisition from manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses. A longtime member of the GABB, he has owned and managed businesses that included a real estate master franchise, a property management networking company, and a service business. As COO of a banking conglomerate, he managed brokerage operations, title companies, home and service warranty programs, and a relocation company. Mr. Ramatowski has served on the board of directors of eleven different organizations with diverse specialties including real estate brokerage, mortgage companies, title insurance, banking, health care, and office supply operations. He served as an Electronic Specialist in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service. He attended Cleveland State University and Baldwin Wallace College. He has been awarded the Certified Business Intermediary professional designation by the International Business Brokers Association.
The class (GREC #73239) will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the classroom of the Georgia Association of Realtors at 6065 Barfield Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Per GREC rules, students who arrive promptly and stay for the entire class are eligible to earn three hours of continuing education credit through the Georgia Real Estate Commission and the GABB’s Real Estate School, GREC #8074. Students who prefer to attend via Zoom must remain on camera; the link will be sent after you register.
The class will cover the sole proprietorship and enterprise business models of business brokering; market analysis; defining business buyer and seller clients; defining business types; and defining the overall market. Students will learn how to conduct a feasibility students of the financial health of a prospective business to be sold, including examining the income statement, as well as identifying areas where the prospective business could build wealth. In the final hour of the class, Mr. Rawatoswki will teach students how to conduct a feasibility study of the financial health of a prospective business to be sold, including examining the income statement, as well as identifying areas where the prospective business could build wealth.
The class fee is $49 for GABB members, $75 for non-members, and $225 to register for the BCB program and one class. Note that the BCB program is only open to GABB members. Contact GABB Executive Director Diane Loupe at diane.loupe@gabb.org or text her at 770-744-3639 for more information.
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GABB to Meet in Person June 29: Registration Required
After a year of virtual meetings, the Georgia Association of Business Brokers is thrilled to host an in-person meeting at 10 a.m. June 29.
However, due to capacity limits set by the venue, all attendees must register at the form below. We will give priority to GABB members for the in-person meeting, and we will stream the meeting via Zoom for those who may prefer that option. Please register at this link to attend the meeting via Zoom. NOTE, this does NOT register you for the in person meeting. The GAR says masks are voluntary in all areas of the building.
The sponsors of the June meeting will be GABB Affiliate Board representative Kim Eells and Susan Kite, both of whom are Senior Vice President and Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Development Officers for Georgia Primary Bank.
The primary focus of the meeting will be networking, but the GABB Board may discuss the results of the recent member survey and upcoming classes planned for the GABB’s Board-Certified Broker program.
The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. with coffee and light breakfast snacks, followed by a brief meeting and then more networking. Register at the link below. The meeting will be held in the classrooms at the Georgia Association of Realtors at 6065 Barfield Road, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328. The GAR headquarters building is a two-story building located in Sandy Springs near the intersection of Hammond Drive and Barfield Road.
The GABB is Georgia’s largest and most respected association of professionals who help in the purchase and sale of businesses and franchises. Our association includes business brokers, lenders, appraisers, attorneys, business consultants and others who help business owners and entrepreneurs in many ways. Please review our directory if you are seeking a business broker or other professional.
For more information about the GABB, contact GABB President Judy Mims at 404-918-3666 or judy@childcare.properties, or GABB Executive Director Diane Loupe at diane.loupe@gabb.org or text her at 770-744-3639.
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Can Sellers Use Buyer Warning Signs to Their Advantage?
When buyers are looking to make a purchase, the most important step they can take is to perform due diligence on both the business and the seller. And yet, many sellers don’t their due diligence on buyers.
Deals fail all the time. Sadly, this means that all parties lose a tremendous amount of time and effort. Additionally, sellers not only waste time, but often lose money due to business disruptions while working with a prospective buyer.
Let’s look at a few warning signs that might identify a troublesome buyer. The sooner you spot these red flags, the sooner you can avoid potential problems.
Sellers should ask several key questions of buyers:. The list includes:
-What, if any, other businesses have you considered to date?
-How much equity will you be committing?
-Do you have any experience with my kind of business?
Sellers should look for warning signs early on to avoid wasting considerable time. Listen to your gut instincts. If you feel that a prospective buyer isn’t serious and may only be window shopping (or if you feel that the buyer is looking for a far greater deal than you are willing to provide), then simply move on. When you cut your losses early on, this frees you up to focus on prospective buyers that are a better fit.
What if your intermediary informs you that there has been no communication from the prospective buyer after they received the memorandum? Simply stated, this lack of communication could mean that the prospective buyer has changed their mind, or was never that serious in the first place.
Another red flag you might see is when the process is turned over to a junior member of the prospective buyer’s management team. Another is when the prospect doesn’t provide details or information concerning their financial capability to successfully complete the deal. If any of these three red flags pop up, you should consider being proactive. You and your broker might want to reach out to the prospective buyer and ask to meet to discuss the situation.
Warning signs can also occur just prior to closing. Even after the letter of intent has been signed, problems may arise. An inexperienced attorney representing the buyer, one that simply doesn’t understand what is involved in a deal, can doom what could have otherwise been a good deal. The same is true for an over aggressive attorney. One potential remedy for this situation is for your own attorney to intervene and discuss the situation.
Spotting warning signs is about more than not wasting everyone’s time. When you can observe these indicators and act effectively to address them, it can help keep deals on track. Working with a business broker or M&A advisor is an excellent way to not only spot red flags, but also to know how to respond appropriately. The end result will be more successfully completed deals.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
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How to Optimize Your Chances of Selling Your Business
Selling your business is likely to be the single most important financial decision you’ll ever make. Therefore, you must prepare far in advance. Let’s look at some of the key items you’ll want to consider before placing your business on the market.
Settle Legal Issues
When it comes to selling a business, legal issues should be at the forefront of your thoughts. After all, selling your business does involve the creation and execution of a complex and detailed legal agreement. There are many times in life where it is possible to cut corners, but hiring a good lawyer or law firm is not one of those times. Moreover, you’ll want to settle all litigation, environmental issues or other issues that could potentially derail a sale.
Deal with Serious Buyers
Working with a good business broker or M&A advisor is an essential part of the selling process, as these professionals will help you to weed out “window shoppers” as well as prospective buyers who are simply not a good fit for your business. Any serious buyer should be willing to submit a Letter of Intent. Everyone should be on the same page as far as price and terms as well as what assets and liabilities are to be assumed. This second point reinforces the first point. An experienced lawyer is essential to help guide you through various aspects of the sales process.
Be Flexible on Price
Be prepared to accept a lower price than you might ideally want. There are many reasons that this may occur, ranging from a lack of management depth and a lack of geographical distribution to a dependence on a limited number of clients. Reliance on a small number of customers and/or clients can give potential buyers pause, as it could raise concerns regarding the stability of your business. Addressing these issues years before placing your business on the market can help you achieve the price point you desire. This is yet another reason to work with a business broker in advance.
Improving Your Chances for Success
The are other steps you can take to enhance the value of your business. Increasing the visibility and profile of your business is always a savvy move. Consider attending trade shows, boost your online profile by stepping up your social media game and explore creating a coherent public relations program.
Finally, selling a business is often a waiting game. You have to be psychologically prepared to wait a considerable period of time before your business is sold. Most businesses sit on the shelf for a considerable period of time before they are sold.
Preparation, patience and good organization will dramatically increase your chances of selling your business and achieving a satisfying price. The sooner you begin organizing your business and working with experienced professionals, the greater the chances of success will be.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
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The post How to Optimize Your Chances of Selling Your Business appeared first on Deal Studio – Automate, accelerate and elevate your deal making.