Business Brokers in Menlo Park, CA

Here is the local picture. There are three business brokers listed for the Menlo Park area, all in San Mateo County. It is a compact group, so it is realistic to speak with all of them, and nearby cities can widen the field.

Service details are thin for most of these brokers, and the ones named include general business brokerage or M&A work, Main Street and small-business sales and a named industry focus. All three belong to a broker association such as CABB, IBBA, or M&A Source, which shows professional involvement but is not a license. Only one review shows on Google for these brokers, at 5.0 stars, so ask the brokers for references from past sellers.

With any advisor you interview, ask for a written engagement and read what it says about the work, the term, and how it can end. On fees, have the broker explain how the firm is paid, whether valuation or marketing is billed separately, and whether anything changes if you find the buyer yourself. To keep the sale quiet, ask how the firm screens buyers, and who at the firm will see your information.

Verify the license before you sign: selling a business and its goodwill for pay generally falls under California real estate licensing, so search the broker's name or license number on the DRE public lookup and make sure the license is current. Should you be working with a salesperson, ask for the name of the licensed broker they work under, and look that broker's license up as well. Sunnyvale (10 brokers), San Mateo (9) and Fremont (6) each have their own page here, and an advisor based nearby can widen your options.