• 2012 Call for Presentations 
• Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities Available! 

By CABB Member: D. Joe Atchison, CBI, CBB, CMMBI, CPA - inactive, MBA - Finance President, Sunbelt Business Sales, Mergers & Acquisitions

Current tax and generational trends will motivate business owners to sell their business before the end of 2012. Business transactions escalate when taxes are scheduled to increase creating an unfavorable supply and demand situation for business sellers. Since it typically takes a year to find a buyer and go through the due diligence and escrow process, now is the time to get started. Following are the trends and their likely impacts.

The current long-term federal capital gain income tax rate is 15%. This rate is applicable through the end of 2012 due to the Bush tax cuts sunset provision being extended. Due to the federal budget deficit realities, expectations are that the Bush tax cuts will expire at the end of 2012 and many believe that it is unlikely they will be extended again.

Brokerage Firm: Sunbelt Business Sales & Acquisitions
California Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Contact: 510-523-0232 or pholt@sunbeltnetwork.com  

Q: Briefly describe your background (length as broker, career prior, how you got into this field).

A: I started brokering businesses more than 20 years ago but mostly on a part-time basis up until six years ago when I went full-time and joined the Sunbelt network. Prior to brokering I had owned nine other successful businesses in diversified areas including commercial deep sea diving, marine construction contracting, real estate development, commercial and residential construction, wireless communications and management consulting. One of those businesses was a cellular telephone company that I started and developed for a couple of years until AT&T expressed an interest in acquiring that business. Several months of negotiations and due diligence resulted in an excellent deal for me. The word spread in the cellular industry that I had negotiated an exceptionally high valuation multiple. I began receiving calls from other cellular system owners asking me to broker the sale of their businesses. Thus began my business brokerage career.

Q: Why do you think it's important to have a CBB? What other designations do you hold?

A: I think it is important to acquire recognized credentials. Not only do you gain additional knowledge and expertise in the process, you also earn more credibility with the various parties with whom you deal. I also maintain my CBI designation through the IBBA and I have a MBA degree.

As the economy starts to pick back up, CABB would like to remind you all of the fantastic membership benefits that we have to offer.

• Forms so great that other states want to use them as a model
• A member listserv connecting you with more than 285 brokers throughout the state of California
• Free legal services
• Access to a health care specialist for your medical, dental, vision, life and healthcare reform needs
• Local chapters to facilitate relationships for increased co-brokering opportunities
• LinkedIn community to share ideas and stay connected statewide
• Annual Productivity Conference with remarkable networking opportunities and education

Don't miss out on a minute of these membership benefits, renew today!

Want to renew your membership online? To renew online, please go to www.cabb.org and click on "Pay my CABB Dues."

April 20-21, 2012: CABB Annual Productivity Conference: New Economy...New Opportunities

Crowne Plaza Los Angeles International Airport

It's a new economy, are you taking advantage of new opportunities, such as the CABB Annual Conference? If you haven't do so already, take a look at the preliminary program and register for the conference today. This is an education and networking opportunity you can't afford to miss out on.

Featured Sessions:
*Seller Financing and Financing Transactions Using Retirement Funds
*Selling Under Performing Businesses
*Working with PEGS