Listing a business for sale in Fort Wayne can be as easy as anywhere else when you have a business broker on your side. Selling a business in Indiana can be broken down into easier-to-understand parts when you count on the professional services of a broker. Whether your business’s location is in downtown Fort Wayne or somewhere outside the city, a single location or a franchise, or a business that has a few years to a few decades, a business broker offers all the current advice and guidance to help you through the process.
When business owners in Fort Wayne want a dependable business broker on their side, they choose Advanced Business Brokers because of our expertise and knowledge of Fort Wayne’s market. From helping through the valuation process to assisting the sales process, we help in every business in Indiana.
Business buyers change over time, so it’s important to understand who these buyers are when trying to make a sale in Fort Wayne. Businesses for sale need to meet the wants and needs of potential buyers, present business opportunities that they care about, and offer them a great option that results in the perfect situation for them.
On a larger, national level, those interested in buying businesses have shifted recently, showing an increase in interest from Private Equity (PE) firms, as well as search funds. Another demographic increasing in buying interest is “corporate refugees,” which are mid-career professionals leaving traditional jobs to buy small businesses. According to bizbuysell.com, 44% of buyers now identify as corporate refugees, and another 15% report being recently unemployed.
With a larger region like Allen County, businesses for sale in Fort Wayne can look for opportunities with these growing buyer groups to get their sale started and try to reach a deal that benefits both parties.
It’s also important to know when you should list businesses for sale. When inflation is increasing, higher costs for labor, rent, and supplies can put a financial strain on your business when not properly managed. This can hurt the valuation of your business, leading to less buyer interest. So, make sure to plan accordingly with the help of a business broker, and your business can better manage rising costs to ensure that when you want to explore the option of selling, you have more opportunities available.
Periods of uncertainty can also cause buyers to hesitate on making an offer. When buyers search for a business or franchise for sale, they want to be sure that they’re making the right, safe decision. During government shutdowns, supply shortages, etc, buyers are much more likely to hold off on purchasing during such moments. By building your business in Fort Wayne to easily withstand such circumstances, you can then get to a period where much less uncertainty exists, leading to the perfect sale.
Businesses for sale often tend to perform better in specific regions. Buyers will typically explore their options to search for a rare opportunity that results in a profitable purchase for them in the long run. So, knowing this, what is the current market for Fort Wayne businesses?
From a brief look into the current business opportunities available to buyers in Fort Wayne, there are primarily small businesses. From retail storefronts to service-based businesses such as housing contractors or consulting businesses, there are a wide variety of small businesses, with a few franchises also available.
Based on how well other business types are selling, what your valuation for your business is, any extra assets you have to offer, and more, your business broker team can help determine what your business needs to offer to stay competitive in the Fort Wayne, Indiana market. From the location of your business to how quickly you’re looking to find a new owner, we can help to meet your goals every step of the way. Our services are designed to get you the best result with your business sale, so count on us to serve you as needed.
Contact Advanced Business Brokers today to learn more and start the process of finding a successful sale for your business!
If you’re thinking about selling your business and don’t know where to start, consider speaking with our team here at Advanced Business Brokers. We specialize in brokering and advising exit plan strategies for various sizes/sectors of businesses.
With over 25 years of dedicated experience, Bob empowers small business owners in the Indianapolis metro area to achieve their entrepreneurial visions, whether by building scalable operations or crafting highly sellable entities. For three decades, he’s cultivated a robust network of owners, buyers, and strategic partners, a resource he fully leverages to help clients meet their unique objectives.
Bob’s expertise spans a diverse range of industries, including trade-based businesses like construction, HVAC, skilled trades, and manufacturing, as well as white-collar professional service firms such as law, finance, marketing, and technical services. Beyond his client work, Bob actively contributes to his community, serving as Treasurer for the Boone County Chamber Board and as well as a board member for both the Central Indiana Police Foundation (CIPF) and Fiscal Sponsorship Allies (FSA).
Bob holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and teaches there as well in the Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, which is ranked among the Top 50 programs in the U.S.
He lives with his wife Lori in Zionsville, just outside Indianapolis, and in his free time, he enjoys working on his home, playing golf, and traveling.
With a degree in psychology and a professional background in social work, Marissa
brings a people-centered lens to every project. Her experience includes being a Project
Planning Specialist at GE Aerospace, creating efficient processes and structures that
help teams work smarter and stay aligned. Marissa joins the Main Street Market Maker
team with Advanced Business Brokers to dedicate time and attention to smaller
business opportunities and provide excellent and supportive customer service.
Outside of work, she is a mom of three young men who finds joy in the everyday chaos
of family life. She loves strong coffee, warm beaches, and any excuse to spend time in
the sunshine. Hot yoga and hammocking are some of her favorite ways to reset and
stay grounded and help her show up with more presence both at home and in my
professional life.
Steve brings more than 20 years of experience as a legal and financial professional to
his work with business owners preparing for transition and sale. He advises owners and
their families through every stage of the exit planning and transaction process, with a
focus on thoughtful assessment, risk management, and strategic value enhancement.
Steve is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) and an active member of the Exit
Planning Institute. He previously served as Director of the Small Business Development
Center in Toledo, Ohio, where he worked closely with entrepreneurs across a wide
range of industries on growth, financing, and succession planning initiatives.
Earlier in his career, Steve practiced law with a nationally recognized Chicago-based
law firm and held roles in capital markets and commercial banking with leading financial
institutions. This multidisciplinary background allows him to approach business
transactions with a practical understanding of legal, financial, and operational
considerations.
As a business broker, Steve specializes in industrial and manufacturing companies,
skilled trades, and professional service firms, including marketing, staffing, and financial
services businesses. Steve earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago
School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Notre
Dame. He lives in the Toledo area with his wife and two daughters. Outside of work, he
enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time at his family’s lake house.
A lifelong resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Dr. Mark Hagar brings decades of hands-on experience in small business ownership, acquisitions, and turnarounds to his role as a business broker. Over his distinguished career, he has acquired and operated more than 20 companies and engineered over 50 successful turnarounds, giving him a uniquely practical understanding of what makes businesses succeed, and sell. His portfolio spans manufacturing, distribution, and service firms in industries including printing, education, military contracting, aerospace, and orthopedics. This diverse background enables him to identify value, anticipate buyer needs, and structure complex deals with confidence and precision.
Mark holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Cranfield University’s School of Management in Bedford, England—one of Europe’s leading business schools. His research on small business resilience and operational excellence has been recognized by the Small Business Institute (SBI), the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE), and the International Council for Small Business (ICSB).
In addition to his business career, Dr. Hagar has served as a member of faculty at several institutions of higher education, including Holy Cross College (Notre Dame), Trine University, and the University of Saint Francis. He also hosted Your Business Matters, a small business–focused radio show and podcast for more than a decade and is the author of Small Fortunes – the Acquisition Entrepreneur’s Guide to Buying a Profitable Small Business.
A passionate advocate for entrepreneurs, Mark previously chaired the Indiana Leadership Council for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), representing small business owners before state and federal legislators. He currently serves as President of the Allen County, Indiana Economic Development
Commission.
As a broker, Mark specializes in industrial, manufacturing, and distribution firms, with particular expertise in special situations, distressed assets, and complex transitions where experience, creativity and discretion are central to success.