GBCORP · BUY-SELL BUSINESS · UNITED STATES
Buy or Sell a Business in the USA
From our headquarters at One World Trade Center in New York, GBCORP sells and buys US businesses in transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-run companies in the New York area to service, distribution and manufacturing firms across all 50 states. We run each deal from valuation to closing, with our partner network of attorneys, CPAs and lenders.
Why the USA
The United States is the world’s largest market for buying and selling private companies, with millions of small and mid-sized businesses, deep pools of buyers and established ways to finance a purchase, from bank and SBA loans to seller financing and private equity.
A generation of baby-boomer owners is planning its exit, and well-run businesses with steady cash flow attract buyers from across the country and abroad. GBCORP has been based in New York since 1998, and we know how deals get done here.
Browsing? See our overview of businesses for sale in the USA.
Selling your US business
For owners who want qualified buyers, a defensible price and a smooth handover.
Valuation you can defend
Normalised earnings, as SDE or EBITDA, and a market-tested multiple that holds through the buyer’s due diligence and the lender’s review.
Financeable deals
We package the business so that bank- and SBA-financed buyers can get a loan approved, which widens your pool of buyers.
Domestic and foreign buyers
Individual buyers, strategic acquirers, private equity and investors from abroad, screened before they see your name.
Confidential process
An anonymous profile first; full figures only under a signed NDA.
Buying a business in the USA
For entrepreneurs, investors and international companies looking for an established US business.
Deal sourcing
Owner-run businesses in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, California and across the country, including off-market opportunities.
Due diligence
Quality of earnings, tax, legal, licence and lease checks, coordinated with US attorneys and CPAs.
Acquisition finance
SBA 7(a) loans of up to USD 5 million, bank debt and seller notes, structured with lenders before you make an offer.
Investor visas
Nationals of treaty countries may qualify for an E-2 investor visa by buying and running a US business; we work with immigration attorneys.
How a US deal runs with GBCORP
Six stages, one point of contact. Most sales close in six to nine months.
01 · Valuation and preparation
We review three years of tax returns and financials, normalise earnings and prepare the sale documents.
02 · Confidential approach
An anonymous teaser, then an information memorandum to screened buyers under NDA.
03 · Offers and letter of intent
We compare offers on price, structure, financing and certainty, then sign a letter of intent.
04 · Due diligence and financing
The buyer’s advisers and lender review the books, contracts, leases and licences.
05 · Purchase agreement
The stock or asset purchase agreement is negotiated and signed, with the closing conditions agreed.
06 · Closing and transition
Funds are released, licences and leases are assigned, and the seller supports the handover for an agreed period.
US rules that shape the deal
The points that decide structure, timing and cost in a US transaction.
- Stock or asset purchase. Many smaller US deals are asset purchases, which let the buyer step up the tax value of what it buys; both sides then report the price allocation to the IRS on Form 8594.
- State rules. Company law, sales tax and licensing are set state by state. In New York, for example, a buyer of business assets must notify the Department of Taxation and Finance at least 10 days before paying, or risk liability for the seller’s unpaid sales tax.
- Leases, franchises and licences. Leases, franchise agreements and licences such as liquor permits usually need the landlord’s, franchisor’s or regulator’s consent to transfer.
- Foreign investment review. Foreign buyers of businesses involved in critical technologies, critical infrastructure or sensitive personal data may need to file with CFIUS, sometimes before closing.
- Employees. In an asset purchase, employees are usually let go by the seller and rehired by the buyer; larger layoffs can require WARN Act notice.
Local partners, one point of contact
GBCORP runs each US deal end to end from New York with our partner network of attorneys, CPAs and SBA lenders. We work with owners and buyers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, California and every other state.
We speak your language, and we work with buyers and sellers from across the world. We handle transactions up to USD 20 million; fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request.
Questions about buying and selling in the USA
The questions we hear first, answered plainly.
How long does it take to sell a business in the USA?
Most sales of owner-run businesses close in six to nine months from valuation. Preparing the business, finding a qualified buyer and the lender’s review take most of that time.
Can I use an SBA loan to buy a business?
Yes. SBA 7(a) loans of up to USD 5 million are widely used to buy established businesses, usually with an equity injection from the buyer and sometimes a seller note. We work with lenders early so the deal is financeable.
Can a foreigner buy a business in the USA?
Yes. Foreign buyers can own US businesses outright. Deals in sensitive sectors may need CFIUS review, and nationals of treaty countries may qualify for an E-2 investor visa to run the business they buy.
Stock purchase or asset purchase: which is better?
Buyers usually prefer an asset purchase, which limits inherited liabilities and brings tax benefits; sellers often prefer a stock sale, which can be taxed more favourably. The right answer depends on the entity type, so we model both with your CPA.
What size of business does GBCORP handle in the USA, and what does it cost?
We advise on transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-run companies to established mid-sized firms. Fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request after a confidential first conversation.
Guides to buying or selling a business in the United States
Start with our United States guide, then the essentials every buyer and seller should read.
Nearby markets and deal flow
Cross-border buyers often compare neighbouring markets. Each one has its own local advisory page.
Talk to our team
Considering buying or selling a business in the United States? Reach out for a confidential first conversation.
