Our services
Selling
Our seasoned business intermediaries support you from start to finish. We provide precise valuations, create comprehensive marketing materials, promote to a wide audience, and handle negotiations and due diligence for a smooth transaction when a qualified buyer is found.
Buying
There's no need to start from scratch. The best acquisition targets are businesses that already have solid sales and profits. You can rest assured knowing that any businesses for sale on our platform have already been vetted by us, so there won't be any surprises or hidden issues.
Improvement
The first step to improving your business is understanding what it is worth today. One of the tools we provide is a scientific methodology proven to increase the value of business through a framework of assessment, action planning and accountability.
Our process
Case studies
Meet the team
Keith MacKenzie
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Mike Lenz
PARTNER, BUSINESS INTERMEDIARY
Morgan Tate
PARTNER, BUSINESS INTERMEDIARY
Ramon Ramirez
PARTNER, BUSINESS INTERMEDIARY
Dan Kucherka
BUSINESS INTERMEDIARY
Stephen Boughton
BUSINESS INTERMEDIARY
Torin Regier
BUSINESS INTERMEDIARY
Faizal Charania
BUSINESS INTERMEDIARY
Breanne Epoch
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Evan Strain
BUSINESS ANALYST
Betsy Fulcher
Office administrator
Testimonials
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Featured blogs
We are more than just the leading business brokerage for Vancouver Island - we do things a little differently here. Above all else, we believe in helping people, truly helping people.
It’s not about “selling” businesses for us. It’s about creating an environment conducive to collaboration, asking the right questions, providing heart-forward professional insight, and personal support that allows our clients to make the informed decisions that will support their life goals.
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Frequently
Asked Questions
Can’t find an answer?
How long will it take to sell my business?
Some businesses sell in as little as one week, and some even before they hit the public. Similar to real estate, if the market is good and the price is right, a business may sell much faster. Our detailed valuations ensure that your business is priced reasonably within the market.
On average, it can take anywhere from 1 week to 18 months for your business to sell, based on numerous factors. We do our best to address all obstacles and prepare for success before we hit the market to achieve the best possible outcome.
How do you keep the sale of my business confidential?
Once your Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) is complete, we draft a "Blind Profile." This is an enticing summary used to attract buyers without revealing the actual business that is for sale.
All buyers must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before accessing the CIM or any information about your business. This legally prevents buyers from sharing information about your business to anyone else. You have full control as to whether you accept or reject buyer access to the presentation.
How do you determine my business valuation?
Chinook first works with you to determine exactly how you profit from running your business so that it is clear how much money is available to a new owner. We then consider the market sales data of similarly sized businesses from your industry right across North America. Using this market data, we calculate a justifiable asking price for your business. How do we know if an asking price is justifiable? It must achieve the 3 criteria every business buyer seeks when buying a business:
(1) The business must provide the buyer a living wage,
(2) The profits of the business must cover the payments of any debt used to purchase the business, and
(3) Finally, the business must provide a return on the money they invested into the business (after the buyer pays themselves a salary and covers their debt payments).
Do you charge for the business valuation?
A business valuation is complimentary during our onboarding process. We provide a free market-based estimate of value to each client who is considering an exit as part of our onboarding process.
How much does it cost?
Chinook charges an engagement fee of up to 1% of the asking price of each business. The engagement fee is fully deductible against any success fee owing to Chinook upon the successful sale of the business.
Why do we charge this?
Presenting a business to market requires a tremendous effort. Buyers require a comprehensive understanding of a business before submitting an offer. As Intermediaries, we facilitate this understanding by developing an informative Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM), which are typically 30-50 pages in length. While this engagement fee does not cover all of Chinook’s costs to prepare a business sale, it shows a commitment from our client that they are willing and ready to do the work required to achieve a successful sale.
For an example of a CIM, click here.
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