Been looking at BizBuySell and a few others for my landscaping company. EVERY single listing that looks decent is a broker. I get it, they want the commission, but where are the actual owners? Is it even worth paying for these sites anymore if it's just a wall of middlemen?
Brokers
Why paid listing sites are flooded with brokers
Because owners are lazy and brokers promise to do the work. Simple as that.
It's a filter, honestly. If an owner lists it themselves on a paid site, you're going to get 50 tire-kickers and people who want to 'partner' with you. Brokers at least screen for buyers who can actually afford it. Well, most of the time anyway. Some are just collecting listings to look busy.
I tried listing my own HVAC biz on one of those sites last year. Got nothing but wholesalers and people asking if I'd finance 100% with no down payment. Took it down after a month and called a broker.
See that's my fear. I don't want to waste time with flakes. But paying a broker 10% feels like a kick in the teeth when I can just answer emails myself.
10%? Where are you finding these bargain brokers? Around here everyone wants 12-15% for anything under a million.
The sites don't care who pays the listing fee. $100/month from a broker who posts 50 listings is better than $100/month from one owner. It's a volume game for them.
Also brokers have the MLS acwcess and the buyer networks. You're paying for distribution, not just a fancy PDF.
Honestly though, mosst of the broker listings on those sites are stale as hell. 18 months on market, price hasn't moved, and the broker still insists 'we're getting a lot of interest.' The good ones sell off-market before they ever hit BizBuySell.
This. The really good deals never touch a public listing site. You have to know someone or get lucky.
Off-market is great until you realize the 'off-market' guy is also a broker who just wants a retainer before he shows you anything.
Lol @ 'we're getting a lot of interest'. Translation: nobody has made an offer in 6 months.
Appreciate the reality check everyone. Sounds like the paid sites are basically just a broker directory at this point. Guess I'll stick to my network for now and maybe find a decent broker who Doesn't want 15%.