Insights for A/E Business Owners

Employee ownership via SBA-backed buyouts preserves legacy and delivers near 100% cash at closing. Learn how the Step-Up Legacy Plan™ turns trusted employees into buyers.

SBA 7(a) financing makes employee buyouts bankable: sellers get near‑100% cash at closing while employees become owners with modest down payments.

How the Step-Up Legacy Plan™ uses SBA 7(a) loans to enable employee buyouts with 5–10% down, preserve firm legacy, and deliver near 100% cash at closing for A/E/LS owners.

Discover how A/E/LS firm owners can execute employee buyouts within 5-7 years using SBA financing and the Step-Up Legacy Plan™, preserving legacy and securing full payment at closing.

Discover how the Step-Up Legacy Plan™ uses SBA financing for A/E/LS employee buyouts, preserving legacy, securing 100% cash at closing, and executing in 5–7 years.

Discover how A/E/LS firm owners can safely transition ownership in 5-7 years using SBA loans and the Step-Up Legacy Plan™, ensuring 100% cash at closing and legacy preservation.

Discover how A/E/LS owners can exit in 5–7 years using SBA-backed employee buyouts and the Step-Up Legacy Plan™ to get paid 100% at closing while preserving legacy.

Specialized business brokers for A/E/LS firms provide industry-specific valuation expertise, SBA financing navigation, and deal structures that deliver near 100% cash at closing. They guide owners through a strategic 5-7 year succession roadmap, from leadership development to bank engagement and final closing. Learn how specialized brokers maximize exit value while ensuring smooth transitions to employee ownership.

Business owners are still active after they sell their businesses.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan enables A/E/LS firm owners to sell to employees with 100% cash at closing using SBA 7(a) loans requiring only 10% down from buyers. This 5-7 year succession strategy eliminates costly ESOP setups and seller financing risks while preserving firm culture. Current SBA rates range from 10.25% to 13.75% with valuations typically 4x-7x EBITDA for prepared firms.

When we talk about building value in the context of Exit Planning, we ask the following questions: 1. What is the company’s current value? 2. What value must the company achieve to enable its owner to reach his or her lifetime income and other Exit Objectives? 3. Which tactics can owners employ to close any gaps between today’s business value and the value they need upon exiting? 4. How can owners transfer business value most efficiently (in terms of taxes and otherwise)?

We sell architectural, engineering and land surveying businesses and healthcare practices across the nation.

We sell engineering businesses. We start by determining the value of you business and then investing a significant amount of time preparing the business for sale.

A/E firm owners can now sell to family or employees while receiving nearly 100% cash at closing through the Step-Up Legacy Plan™ and SBA 7(a) financing with just 10% down. This approach preserves company culture and client relationships while avoiding costly ESOP structures and seller financing risks. The 5-7 year implementation process works best for firms with $1M-$8M revenue.

Transform your A/E/LS firm's intangible knowledge into tangible assets through documented SOPs and leadership development. This systematic approach reduces owner dependency, attracts SBA lenders, and enables 100% cash at closing through the Step-Up Legacy Plan™. Start your 5-7 year succession roadmap to maximize valuation and preserve legacy.

If you have a goal to sell your business in five years and you do not do anything to prepare for the sale, are you going to sell your business?

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables A/E firm owners to receive nearly 100% cash at closing through SBA 7(a) financing while employees acquire the business with just 10% down. This 5-7 year succession strategy avoids costly ESOP fees exceeding $150,000 and leverages 2025 SBA rules for streamlined transitions. Ideal for architecture, engineering, and surveying firms with $1M-$8M revenue seeking secure retirement exits.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables A/E firm owners to receive near 100% cash at closing through SBA 7(a) financing while employees become owners with just 5-10% down. This 5-7 year roadmap costs less than ESOPs and eliminates seller financing needs. Current 2025 SBA rates range from 10.25%-13.75% with up to 90% financing available for qualified buyers.

