Job Description
VR Business Brokers of St. Louis is an equal opportunity employer.Who are we?
The mission of VR Business Brokers of St. Louis is to be the #1 Business Brokerage in St. Louis by providing professional business sales and mergers and acquisitions services based on a foundation of values, confidentiality, and results. VR stands for “Valued Representation” which reflects the services we provide and the experience our clients demand. The services we provide at VR include certified business appraisals, seller representation, buyer representation, and mergers and acquisition consulting, negotiation, and transaction management services for small to medium sized businesses in our market of expertise- the Greater St. Louis regional area.
Who are we looking for?
VR Business Brokers of St. Louis is seeking a ROCK STAR! individual to join our team as a Business Broker Sales Professional who may work from a remote or home office.
These are the standards a well-above-average performer will need to maintain or exceed:
• Demonstrate continuous commitment to the brokerage’s vision, values, and goals by nesting personal and professional goals with the brokerage.
• Prospect for seller leads, convert leads to appointments, and close appointments to agreements.
• Understand and discuss the advantages to a business Seller on the need and use of a certified business valuation.
• Provide high-level fiduciary advice on pricing strategies on business opportunities for sale.
• Market the business for sale and develop targeting buyer lists.
• Responsible for identifying, contacting, and obtaining appointments with business owners to discuss exit strategy planning; maintain a consistent lead follow-up until the prospect engages for a valuation or makes a decision to sell.
• Evaluate buyer candidate feedback, national & local industry and economic conditions, and then reevaluate pricing and marketing strategy as needed.
• Effectively facilitate negotiation between parties, manage the due diligence process and the closing checklist to gain closure on contingencies and conditions, and work with industry professionals (attorneys, CPA’s, financial planners, commercial lenders/banks, inspectors, etc.) to ensure an efficient and proactively managed timeline leading to the business sale closing.
• Always communicating regularly and professionally with clients before, during, and after the sale, including buyers and their advisors and representatives.
TRAINING PROVIDED BY BROKERAGE
• How to build an inventory of quality businesses to sell.
• How to value and price a business.
• How to formulate different transaction structures to maximize value.
• How to prepare a VR Business Profile.
• How to launch a confidential listing marketing campaign.
• How to educate buyers and sellers on the transaction process.
• How to recast financial statements.
• How to facilitate negotiations.
• How to prepare all the necessary documentation.
• How to navigate successfully through the due diligence process.
• How to leverage office systems, tools, and apps.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Oversee all aspects of sellers’ transactions from initial contact, to contract, and to close.
• Cooperate with fellow brokers, both internal to the brokerage and external from other brokerages, with a focus on the successful sale of the Seller’s business.
• Take charge of the entire engagement process with a Client, ensuring timely communication follow-up, a sense of urgency and accuracy with documents, agreements, and contracts, and supporting the Listing Assistants and administrative team members with tasks and timelines which ensure everyone’s success.
• Utilize the brokerage’s processes and procedures as provided and directed. This ensures consistency in delivering quality services, maintains common expectations and experience among the team, and protects the broker, its team members, and the brokerage from losing deals or being exposed to needless risk or undesired outcomes.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERACTIONS
• Owner/Supervisor – daily stand-up meeting; 30-60-90 day performance progress; quarterly performance progress.
• Sellers – daily or as arranged between broker and client depending on engagement stage.
• Listing Assistant – daily or weekly as needed; daily when managing checklists.
• Office Manager – daily coordination as needed; submit weekly status report.
• Attend weekly sales meeting.
• Attend monthly training.
POSITION MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
• Utilize, support, and cooperate with Listing Assistant(s) and administrative staff.
• Lifecycle client management and transaction management.
• Managing, tracking, and reporting on client engagement status.
• Assume leadership, responsibility, accountability, and initiative on assigned projects.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE
Performing well as a business broker is not easy work. You need to be proactive, motivated, and quick to take initiative. If you have not been successful at sales, then you may struggle as a business broker.
Typical successful brokers have a background as an industry executive, commercial banker, CPA, business attorney, commercial real estate broker, successful business owner who started and sold their business, multi-unit franchise owners, transitioning financial planners, or possess SBA consulting experience, as examples. Other successful brokers and intermediaries had career experience from the military, first-responder, teaching and education, marketing and advertising, sales, media, or celebrity personalities. While anyone who aspires to make the change to learning the profession can be successful if they commit to the training and work hard for their clients, this is a 100% commission-based industry and your results are directly related to your efforts.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS
Intrinsic and interpersonal knowledge and skills which are beneficial include:
• Great listening skills
• Good written and verbal communications skills
• Leadership abilities
• Aptitude or natural ability for problem solving.
• Creative thinking skills.
• Conflict resolution
• Punctuality, Candidness, Honesty, Integrity
• Goal-oriented
• Open to positive criticism and self-improvement.
• Collaborative and functions well as a team member.
• Conducting industry research and paper writing.
• Good computer skills, such as proficiency in MS/MAC office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), email, social media, and smart phone productivity apps.
• Comfortable with public speaking and presenting to groups.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
• Calm under pressure.
• Business finance acumen; familiarity with income statements, balance sheets, cash flow sheets, tax returns, and business accounting principles is a plus, but we will provide training and mentoring in those areas.
• Business management experience.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
• College degree from an accredited university (any discipline).
• CBI (Certified Business Intermediary) or equivalent preferred.
• Professional certifications a plus (i.e. commercial real estate license; CPA license; appraisal certification; SEC certification; financial planning certification; bar exam; other relevant licenses and certifications related to business analysis, business management, or industry specific training, certifications, and licenses).
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
• Prior business ownership is a plus.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
• Basic LinkedIn account (Free/Basic Account)(Premium Account at own expense).
• High competency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Using social media for self-marketing and brand awareness (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
• Ability to give presentations to small groups.
• Using the online resources for research and correctly citing references in reports.
• Home office, laptop/tablet, printer, and capability to work “on the go” and remotely along with some level of technology skills (smartphone; tablet; apps usage; online/cloud-based software and tools; etc.).
COMPENSATION
• This position is 100% commission-based and performed under an Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA) with the brokerage.
• Relocation is not paid nor reimbursable or mandatory. Relocate at your own expense.
• Local travel only. Travel, meals, lodging, or incidentals are not included nor reimbursed.
• You are considered a self-employed independent contractor for purposes of reporting your job status and filing your own taxes. A social security number or federal identification number will be needed.
• This position is for individuals who live within the Greater St. Louis region and are willing and capable of reasonable driving or commuting distance from their residence to local businesses, events, and venues in/around the St. Louis area (generally defined as 1-hour driving distance or less from either your official residence or from the brokerage's office).
• This position does not provide healthcare benefits.
To learn more and apply, visit https://www.vrbusinessbrokers.com/officeChild/ST-LOUIS-MO-0/Join-Our-Team.aspx