A Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) is a trained and experienced Business Intermediary who possesses the necessary expertise to perform business valuations, confidential marketing, negotiations, review lease documents and the multitude of complex details involved in the sale or purchase of a privately held business. The CBI designation is a professional credential earned by Business Intermediaries who are members of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) and have satisfied the work experience and academic requirements in addition to adhering to the ethical standards of the IBBA.
Business Brokerage is a specialized field that requires a strong knowledge of finance, legal, and accounting disciplines, as well as a proficiency in marketing, negotiating, and due diligence. Selling your company is often one of the most important financial events in the life of a business owner. The business owner should make sure that the best and most professional representation is retained to accomplish a successful sale. In most cases, a business represents a significant component of family wealth and the owner will be keenly interested in maximizing this value when the business is sold to an outside third party or key employee, or transferred through an orderly succession to a family member. The special skill set and expert guidance offered by a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) will bring peace of mind and security to a process that can be complex and challenging. A Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) professional can help both sellers and buyers navigate the acquisition and sale process in a smooth and methodical fashion and assist in achieving a win-win transaction.
CBI’s have three distinct qualifications:
- A higher level of experience, training, and education necessary to handle the business valuation, marketing, negotiations, contracts and complex details involved in the sale or purchase of privately held businesses.
- Knowledge of the most up-to-date market trends and industry data related to business valuation, financing, contracts, taxes, legislation and other areas with respect to business.
- Affiliation with hundreds of other intermediaries and professional partners (CPAs, Attorneys, etc.) on a local, national, and international.
What are the CBI Requirements?
- Experience – A minimum of three years full-time Business Brokerage experience within the prior ten years, and must be actively involved in the deal-making process, or management of the process.
- Ethics – A thorough understanding and commitment to uphold the Association’s Code of Ethics.
- Education – CBI’s must complete a rigorous advanced study curriculum involving a minimum of 68 class hours of Business Brokerage courses in addition to attending IBBA Conferences for professional development, continuing education, and re-certification every two years.
- Examination – Once all requirements are met, CBI’s must pass a difficult and comprehensive examination on the many different aspects of Business Brokerage.
Selling or buying a business is one of the most crucial financial transactions in an individual’s life. Engaging a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) will greatly assist both sellers and buyers in optimizing the transaction and navigating the myriad of complex issues related to selling or buying a business. The CBI designation is awarded following rigorous education, testing and demonstrated superior working knowledge of Business Brokerage skills. This difficult to obtain designation has been awarded to less than 800 recipients internationally. When considering selling your company, work with a professional – a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI).
Lifetime CBI Designation
In the News: IBBA 2017: The International Business Brokers Association has awarded the Lifetime CBI Designation to Matt Coletta. The Lifetime CBI Designation is awarded to a select group of highly experienced professionals in the business brokerage industry who have complied with the IBBA Code of Ethics and maintained an IBBA membership in good standing and have maintained a CBI Designation for more than 15 years. To date, there are less than 60 internationally awarded Lifetime CBI Designations.