News by SB Informer

California Business Brokers Increasingly Turn to Internet Advertising to Sell Small Businesses

SB Informer
Wednesday, December 13, 2006; 02:57 AM

Business brokers -- the professionals who act as intermediaries between business buyers and sellers of small to mid-sized businesses -- find the Internet the most effective way to sell a business in California. They cite lower cost, better qualified buyers, and quicker sales of existing businesses as benefits of advertising businesses for sale online.

Traditionally California business brokers have run "business for sale classified ads" in local newspapers to find business buyers. But in recent years, successful business brokers turn to web sites like BizBen.com. BizBen's Fast Track package gets businesses sold online.

"Our Fast Track program maximizes the critical first 30 days of a listing. The success rate for selling businesses on this program is 90%. Considering 50% of all California small businesses listed for sale don't sell, that's phenomenal. At first business brokers are often reluctant to spend the money when they aren't sure of the results. They may have advertised in a major California newspaper (like the San Francisco Chronicle). The feedback I consistently get from brokers is that their listings on BizBen have been very effective," says BizBen owner Peter Siegel, MBA.

Christina Krikorian owner of California Business Brokers agrees "In the past year I've used the newspaper three times to list a business for sale. Two of the three business sales were unsuccessful. It was very expensive and a big waste of money," she concludes. She says business buyers who use the Internet often know what they are looking for and are better prepared to buy.

Krikorian knows what works from personal experience. She tried to sell her business with a business broker and was disappointed with the results. One didn't keep in contact with her and the other went on vacation for a few months without telling her. Her small business didn't sell.

She decided to try to sell her business herself. She searched the Internet and found BizBen. It worked. "My business sold within a week and a half," on the Fast Track program. It also led to a new career as a business broker. Today about 70% of her sales of existing business are a result of featured http://www.bizben.com/advertise.php [business listings on www.BizBen.com.

Since many business brokers who sell mainstreet deals are small businesses owners themselves, they have to focus on sites that can get them the best return. Many have moved their advertising from local newspaper and print ad to the Internet. Many say they wouldn't be in business without the Internet.

Steven Smith of The Waterford Group Business Brokerage "In the past we relied on newspapers, print ads and personal contacts to sell a business," he said. Today they list most of their businesses online. "Eighty percent of the businesses we sell come from Internet leads. The ROI can be huge," he said. "We can spend $1000 and we may get $25-50,000 on the sale," he said. He's targeted his approach. "At first we listed on six or more web sites, now we focus on two to three that work for us," like BizBen.com.

Business brokers who advertise their listings on BizBen also get exposure on the Small Business Blog. The blog is updated daily with the top selling California businesses and information related to selling or buying a small to mid-sized business.

About BizBen
BizBen.com was started in 1994 to serve business buyers, small business owners, business brokers, and real estate agents who have California businesses for sale. Over 40,000 business buyers come to BizBen each day to search over small 6000 business listings for sale.

BizBen's services for business brokers/agents are the most innovative and effective ways to sell a business online. The Fast Track Advertising program was the first on the Internet. It is still unique in selling a small California business with over a 90% success rate!

For a complete list of businesses for sale in California see www.bizben.com.
For New listings of businesses for sale see www.bizben.com/new-listings.php
Sign up for emails reports to alert you of CA businesses for sale in your area (www.bizben.com/reports).

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