You built something real.Let's make sure what happens next reflects that.
JMB Advisory Services helps owners of established businesses find out what their company is worth, prepare for a sale, and sell to the right buyer — from the first confidential conversation to closing.
Where would you like to start?
A sell-side M&A advisor who has been on both sides of the table
Most M&A advisors come from finance. John Bush comes from operations — co-founding and selling two businesses, leading national acquisition networks, and taking raw land through municipal entitlement to a delivered, income-producing asset.
That background matters. He understands what it took to build what you have, what a sophisticated buyer is really looking for, and where deals quietly fall apart.
JMB works on both sell-side and buy-side engagements for businesses with $500K–$5M in EBITDA, and advises owners, developers, and expanding brands on the real estate underneath the business.
Engagements begin with a confidential diagnostic — no obligation, no pressure. If there's a fit, we build a roadmap together.
What’s your business worth?
Take the free sell-readiness assessment at WhatsMyBizWorth.com. Twelve questions, instant results, no email required.
Three disciplines, one advisor
Value analysis & positioning
An honest, operator-grounded estimate of what your business is worth and how to frame it for the strongest possible offers from the right buyers.
Business valuation & IP →Buyer identification & outreach
Strategic, confidential outreach to qualified strategic and financial buyers — targeted by fit, not blasted to a database. We protect your identity until the right moment.
Deal structuring & negotiation
We negotiate every dimension of the deal on your behalf — price, structure, earnouts, representations and warranties, transition terms — and manage buyer due diligence with the discipline that keeps deals from falling apart at the finish line.
Selling your business →Buy-side M&A advisory
Representing acquirers in the $5M–$50M market — identifying targets, evaluating fit, structuring offers, and negotiating for buyers who want an experienced operator's eye on both the business and the real estate underneath it.
Buy-side advisory →Ground lease structuring & execution
For business owners who own their land — long-term NNN ground leases that convert a static asset into significant, lasting passive income. One of the most underutilized wealth-creation tools available to business owners.
Sale-leaseback advisory
Unlocking the capital tied up in your real estate while retaining operational control — structuring transactions that serve both the business and the long-term asset strategy.
Entitlement & land use strategy
Guiding raw and underutilized land through municipal approval — zoning analysis, CEQA environmental review, planning commission process, and agency negotiation. Direct experience includes California Coastal Commission approval and multi-county greenfield entitlement programs. This is where most development timelines are won or lost.
Distressed asset repositioning
Strategic advisory for owners of large, underperforming commercial assets in strong markets — particularly the San Francisco Bay Area. We identify highest and best use, develop repositioning strategies, and manage the transformation from concept to execution.
Market selection & entry strategy
Trade area analysis, demographic and drive-time modeling, and competitive supply assessment to determine which U.S. markets genuinely support the concept — and in what sequence.
Site underwriting & entitlement risk
American land use is governed city by city, not nationally. Two sites that look identical on paper can differ by years and hundreds of thousands of dollars in approval cost. We map that variance before a letter of intent is signed.
Local representation & oversight
We are client-side. We appoint, brief, and oversee licensed local brokers on the brand's behalf, maintaining a single accountable point of contact across markets rather than a fragmented network of independent agents.
Start with a conversation
Every engagement begins the same way: a confidential call, no obligation. Get in touch and we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right advisor for what you're facing.
What’s My Biz Worth?
Find out where your business stands before a buyer tells you. WhatsMyBizWorth.com is JMB’s free sell-readiness assessment: 12 questions across financials, operations, leadership, customers, governance and owner readiness, with results on the spot.
Get your readiness score
Answer 12 questions in about 10 minutes. See how a buyer would view your business today. No email required.
Request a value estimate
A professional value estimate built from your financials, comparable transactions and the multiples buyers are paying in your industry.
Plan your exit
A confidential conversation with John Bush about timing, buyers and how to close the gap between today’s value and what you want.
Industries we advise
Owners of car washes, property and HOA management companies, food and beverage brands, and other owner-operated businesses come to JMB when they want to know what the business is worth and how to sell it well — often after an unsolicited offer from a private equity buyer.
How we work together
Every engagement starts with a confidential conversation. No obligation, no pitch. From there, a straightforward five-stage process.
Understand your business
Two to four weeks of deep listening — your financials, your team, your goals, your timeline. We don't recommend anything until we understand what you've built.
Establish what it's worth
Before any process begins, we must agree on value — comparable transactions for your sector, geographic market factors, and premiums or discounts based on established metrics.
Assess the opportunity
An honest assessment of structure options, likely counterparty profiles, and what a realistic transaction looks like — including the things most advisors won't tell you.
Build the roadmap
A specific, time-bound plan with clear milestones — go-to-market strategy, target list, structure recommendation, and a realistic timeline to close.
Run the process
We manage everything — confidential outreach, NDAs, management presentations, LOIs, due diligence, and closing. You focus on your business. We focus on your deal.
A track record across industries
Over three decades, John Bush has advised, acquired, operated, and built across consumer brands, food and beverage, retail, quick-service restaurants, car wash, furniture, and commercial real estate.
Advisory & Consulting Clients
Founded & Exited
Co-founded or restarted, built, and exited. Winterstick grew to a top-ten global snowboard brand.
Industry Experience
Brands and platforms where John has held operating, acquisition, dealer development, or consulting roles.
Select engagements listed. Additional client references available upon request under NDA.
Questions owners ask about selling a business
How much is my business worth?
Most owner-operated businesses sell for a multiple of seller’s discretionary earnings (SDE) or EBITDA. The multiple depends on industry, size, growth, customer concentration, management depth and the real estate. Start with the free assessment at WhatsMyBizWorth.com, then request a confidential value estimate based on your financials.
What is the difference between SDE and EBITDA?
SDE (seller’s discretionary earnings) adds the owner’s salary and personal expenses back to profit and is used for smaller, owner-run businesses. EBITDA assumes a paid manager in place and is the measure private equity and larger buyers use. Businesses above roughly $1 million in earnings are usually valued on EBITDA.
How long does it take to sell a business?
A well-prepared sale typically takes six to twelve months from engagement to closing: preparation and valuation, confidential marketing to qualified buyers, negotiating letters of intent, due diligence and closing.
Should I accept an offer from private equity?
An unsolicited private equity offer is a starting point, not a final price. An independent sell-side advisor can confirm what the business is worth, bring competing buyers to the table and negotiate structure such as earnouts, rollover equity and the real estate.
Where does JMB Advisory Services work?
JMB is based in Sonoma County and works with business owners across Northern California, including Sonoma, Marin, Napa, the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, and with buyers and brands nationwide.
Let's have a real conversation
Whether you're exploring a sale, evaluating an acquisition, planning a U.S. expansion, or simply want an honest value estimate — a confidential conversation costs nothing and obligates you to nothing.
Sonoma County · San Francisco Bay Area · Northern California
CA Real Estate Broker #01363256