About John R. Allen, III
A banker's discipline, applied to your exit
John R. Allen, III guides owners of architecture, engineering, and land surveying firms through successful exits, whether selling to an outside third party or to their own key employees. His background is in commercial lending and SBA acquisition financing.
That experience is the foundation of the Step-Up Legacy Plan: deals structured from the start to satisfy bank and SBA requirements so owners secure significant proceeds at closing.
Background
Years on the lending side, now on yours
Before focusing on ownership transitions for A/E firms, John spent years as a commercial loan officer, gaining a deep understanding of how lenders evaluate cash flow, risk, collateral, and deal structure.
He maintains strong relationships with some of the most aggressive acquisition banks in the country and understands what they look for and what they avoid. His ability to speak the banker's language lets him present transactions in a way lenders understand, which increases approval chances and helps clients secure financing on the best terms available.
- NSPS Approved National Speaker
- Featured on the NSPS podcast
- Contributor to ACEC state association newsletters
- Former Commercial Loan Officer
How John Works
What sets his approach apart
A banker's discipline
A former Commercial Loan Officer, John approaches every deal by aligning the financial and operational factors that determine whether a transaction closes, and at what value.
The neglected niche
He specializes in firms too complex for Main Street brokers yet often too small for traditional M&A shops chasing eight-figure deals. That is precisely where A/E firms sit.
Capital when lenders pass
Understanding banks' FDIC-governed risk tolerance, John taps a national network of lenders, including non-bank institutions and specialty financiers, to structure financing that closes.
Philosophy
Preparation is everything
John believes preparation is everything. Just as a home sells for more when it is decluttered and refreshed, a business must be professionally prepared to achieve maximum value. Without proper preparation, many businesses do not sell at all.
As Managing Partner of Allen Business Advisors, he has built a reputation for one thing above all: making sure his seller clients are paid at the closing.
Where John Works
Based in Brookline, working with firms nationwide
Allen Business Advisors is based at 233 Harvard Street in Brookline, Massachusetts, and John works with architecture, engineering, and land surveying firm owners across the country.
Because the work is confidential and the relationships are built over years, most of it happens by phone, video, and a handful of in-person meetings, wherever your firm is located.
Engineering Your Exit
Talk through your firm with John
A confidential, no-pressure conversation about your firm, your timeline, and the path that fits. Honest, unbiased advice from a former banker who works only with A/E firms.