Murphy Business Sales of Wilmington

09/02/2026

New Business For Sale 🚀
Popular, cash-flowing coffee shop with management team in place.

Perfect opportunity for someone looking to own a fun, community-oriented business with proven profitability and growth potential.

The owner is ready to retire and looking for a smooth handoff to the right party to continue what they have built.

BizBuySell listing is in the comments.

SBA lending available for a qualified buyer.

If you or someone you know is thinking about selling their business, reach out to me to learn more about business valuations, exit planning, and selling a business.

Preparing now, can make when you sell, easier and more profitable.

06/30/2026

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business in Wilmington, NC?

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business in Wilmington, NC?
A realistic timeline — and the 2–3 year prep plan that makes the difference

One of the most common questions I get from Wilmington business owners thinking about selling is some version of: “How long is this going to take?”

The honest answer is 9–12 months from the day you list but the owners who get the best outcomes started preparing long before that.

This article covers both sides of that equation: what the sale process actually looks like once you’re in it, and what you should be doing right now 2–3 years out so that when you’re ready to go to market, your business is positioned to sell quickly and at full value.


The 9–12 Month Sale Timeline
On average, selling a business in Wilmington takes 9–12 months from listing to close. Here’s how that time actually breaks down.

Phase Typical Duration
Prep & valuation
1-2 months
Listing & marketing to find a buyer
2–8 months
Buyer screening to offer
1–2 months
Due diligence to closing
1-3 months
Post-sale transition
30–90 days
Total
9–12 months

Note: 9–12 months, it can be shorter, but also can take longer. Recently I had a few deals take over 2 years.

The best plan is the start 2-3 years before listing.

Learn More & Read Full Article at Link in Comments

05/21/2026

𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓: 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 - 🦅 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤?

Wilmington networking is heating up this summer, and the Carolinas Virginia Business Brokers Association (CVBBA) community is coming together for an evening of connections, conversations, and collaboration at Eagles Dare!

Everyone is welcome to attend!

Date: June 10th, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Venue: The Eagles Dare Dare
420 N 3rd Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Food and drinks courtesy of our sponsor:
Jim Frey, Gulf Coast Small Business Lending

Our sponsors play a vital role in the success of CVBBA, and we truly value their continued support and partnership.

Please RSVP by 6/8/26 to secure your spot.
https://www.cvbba.com/wilmington-social/

Any questions, contact Board Member Ben Shaw [email protected]

Wilmington networking is heating up this summer, and the CVBBA community is coming together for an evening of connections, conversations, and collaboration at Eagles Dare!

05/12/2026

99 Days Listing to Close for this Award-Winning Coffee Shop.
The average business takes 9–12 months to sell.

So what made the difference?
The seller was prepared.
Not just "I think we're ready" prepared. I mean:
✅ Financials were clean and current
✅ Questions from buyers got answered fast
✅ Nothing fell apart during due diligence because nothing was hidden

When a buyer asks a question and gets a clear, organized answer within 24 hours, they stay engaged. When they hit delays, vague answers, or missing documents, they move on.

Some deals don't die because the business is bad. They delay or die because the seller wasn't ready when it counted.

If you're thinking about selling a business in the next 1–3 years, the work you do now determines how quickly and at what price it sells later.

I am so happy for Steve & Pam. They built something real, took care of it, and walked away on their terms, and get to enjoy life.

Thinking about what selling your business would actually look like?
Happy to have that conversation. DM me or drop a comment.

04/09/2026

Recording Available!
Free Business Valuation Webinar for Business Owners

If you’re a business owner or trusted advisor, two of the most important questions you should know the answer to is:

“What is my business worth?”
"Why only 20–30% of businesses actually sell."

I’m hosted a free webinar covering how small businesses are valued and what buyers actually look for when purchasing a company.

In this webinar l discussed:
• How business valuations work
• What drives (and hurts) business value
• Why many businesses never sell
• Steps owners can take now to increase value

Even if selling is years away, understanding your valuation today can help you make better decisions for the future.

