Thinking About Selling Your Business? Start Here.
Whether your exit is six months away or three years out, this page will walk you through exactly how we work, what we do differently, and what a well-run sale process actually looks like, from the first confidential conversation to the closing table.
You've Built Something Real. Now You Deserve a Real Exit Strategy.
Most of the business owners we work with have spent 15, 20, sometimes 30 years building what they have. They're not looking for someone to slap a number on their company and throw it on a listing site. They want someone who understands what they actually built, the relationships, the crew, the reputation, the systems, and can translate all of that into a transaction that reflects its true value.
If that sounds like you, you're in the right place.
We work with owners of established businesses in five sectors across the Western United States:
Industries We Serve
If your business fits one of these categories and you've been quietly thinking about your exit, even just as a "someday" thought, this is the right time to get a clear picture of where you stand.
Explore Industries We Serve arrow_downwardNationally, roughly 70% of businesses that go to market never close. That number is not a footnote, it's the reality of what happens when a sale isn't managed correctly from the start.
Most Business Sales Fail. Here's Why Ours Don't.
The most common reasons deals collapse have very little to do with whether the business is good:
The financials weren't clean or properly normalized, buyers and their lenders saw a different number than the seller expected.
Confidentiality broke down, employees, customers, or competitors found out before the deal closed.
The buyer's financing fell apart, often in the final weeks, after months of work.
The seller wasn't prepared for due diligence, documents were missing, disorganized, or contradicted what was disclosed.
At Cortland Business Brokers, we address every one of these failure points before they become problems. That's not a sales promise, it's a process. And it starts from the very first conversation.
How We Manage Your Sale From Start to Close
Every transaction we handle follows a structured, confidential process designed to protect you, maximize your outcome, and keep the deal on track through every stage.
Valuation & Financial Normalization
Before anything goes to market, we do the work of understanding what your business is actually worth. That means reviewing three years of tax returns, internal profit and loss statements, and equipment and asset records. We normalize the financials the way professional buyers review them, adjusting for owner compensation, personal expenses run through the business, one-time costs, and the real value of recurring revenue streams. The result is a defensible valuation range that will hold up when a buyer's accountant starts asking questions.
Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) Preparation
Once we have a clear picture of the business, we package it into a professional Confidential Information Memorandum, a detailed document that tells your company's story to serious buyers. This document is fully anonymized at the outset: no business name, no owner names, no identifying location details. Your identity and your employees' identities remain protected until you personally approve releasing them to a specific, vetted buyer.
Targeted, Off-Market Buyer Outreach
We don't list your business on a public directory and wait for calls. We conduct direct, confidential outreach to our curated network of qualified buyers, private equity groups, strategic consolidators, family offices, and vetted individual buyers across six Western states. More competition among buyers means better terms for you. That's the whole point of a managed process.
Buyer Vetting, NDA, Proof of Funds, Background Review
Every prospective buyer must execute a legally binding Non-Disclosure Agreement before they see a single page of your business data. We also require verified proof of funds or financing capability before any detailed information is released. We do not let curious window-shoppers waste your time or expose your business to unnecessary risk.
Letter of Intent (LOI) Negotiation
When serious offers come in, we analyze and stress-test every one of them, not just the headline price, but the full structure. Payment terms, working capital requirements, transition timelines, earnout provisions, and employee retention commitments all matter. We negotiate on all of it. Our goal is the best possible outcome across every dimension of the deal, not just the number at the top of the page.
"Price is just one lever. Structure, timing, buyer fit, and financing terms determine what you actually walk away with."
— Stan CortlandDue Diligence & Data Room Management
Once an LOI is signed, the buyer's team will conduct a thorough review of your financials, operations, contracts, and legal documents. We build and manage a secure Virtual Data Room (VDR) for this process, organizing your documentation, controlling what gets shared and when, and making sure nothing gets disclosed that shouldn't be. We've been through this process many times. We know exactly what buyers look for, and we prepare you for it in advance.
Closing, License Transfers & Escrow
The final stretch involves purchase agreement review, any required license or permit transfers, net working capital adjustments, and escrow coordination. We stay with you through every step, not just until the LOI is signed. Our fee is success-based, which means we don't get paid until you close. Our interests are perfectly aligned with yours from start to finish.
What Makes This Process Different
The Operator Advantage
Stan Cortland has built, run, and sold his own businesses. When he reviews your financials, he sees what you've actually built, not just what the numbers say on the surface. That means a more accurate valuation, a more compelling presentation to buyers, and an advisor who can speak credibly about your operations in buyer conversations and due diligence.
The NMLS Advantage
The single most common reason business sales fall apart at the end isn't the price, it's the financing. Most buyers in this market use SBA loans to fund acquisitions, and the SBA underwriting process is complex and unforgiving. Stan holds an NMLS license, which gives him working knowledge of SBA loan structures that most brokers simply don't have. We pre-qualify buyers for financing early, so you're not nine months into a process only to have a lender kill the deal in the final weeks.
The 6-State Advantage
Being licensed across California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Idaho isn't just a credential, it's a competitive tool. A buyer in Phoenix or Denver looking to expand into California may see your business very differently than a local buyer would. Regional expansion buyers and PE-backed consolidators are actively acquiring Western US trade businesses right now. Our reach puts your business in front of that demand.
Questions We Hear All the Time
"My business isn't ready to sell."
Most businesses aren't, and that's exactly why the conversation should start now, not later. A valuation today tells you what you have, what gaps might reduce your price, and how much runway you need to maximize your outcome. The owners who get the best exits are almost always the ones who planned for them.
"I already have a buyer."
That may be true. But a single buyer, even a friendly one, has no incentive to offer their best price when there's no competition. We've seen "friendly" deals re-traded multiple times before closing, with the seller losing significant ground at each step. At minimum, let us tell you whether their offer reflects true market value before you commit.
"I'm worried about confidentiality."
This is the most common concern we hear, and it's completely legitimate. Your employees, customers, suppliers, and competitors don't need to know your business is for sale. Our process is built entirely around protecting that confidentiality, from anonymized listings to legally binding NDAs to staged document disclosure. Your identity is never released without your explicit approval.
"I don't want to pay a commission."
Our fee is 100% success-based. We don't collect a dollar until your business closes. And the track record is clear: broker-represented sales consistently close at higher net proceeds than owner-represented sales, often by enough to more than cover the advisory fee many times over.
Your Life's Work Deserves More Than a Transaction.
You didn't build this business by cutting corners or waiting for the perfect moment. Your exit strategy deserves the same standard.
The first step is a free, confidential conversation, no pitch, no pressure, no obligation. Just an honest look at what your business is worth and what a well-run sale could look like for you.
lock All inquiries are completely confidential. Your information is never shared without your written consent. We respond to all valuation requests within one business day.