Looking for a Business Broker in South Bend, IN? Start Here

Are you hoping to retire but need the help of a business broker in South Bend, Indiana? As a business owner, you know the ins and outs of your company better than anyone. You know the margins. You know your suppliers. You know your employees. And, most importantly, you know what it’s worth to you. All of these are taken into consideration by potential buyers, so you become an invaluable resource in the sale process.

But, to get a true business valuation, you need a business broker in South Bend.

With the ability to help you accurately value your business, brokers can help you maximize your sale price. Beyond that, they can ensure a smoother exit by handling all of the time-consuming logistics that come with selling a business. From assisting with financing to closing the deal, brokers are an invaluable resource to any business owner hoping to sell their business.

What should you look for in a business broker in South Bend?

You’ve worked incredibly hard to position your business as the best. As the business owner, you want to make sure you reach the best potential buyers who will take care of your business and your team, while also making it simpler to sell your business. So, of course, you want to trust your business to the best in South Bend. But, how do you know you’re working with Indiana’s best team of business brokers? What questions should you ask? And, above all else, what qualities should you look for?

  • Communication: When you first reach out to potential brokers, you should be able to get a feel for how quickly they respond and how genuine they seem. A broker will be presenting your business to potential buyers, so you want one that is timely, informed, and presents with confidence.
  • Commitment: On the topic of availability, you’ll want to work with a broker who will make your sale a priority. Do they work full-time or part-time? Are they genuinely interested in the workings of your business?
  • Track Record: When it comes to business brokers in South Bend, you have options. But, you’ll want to be certain you choose one that has a record of successful deals. Be sure to ask about previous sales. And, if possible, look into the broker’s online reviews and testimonials. Not only should they understand the fundamentals between clients and a business, but they should be willing to learn what those relationships are specifically for your business. If many others in your industry have worked with the same brokers, that is a great indication that the services they provide will meet and exceed your expectations now and in the future.

Market to a New Business Owner

In order to sell your business in South Bend, brokers can help you market your business towards potential buyers in search of the best fit. From understanding the revenue that your business brings in, how it will be acquired by a buyer, providing the seller with an explanation of the systems your business operates on, the transition for them can go much smoother than it otherwise would. To sell your business, it needs to stand alongside other companies as a competitor in your market, or to at least have the potential to someday. With a business broker’s expertise, they’ll help you offer the resources and services necessary to have a better chance to sell your business in South Bend.

Want to work with South Bend’s best business broker?

At Advanced Business Brokers, we take immense pride in our ability to position our clients’ businesses for a successful sale in South Bend. Working diligently with every client in our service area and beyond, we create accurate valuations, locate suitable buyers, and close deals. We’ve built a reputation for arranging a hassle-free process that allows you to sell your business without worry so you can focus on what’s next. So, if you’re ready to retire and need help with your exit planning, contact us today.

Work With An Experienced Business Broker

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.

Read More from ABB

Bob Paden

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.

Marissa Ihssen

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 DeMaio, JD, CEPA

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.

Dr. Mark Hagar

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.