A/E firm owners can choose between third-party sales for immediate cash or insider transfers that preserve culture and legacy. The Step-Up Legacy Plan enables employee buyouts with nearly 100% cash at closing using SBA 7(a) loans requiring only 10% down. Current 2025 rates range from 10.5%-15.5% with loan caps up to $5 million.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan enables architecture firm owners to sell to employees in 2025 with 100% cash at closing using SBA 7a financing at 10.25%-13.75% rates. This 5-7 year succession strategy avoids costly ESOPs and seller financing while preserving firm culture and maximizing owner payout at 4x-7x EBITDA multiples.

Architectural / structural engineering business for sale in the Chicago Area. This business idoes inspections for relocation companies, banks and an insurance company. Consistent and predictable cash flow.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ offers A/E/LS firms a cost-effective alternative to ESOPs, enabling employee buyouts with up to 100% cash at closing and 90% SBA financing at 10.5%-15.5% rates. This 5-7 year succession strategy eliminates seller financing risk and costly ESOP fees while preserving firm culture. Perfect for firms valued $1M-$8M seeking streamlined employee ownership transitions.

Most owners think they know how much money they will need to “retire” comfortably. Most owners are wrong. Owners start with the less-than-realistic assumption that they will receive all cash at closing for the sale of their companies.

Architecture and engineering firm owners can achieve near 100% cash at closing through employee buyouts using SBA 7(a) financing and the Step-Up Legacy Plan. This 5-7 year succession strategy allows employees to purchase with just 10% down while preserving firm culture. Start planning now to maximize valuation multiples of 4x-7x EBITDA and secure your legacy.

This comprehensive guide outlines a 5-7 year due diligence roadmap for A/E/LS firm owners to maximize value and secure near 100% cash at closing through employee succession. Learn about current SBA 7(a) loan programs offering 90% financing with 10% down payments and 2025 interest rates of 10.25%-13.75%. The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ provides a cost-effective ESOP alternative for firms with $1M-$8M revenue, ensuring legacy preservation while eliminating seller carrybacks.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables A/E firm owners to create a 5-7 year succession roadmap that preserves company culture while ensuring near 100% cash at closing. This strategy leverages SBA 7(a) loans offering up to 90% financing with 5-10% down payments, avoiding costly ESOPs and seller financing. Perfect for owners planning to stay involved long-term but want succession security.

Financial independence is the foundation of successful A/E/LS firm exits, requiring precise cash goals aligned with retirement needs rather than risky seller financing. The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ and SBA 7(a) loans enable owners to receive near 100% cash at closing while employees acquire ownership with only 10% down. This 5-7 year succession strategy maximizes firm valuation and ensures legacy preservation through bank-backed financing.

Engineering Business for sale that provides all types of engineering disciplines to private and public clients. Some clients date back over 40 years.

Modern incentive plans including golden handcuffs and deferred compensation help A/E firms retain key employees during 5-7 year succession planning. SBA 7(a) loans enable 90% financing for employee buyouts with rates of 10.25%-13.75% in 2025. The Step-Up Legacy Plan delivers near 100% cash at closing while eliminating seller financing risks.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables A/E/LS firm owners to receive near 100% cash at closing through SBA 7(a) financing while employees buy the company with just 10% down. This 5-7 year succession strategy avoids costly ESOP fees and seller financing risks by grooming internal leadership and engaging SBA lenders early. Ideal for firms with $1M-$8M revenue seeking legacy preservation and financial security.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables A/E firm owners to receive 100% cash at closing through employee buyouts with SBA 7(a) financing requiring only 10% down. This 5-7 year succession strategy maximizes firm value while avoiding ESOP costs and seller financing risks. Current market multiples range 4x-5x EBITDA with SBA rates at 10.25%-13.75%.

The Irrelevance Strategy outlines a 5-7 year succession plan that systematically removes owner dependencies while preparing employees for SBA-backed buyouts. Learn how to delegate leadership, systemize operations, and secure 90% financing with just 10% employee down payment. This approach delivers near 100% cash at closing while preserving firm culture and avoiding costly ESOP structures.

A comprehensive legal audit prepares A/E/LS firms for ownership transition by aligning corporate governance, contracts, and employment practices with modern SBA financing requirements. This process covers 7 key areas including IP protection, buy-sell agreements, and deal structuring to enable employee buyouts with just 5-10% down payment. Proper legal diligence reduces transaction friction and positions sellers to receive near 100% payment at closing.

