Buy or sell a business with brokers who have owned them.
Restaurants, salons, laundromats, retail and mixed-use income properties across Chicagoland — valued confidentially, marketed to a private network of 23,000+ buyers and investors, and executed to close.
What we broker
Main-street businesses and the real estate under them.
Most business brokers can't sell the building; most real estate agents can't value the business. We do both — so a restaurant with its storefront, or a laundromat with the mixed-use building above it, sells as one deal to one buyer.
Restaurants & bars
Full-service, QSR, cafés, franchises. Liquor licenses, lease assignments and equipment lists handled.
Salons, spas & services
Salons, barbershops, nail studios, cleaners, auto repair — recurring-client businesses buyers finance easily.
Laundromats & retail
Cash-flow businesses with equipment value; convenience, liquor and specialty retail across Chicagoland.
Business + building
Mixed-use and owner-occupied commercial. We value the operation and the real estate separately, then package them.
I want to…
Sell-side: 7 steps to a confidential close.
Typical timeline 4–9 months from valuation to closing table. Your staff, customers and landlord learn about the sale when you decide — not before.
Buy-side: from search to keys.
Whether it's your first business or your fifth location, we source on- and off-market deals, underwrite them with you, and negotiate the terms that protect you after closing.
Interactive · Quick estimate
What is my business worth?
Main-street businesses are priced on Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) — your net profit plus owner salary, benefits, depreciation, interest and one-time expenses — times an industry multiple. Enter your numbers for a ballpark range.
Know the numbers
What buyers actually pay for.
| Business type | Typical SDE multiple | What lifts it |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants & bars | 1.5 – 2.5× | Long lease, liquor license, absentee-friendly management |
| Salons & services | 1.75 – 2.75× | Booth-rent income, staff staying on, online booking |
| Laundromats | 2 – 3.5× | Newer machines, card systems, wash-dry-fold revenue |
| Retail & convenience | 1.5 – 2.5× | Lottery/liquor, clean inventory, corner location |
| Trades & home services | 2 – 3.5× | Recurring contracts, crew in place, reviews |
| Manufacturing / distribution | 3 – 5× | Contracts, margins, owner not the key salesperson |
Sellers: get these ready before we list
- 3 years of tax returns and year-to-date P&L
- 12 months of bank and merchant statements
- Current lease, options and landlord contact
- Equipment list with age and condition
- Licenses (business, liquor, health) and renewal dates
- Staff roster, pay and tenure — no names needed
- Your "why now" — buyers always ask
Buyers: how deals get financed
- SBA 7(a): 10% down, up to 10 years (25 with real estate)
- Seller financing: common for 10–30% of the price
- Cash / investor partner: fastest close, best price leverage
FAQ
Questions owners and buyers ask us.
Will my employees, customers or landlord find out I'm selling?
Not from us. Marketing is blind (no name, no address, no photos of the storefront), every buyer signs an NDA and shows proof of funds before seeing financials, and showings happen after hours. You decide when staff and landlord are told — usually at the LOI or diligence stage.
How is a business valued?
For owner-operated businesses, price is Seller's Discretionary Earnings × an industry multiple, adjusted for lease, equipment, staff and how dependent the business is on you. Inventory and real estate are usually priced separately. Use the estimator above for a ballpark, then request the free confidential valuation.
How long does it take to sell a business?
Typically 4–9 months from valuation to closing. Restaurants and cash-heavy businesses with clean books move faster; deals needing liquor license transfers or SBA financing add 30–60 days at the end.
What does it cost to sell?
Business brokerage is success-fee based — nothing is due until you close. We'll walk you through the fee schedule, typical attorney and license costs, and how they compare to the extra price a confidential, competitive process brings.
Can you sell my business and my building together?
Yes — that is our specialty. We value the operation and the real estate separately, market them to buyers who want both (or split them if the numbers say so), and coordinate the commercial sale and the asset sale to one closing.
I want to buy a business. Do I pay you?
In most transactions the seller pays the brokerage fee. We'll represent you on sourcing, underwriting and negotiation and tell you upfront if a specific deal is structured differently.
Start with a confidential conversation.
Tell us what you own or what you're looking for. Financials are shared only under NDA, and nothing goes public without your sign-off.
SpaceMatch Inc. · 676 N Michigan Ave #3010, Chicago, IL 60611 · 773-985-7153 · team@spacematchinc.com. Valuation multiples and financing terms are illustrative market ranges and not an appraisal, legal, tax or lending advice. Business sales are conducted under confidentiality agreements; buyer qualification required.
Confidential Business Inquiry
Tell us what you own or what you're looking for. Nothing goes public without your sign-off.
Every inquiry is handled directly by Michael Kang and the SpaceMatch business brokerage team. Financials are shared only under NDA.