If you’re a business owner or advisor working with owners, you’re encouraged to watch the recording.

Message Me For The Webinar Recording

Ben Shaw - Murphy Business Sales of Wilmington

04/02/2026

Do you know what your business is actually worth, not your guess, but what a buyer would actually pay?

Here's a surprising stat: only about 20–30% of businesses listed for sale ever sell

Business Valuation Myths vs. Reality:
What Buyers Actually Pay for Small Businesses

Join Ben Shaw of Murphy Business Sales of Wilmington for a free webinar where you'll learn:
✅ The formula buyers actually use to estimate value
✅ Why two businesses with similar revenue can sell for very different prices
✅ How financial normalization (addbacks) works — and why it matters
✅ The risk factors buyers and lenders evaluate before making an offer
✅ Why a valuation is a powerful planning tool even if you're not selling soon

You don't have to be ready to sell to make this worth your time. For most entrepreneurs, their business is their largest financial asset — and planning a few years ahead can make the process dramatically smoother and more profitable.

📅 Wednesday, April 8th 🕐 12 PM EST 💻 Zoom — Registration link in comments

This session is designed for business owners, CPAs, financial advisors, and anyone who advises clients with business interests.

Stop guessing. Start planning.

RSVP LINK IN COMMENTS

03/16/2026

How much is your business actually worth?

It’s one of the most common questions I hear from business owners.

But what many owners don’t realize is that valuation isn’t just about selling — it’s about understanding the value of your largest asset and what actually drives that value.

I’m hosting a free webinar on business valuations where we’ll walk through:

• How small businesses are typically valued
• What buyers and banks actually look at
• Common mistakes that reduce a company’s value
• Why many businesses don’t sell and how to avoid that
• What owners can do now to increase value before a future exit

Even if selling is 3–5 years away, understanding valuation today can help you make better decisions about growth, profitability, and succession planning.

📅 Free Webinar
👉 Register in comments below

If you’re a business owner or advisor working with owners, you’re welcome to join.

— Ben Shaw
Murphy Business Sales of Wilmington

02/17/2026

“Business is a contact sport.”
I had an ambitious business school student call me recently. He wanted to learn about business brokerage and how to eventually own businesses.

My advice was simple:
Go out.
Talk to people.
Do stuff.

You can read books. You can watch videos. But nothing replaces conversations, mistakes, and real-world reps. (I made a lot of mistakes)

Networking is something I wish I had done more of when I was younger. Always being a chatty bartender at heart, I enjoy talking to people, learning from them, hearing their stories, motivations, and interesting projects.

The start of year is fun because everyone is fired up and focused after the holiday. Greater Wilmington Business Journal - Book on Business, Wilmington American Marketing Association (AMA), Downtown Business Alliance of Wilmington, WILMeet, Barrels, Bottles, and Brews Networking-Wilmington, my The Eagles Dare networking, and many more.

Who has a cool event coming up?

12/11/2025

Over 2 Years in the making...
People underestimate the time and effort that go into selling a business. I worked with this seller for over 2 years to find the right buyer to get this deal done.

He was a true pleasure to work with, a phenomenal businessman, and I couldn't ask for a more buttoned-up client.

I am glad that I was able to get this done, and now Ross enjoying a well deserved worldwide travel journey.

If you (or someone you know) is curious about what you need to know to properly prepare & sell a business, message me for a free, confidential consultation.

10/20/2025

Do you actually know what your business is worth, and why?
A professional valuation isn’t just about selling. It’s about understanding the true drivers of your company’s value:
✅ Cash flow
✅ Market comparables
✅ Growth potential
✅ Risk factors

Whether you’re planning to sell next year or just want clarity for the future, a proper valuation helps you make smarter, more confident decisions.

The answer isn’t just a number ➡️ It’s a strategy.

If you (or someone you know) are curious about what your business might really be worth in today’s market, message me for a free, confidential consultation.