This diagnostic test helps A/E/LS firm owners determine if they should keep or sell their business using updated 2025 market data and SBA financing options. The Step-Up Legacy Plan enables employee buyouts with 100% cash at closing and no seller financing required. Includes a 5-7 year action plan covering leadership development, financial cleanup, and bank pre-qualification.

Strategic bank relationships are crucial for A/E firm exits, with 2025 SBA 7(a) loans offering 90% financing at 10.25%-13.75% rates. The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables employee buyouts with 100% cash at closing, avoiding seller financing risks. Early engagement and proper deal structure maximize valuation multiples of 4x-6x EBITDA.

This guide explains how A/E firm owners can sell to employees using SBA 7(a) loans and the Step-Up Legacy Plan™ to receive near 100% cash at closing. Learn the 5-8 year succession roadmap including leadership grooming, valuation strategies, and financing options with rates from 10.25%-13.75%. Discover why insider transitions often outperform ESOPs for preserving firm culture and maximizing seller liquidity.

Understanding your A/E/LS firm's true value requires analyzing financial metrics like EBITDA multiples (4x-7x), operational factors, and market presence to prepare for succession. The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables near 100% cash at closing through employee buyouts with SBA 7(a) financing requiring only 10% down. Start your 5-7 year succession roadmap today to maximize valuation and preserve your legacy.

This comprehensive 10-step exit guide helps A/E/LS firm owners maximize valuations ranging from 5x to 13x EBITDA in 2025's evolving market. Learn proven strategies for due diligence preparation, confidential marketing, and SBA 7(a) financing that enables near 100% cash at closing. Essential timing advice: start your succession planning 5-7 years before exit to optimize buyer options and deal certainty.

Banks and SBA lenders value A/E firms using financial transparency, client contracts, and leadership strength to determine buyout financing. Current SBA 7(a) rates range from 10.25%-15.25% but still enable sellers to receive near 100% cash at closing through proper structuring. The Step-Up Legacy Plan offers a 5-7 year roadmap that eliminates seller financing risk while preserving firm culture.

Surveying firm for sale in Florida that is the dominate surveyor in their market having provided boundary and topographic surveys from 1/4 to 1600 acres.

General Dental Practice for sale in the Washington DC area. Gross collections exceed $500,000.00 per year.

Transferring your A/E firm to a child requires balancing sweat equity recognition with family fairness over a 5-7 year timeline. Modern SBA financing and hybrid structures like the Step-Up Legacy Plan enable near 100% cash at closing with just 10% down. This guide covers governance frameworks, sibling equity solutions, and tax optimization for successful intergenerational succession.

Expert advisors help A/E/LS firm owners navigate complex employee buyouts using SBA 7(a) loans at 7.25% rates and alternatives like the Step-Up Legacy Plan™. This 5-7 year roadmap ensures sellers receive 100% cash at closing while employees gain viable ownership. Professional guidance maximizes deal certainty and legacy preservation in today's challenging financing environment.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables A/E/LS firm owners to sell to trusted employees with near 100% cash at closing using SBA 7(a) financing requiring only ~10% down. This 5-7 year succession strategy preserves firm culture while avoiding seller financing risks and costly ESOP fees. Best for firms with $1M-$8M revenue seeking legacy-preserving exits.

Massachusetts engineering business sold testimonial. We sell architectural, engineering, and land surveying businesses.

We help you value your dental practice, prepare your business for sale, and find a buyer for your practice that works for you and your patients.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan leverages updated SBA 7(a) loans to enable A/E firm employees to buy their company with just 10% down while owners receive nearly 100% cash at closing. This 5-7 year succession strategy eliminates seller financing risks and costly ESOP alternatives for firms with $1M-$8M revenue. Learn the step-by-step process to transition ownership while preserving firm culture and maximizing retirement proceeds.

If there was ever a time to stay focused on your company, its the period during which you negotiate the sale of your business (often six months or more). Any drop in company productivity, sales, or income is like blood in the water and will be subject to the buyer’s scrutiny and has the potential to scuttle even the best deal.

