Who Buys El Paso Companies
Buyers for a company worth under about $1 million are often local. They may already work in your industry, live across town, or run a business that would fit next to yours.
As value rises, buyers come from farther away. A company worth several million can draw interest from Phoenix, Dallas, Albuquerque or a private equity group that has never driven Interstate 10 through town.
Companies tied to cross border trade draw their own crowd: logistics firms from other ports, manufacturers that already sell into Juárez plants, and investors who want a foothold on the border.
Setting a Price You Can Defend
A broker starts with your tax returns and financial statements, then recasts them. That means adding back what the business pays for you and removing one time costs, so a buyer sees what the company really earns.
That figure gets a multiple based on risk. Steady customers, trained staff and clean records push it up. Heavy reliance on you, or on one customer, pulls it down. Read how buyers price a business for the details.
Keeping the Sale Quiet
Your company is marketed without its name. Buyers see the industry, the area and the numbers, and they sign a confidentiality agreement before they learn more.
Most owners tell staff only near the end, often just before closing. Customers usually hear about it from you and the new owner together.
Most Sales Are Asset Sales
For companies under about $2 million, the buyer usually buys the assets: equipment, customer lists, the name and goodwill. You keep the entity, its cash and its debts, and pay them off at closing.
Larger deals more often sell the shares or membership interests instead. The structure changes your taxes and which Texas accounts move to the buyer, so settle it early with your CPA and attorney.
How Buyers Pay
Most deals here combine cash from the buyer, an SBA loan and a note you carry for part of the price. SBA 7(a) loans go up to $5 million and lenders like steady, documented cash flow.
A seller note shows the buyer you believe in the company. It is common and, with a sound buyer, usually paid on schedule.
What Texas Asks of a Seller
Texas doesn't tax personal income, so a seller who lives here owes no state income tax on the gain. Federal tax still applies, and New Mexico residents may owe tax there.
You will still file a final sales tax return, handle franchise tax reports, close or hand over your unemployment account, and tell the appraisal district what you sold. Our before you close guides cover each one.
How Long It Takes
Seven to nine months from hiring a broker to closing is normal, and six is quick. The timeline page shows what happens in each stretch.
Keep running the company hard the whole way. A dip in sales during the process makes buyers nervous, and so does a sudden jump.
To find out what your company could bring, fill in the valuation request or call (915) 555-0193.