Author: J. Erika

Taking over a small business is a lot like moving into a new home. Everyone brings their own habits, preferences, and priorities. The previous owners may have loved their Tuscan kitchen, completely unaware of just how dated it now reads. They weren’t wrong; they simply stopped seeing it. The same thing happens in small businesses every day. Even the best-run companies develop blind spots. The owner has been walking past those overstuffed shelves, disorganized files, or tired...

Selling a business is rarely a straight line. It feels more like a courtship, complete with first impressions, long conversations, bouts of nerves, and the occasional family drama. In New Mexico, where people value sincerity over polish, this process works best when both sides show up as themselves. No one expects a TED Talk. Buyers simply want to understand your business and the person behind it. Below is what this journey often looks like and why...

Selling a business in New Mexico isn’t all red or green. It takes both our efforts to make it happen. Selling a business anywhere is complex, but selling a New Mexico business has its own unique considerations. Our markets are smaller, our networks are closer, and relationships matter. Word of mouth and community trust often do more to build a business than any marketing campaign. Whether you’re selling a home healthcare agency in Albuquerque, a gallery...

For many New Mexico business owners, their company represents more than profit. It’s the years of long hours, personal sacrifice, and problem-solving that shaped their identity. So when it comes time to sell and a broker, bank, or buyer presents a number that feels too low, it’s easy to take it personally. In cities like Farmington, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces, where many businesses have been family-run for decades, the emotional investment can be especially deep. Owners...

Here’s an age-old conundrum: when your business is thriving, selling it is usually the furthest thing from your mind. When sales start to slip or the market softens, that’s when the siren call of “maybe it’s time” starts whispering in your ear. It’s counterintuitive, but the best time to sell your business may be when it doesn’t feel like the best time. You finally have the right team in place, margins are strong, and operations are...

Every business owner reaches a point where they start to wonder: Is it time to sell? Sometimes the answer is obvious. More often, it’s a quieter question that begins to arise after years of hard work It's a consideration that deserves thoughtful reflection. At Sam Goldenberg & Associates (SGA), we’ve guided hundreds of New Mexico business owners through this decision. Whether it’s a long-standing Santa Fe retailer, an Albuquerque manufacturer, or a service business in Las...

If you’ve ever thought about selling your business – or buying one – you’ve probably heard the term business broker. But what exactly does a business broker do, and why does having the right team on your side make such a difference? At Sam Goldenberg & Associates (SGA), we help people buy and sell small businesses throughout New Mexico, from Santa Fe and Albuquerque to Las Cruces and the smaller towns in between. We’ve represented everything...

Buying a business is exciting, but it can also feel like taking a leap into the unknown. That’s where due diligence comes in: it’s the flashlight buyers use to shine into all the corners before they commit. But like with any tool, its value depends on how it’s used: Too little light leaves shadows; too much creates glare that makes it harder to see. What Due Diligence Is Meant to Do Due diligence is a buyer’s opportunity...

Multiples can be tricky to figure out when valuing a business. Lots of opinions float around, most stemming from imperfect information. For example, Aunt Agatha’s hairdressers say that her husband’s cousin sold his widget manufacturer for three million dollars based on a multiple of five. What the hairdresser didn’t mention is that this price included $800,000 worth of inventory – an amount well above the industry average. Misunderstanding the details of a deal can lead...

For many New Mexico small business owners, selling a business is one of the most challenging and complex financial decisions they’ll face. More than just a source of income, a business often represents years of hard work, dedication, and personal accomplishment. Finding the right buyer and structuring a mutually beneficial deal can be both emotional and complicated. As the most well-established firm among New Mexico business brokers, Sam Goldenberg & Associates has been helping small business...

When buying or selling a business, “goodwill” often comes up in discussions. Most buyers and sellers understand that goodwill refers to the intangible assets of a business—its brand reputation, loyal customer base, long-standing vendor relationships, and community presence. What’s less clear is how to value goodwill. While it’s straightforward to set a fair market value on tangible assets, putting a dollar value on something as intangible as customer loyalty can present a more challenging concept. A...

Selling a business is an exciting process, but it also involves a degree of complexity and preparation that may come as a surprise. Sam Goldenberg & Associates works diligently to prepare the business prospectus, present a high-level of overview its financial performance, and launch it on the various online businesses-for-sale platforms. While these are all critical first steps, most business buyers will have a lot of follow-up questions. It’s more surprising when they don’t. Buyers aren’t...

Buyers and sellers’ viewpoints may diverge on what a business is worth. Different priorities, emotions, and approaches to valuation can create a gap between what sellers believe their business is worth and what buyers are willing to pay. When both parties have a clear picture of the business’s financial health and potential, they are more likely to arrive at a mutually agreeable valuation. Emotional Attachment vs. Objective Evaluation For many sellers, their business often represents years of...

Selling a business is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with complexities that may catch you off guard. At Sam Goldenberg & Associates, we collaborate closely with you to prepare a compelling business prospectus, provide a high-level overview of financial performance, and launch your listing across various online platforms. These critical first steps lay the foundation, but they’re just the beginning. Many prospective buyers will follow up with additional, detailed questions—and it’s surprising when...

With 3.65 million baby boomers reaching retirement age every year, a historic number of small business owners are looking to pass the torch. As impressive as that number is, according to the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), only about 20% to 30% of businesses brought to market every actually find a buyer. [su_spacer size="5"] That’s a sobering statistic. [su_spacer size="5"] While you can point to rising interest rates, tight labor markets, recent inflation, and evolving buyer expectations, the reality...