You can’t just wait until you are ready to leave your business to find out how much “value” you need or want and how much “value” exists in your business. By then it will be too late.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables A/E firm owners to exit with near 100% cash at closing while employees acquire the business with just 10% down via SBA 7a loans. Updated 2025 SBA rules require enhanced financial discipline and stricter underwriting, with current interest rates between 10.25%-13.75%. This 5-7 year succession strategy avoids costly ESOP complexity while preserving firm culture and delivering immediate seller liquidity.

Owning a business involves starting from scratch. You have to develop ideas and create the company from the ground up.

Ultimately your success is not determined by how well you ran your business, but by how well the business runs without you. If you cannot be replaced, your business can not be sold to an insider or an outside third party. We Want to fix that!

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ enables A/E/LS firm owners to receive near 100% cash at closing through employee buyouts using SBA financing with 10% down payments. This 5-7 year succession roadmap addresses 2023-2025 market conditions with SBA rates of 10.25%-13.75% and upcoming estate tax changes. A strategic alternative to costly ESOPs that preserves firm culture while maximizing owner liquidity.

When buying a business, ideally you will have 15% to put down. However, in some cases, you can put down as little as 10% of the purchase price.

Six hidden factors often kill A/E firm valuations: owner dependency, customer concentration, lack of recurring revenue, weak financials, poor buyer financing readiness, and complex ownership structures. A disciplined 5-7 year succession plan addressing these issues enables SBA-backed employee buyouts with 90% financing and near 100% cash at closing. The Step-Up Legacy Plan offers an SBA-friendly alternative to costly ESOPs.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan offers A/E firm owners a 5-7 year structured approach to sell to employees with near 100% cash at closing using SBA 7(a) loans requiring only 5-10% down payment. This proven alternative to costly ESOPs eliminates seller financing risks while preserving firm culture and legacy through trusted insider ownership transitions.

Learn about the five buyer types for A/E firms: strategic buyers, financial investors, entrepreneurs, competitors, and internal successors. The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ with SBA 7(a) loans enables employee buyouts with 90% financing and sellers receiving 100% cash at closing. Start your 5-7 year succession roadmap to maximize value while preserving firm culture and client relationships.

SBA 7(a) loans now enable A/E firm employees to buy their company with just 5% down payment while sellers receive close to 100% cash at closing. Current 2025 rates range from 10.25% to 13.75%, making employee buyouts more accessible than traditional ESOPs. This guide covers the Step-Up Legacy Plan's 5-7 year implementation process for firms valued $1M-$8M.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan enables A/E firm owners to receive 90-100% cash at closing when selling to employees, avoiding costly ESOP complexity and seller financing risks. This 5-7 year structured approach leverages updated SBA loans requiring just 10% down and private credit financing now covering 80% of buyouts in 2025. Ideal for firms with $1M-$8M revenue seeking legacy preservation through trusted employee ownership.

SBA 7(a) loans in 2025 offer A/E/LS firms 90% financing with just 10% down payments at rates between 10.25%-13.75% for employee buyouts. The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ delivers near 100% cash at closing while preserving firm culture through employee ownership. This guide covers the 5-7 year succession roadmap and financing strategies.

Selling an engineering business involves knowing how to price the business, prepare it for sale and having the network / ability to sell it. John Noonan shares his experience in working with Allen Business Advisors.

The Step-Up Legacy Plan™ offers A/E/LS firms a cost-effective alternative to ESOPs, using SBA 7(a) loans with just 10% down to secure near 100% cash at closing for sellers. This 5-7 year succession strategy eliminates ESOP's $150K+ setup costs and ongoing trustee fees while preserving firm culture through employee ownership.

Because Jim had dreamed of selling his company at 60, he had given little thought to what would happen to his business and his family if something happened to him. So, Engineering Solutions died of an all too common cause—human error and neglect, setting off a chain reaction of ever worsening consequences for Jim’s family and business

We know that selling your business represents a significant goal and somewhat of a challenge for you. Many business owners with whom we work share your struggle.