Business Acquisition Advisory & Brokerage Services

An acquisition broker acts as an intermediary between business buyers and sellers. They manage valuation, marketing, buyer screening, negotiation, and transaction coordination. At Chelsis Financial, our brokers also help sellers prepare their business for sale, assemble deal teams, and ensure every step—from confidential listing to ownership transfer—is handled professionally and discreetly.

The most effective approach is to register with a buyer registry like Chelsis Financial's, which matches your acquisition criteria against active listings across Indiana and the Midwest. You can also work directly with a business broker who maintains relationships with business owners who may not yet be publicly listed but are open to qualified buyers.

Business valuation involves reviewing three to four years of financial statements—including profit and loss, cash flow, and balance sheets—alongside seller's discretionary earnings, tangible asset values, market comparables, and industry trends. Chelsis Financial provides a complimentary Assessment of Value that results in a defensible, independently validated asking price for your business.

The timeline varies by industry, size, and deal complexity, but most small-to-mid-market transactions take between six months and one year from initial assessment to closing. Proper sale preparation—reducing owner dependence, strengthening financials, and building management depth—done well in advance can significantly shorten the active marketing and negotiation period.

Yes. Chelsis Financial treats every client interaction—assessments, calls, and listings—with strict confidentiality. Buyers are pre-screened and required to execute non-disclosure agreements before receiving sensitive business information. This protects your employees, customers, vendor relationships, and competitive position throughout the entire sale process.

A CIM is a detailed document prepared for qualified buyers that outlines your business's financial performance, operations, growth opportunities, and ideal buyer profile. Chelsis Financial creates professional CIMs, blind summaries, and teaser documents as part of our marketing strategy—ensuring your business is presented compellingly while protecting confidential details from unqualified parties.

Deal structure refers to how the transaction is financed and payments are distributed—including earn-outs, seller financing, and lump-sum arrangements. At Chelsis Financial, we emphasize that deal structure often has a greater impact on your real exit outcome than the headline valuation number. We help you evaluate offers holistically so you understand the true value of what you're accepting.

No. Chelsis Financial provides a complimentary Assessment of Value at no cost to business owners. This initial assessment reviews your financial performance, market conditions, and industry benchmarks to give you a clear, informed picture of what your business is worth—before you commit to any formal engagement or sale process.