National Authority on A/E/LS Firm Ownership Transitions
National Authority on Architectural, Engineering & Surveying Firm Ownership Transitions
Allen Business Advisors is a nationally recognized M&A advisory firm specializing in ownership transitions for architecture, engineering, and land surveying firms. We help A/E firm owners sell to employees using SBA financing so they get paid at closing.
Our work has been highlighted by professional associations, national publications, and industry platforms focused on business succession, employee ownership, and engineering firm transitions. We are former commercial loan officers with deep SBA structuring expertise and a singular focus on A/E/LS firms.
Our Position in the Industry
Traditional ESOPs work best for firms with gross sales over $15 million, leaving most A/E/LS firms without a viable succession path. We specialize in the segment others overlook: internal ownership transitions for A/E/LS firms in the $1M–$10M revenue range using SBA financing.
This approach allows:
- Owners to get paid at closing
- Employees to acquire the firm with minimal upfront capital
- Firms to remain independent and preserve their legacy
We first explore selling to your employees. If that is not viable, we run a structured process to sell to an outside buyer.
Featured Articles & Publications
Selling Your Engineering Business
Published in Structure Magazine. A comprehensive overview of how engineering firms are valued, marketed, and sold, including deal structure and realistic expectations.
SBA-Financed Internal Ownership Transitions Gain Momentum
Structure Magazine News Feature. Explains how engineering firms are increasingly using SBA financing to sell to key employees while maintaining continuity.
A Growing Trend in Minnesota: Selling Engineering Firms to Employees
Published by ACEC Minnesota. Examines SBA-financed employee buyouts as an emerging succession path for MN engineering firms.
Alternatives to Starting a Business
Published by LegalZoom. Highlights acquiring an existing business as a lower-risk alternative to starting from scratch.
How to Buy a Business
Published by LegalZoom. Covers valuation, due diligence, and financing considerations for acquiring a business.
Podcast & Media Features
The Silver Tsunami in Surveying & Ownership Transition
Featured on Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast. A discussion of the generational transition facing surveying firms and how structured employee ownership provides a viable solution.
Also available on:
Speaking & National Authority
National Society of Professional Surveyors: Approved National Speaker
John R. Allen, III has been selected as an approved speaker by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), the leading national organization representing the surveying profession in the United States. This honor is reserved for professionals recognized for providing practical, impactful guidance to firm owners facing complex business challenges.
John is invited to speak on topics including:
- Ownership transition strategies for surveying and engineering firms
- Selling to key employees using SBA financing
- Structuring transactions that ensure sellers are paid at closing
- Preparing firms for succession in the face of the industry’s “silver tsunami”
Unlike theoretical succession planning discussions, John’s presentations are based on real transactions, real financing structures, and real outcomes.
His inclusion in the NSPS speaker program reflects:
- National recognition of his expertise in ownership transitions
- Trusted advisor status among industry leadership
- Rising demand for practical solutions to generational transition challenges
As thousands of surveying firms approach ownership transition, NSPS has identified John as a resource to help its members navigate one of the most critical decisions they will face.
Industry Associations & Professional Involvement
Allen Business Advisors is actively engaged with leading organizations across the engineering and surveying professions.
National Organizations
- National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS)
- National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA)
Engineering Associations
- American Council of Engineering Companies – New York
- American Council of Engineering Companies – California
- American Council of Engineering Companies – Georgia
- American Council of Engineering Companies – Minnesota
- American Council of Engineering Companies – Illinois
Structural Engineering Associations
Surveying Associations
- Texas Society of Professional Surveyors
- Land Surveyors’ Association of Washington
- New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors
- New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors
- Virginia Association of Surveyors
Including appearances in association publications such as the Virginia surveyors newsletter.
Industry Leadership & Recognition
- Named a Top Business Broker by Business Management Review
- Moderator, City of Cambridge, MA Succession Planning Workshop
- NETI Fellow, Northeast Transition Initiative
- Speaker, New York Cooperative Ownership Conference
- Speaker, Architecture Boston Expo
- Speaker, Western Regional Land Surveyors Conference
Selected Transaction Experience
Sale of John W. Delano & Associates
Advised on the sale of a Massachusetts land surveying firm with the seller receiving liquidity at closing. Watch the seller video testimonial.
Sale of Cammett Engineering and Surveying
Advised on the sale of a Massachusetts engineering and land surveying firm with the seller receiving liquidity at closing. Watch the video testimonial.
What Makes a Business Sellable?
A business becomes sellable when it can operate without the owner. Key factors include:
- Strong management team
- Diversified client base
- Documented processes
- Financial clarity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to sell an engineering or surveying business?
For many firms, selling to key employees provides the best combination of continuity, cultural alignment, and financial outcome.
Can employees buy a business without significant capital?
Yes. SBA loans require a 10% equity injection, which is often split between the buyer and the seller, meaning employees can acquire a firm with as little as 5% down.
What is SBA financing for acquisitions?
The SBA 7(a) program allows buyers to purchase businesses with low down payments and long repayment terms.
Is selling to employees better than selling to a third party?
In many cases, yes, especially when continuity and independence are priorities. Transactions are arranged so that the seller receives payment at closing. When necessary, a limited seller note of about 5% may be included; without a seller note, 100% of the proceeds are paid at closing.
How long does it take to sell a business?
Most transactions take between 6 and 12 months depending on preparation and financing.
Learn More
Considering Selling Your Engineering or Surveying Firm?
Understanding your options is the first step. Allen Business Advisors specializes in helping owners transition their firms to the next generation while getting paid at closing.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation
About John R. Allen, III
John Allen is the Founder and Managing Partner of Allen Business Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that specializes in ownership transitions for architecture, engineering, and land surveying firms across the country. A former commercial loan officer, John has over 20 years of experience in SBA acquisition financing, bank underwriting, and deal structuring. His firm created the Step-Up Legacy Plan™, a bank-financed alternative to ESOPs that allows key employees to buy the company with as little as 5% down.
John often contributes to STRUCTURE Magazine and speaks at state SEA organizations, ACEC chapters, and national industry groups. He is known for translating complex SBA rules and bank policies into practical, actionable strategies that help firm owners ensure smooth and financially secure internal transitions.