BizEx Review

Searching for a business broker in Southern California will likely run across BizEx fairly quickly. Founded in 2005 and operating out of Santa Monica, California, BizEx is a licensed business brokerage and M&A advisory firm that focuses on buying and selling businesses valued between $1 million and $50 million.

With more than 20 agents on staff, a proprietary CRM system, and a buyer database that has grown to over 16,000 contacts, BizEx has built a recognizable presence in the Los Angeles market. The real question most potential clients want answered: is it worth trusting them with one of the biggest financial transactions of your life?

BizEx operates under the legal entity Business Brokerage Technologies, Inc. and is headquartered at 100 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 700, Santa Monica, CA 90401. 

The company's founder came from an engineering background electrical engineering, process engineering, and hi-tech sales before pivoting to business brokerage. 

That technical foundation shaped how BizEx was built: less like a traditional brokerage and more like a systematized sales operation with proprietary software at its core.

The firm describes its position in the market this way: typical business brokers handle main street businesses under $1 million, while investment banks generally won't touch anything under $20 million. BizEx sits in between, handling the lower middle market that often gets underserved.

BizEx handles both sides of a transaction and provides several supporting services:

For Sellers

• Full listing and marketing of the business
• Broker's Opinion of Value (BOV)
• Exit strategy planning for owners not yet ready to sell
• Buyer qualification and management
• Deal structuring support through closing

For Buyers

• Access to current business listings across multiple industries
• Buyer registration and NDA process
• SBA loan connections and lender introductions
• Guidance through due diligence

Valuation Tools

• Free online Business Valuation Calculator (self-service)
• Detailed Broker's Opinion of Value (requires consultation)

The valuation calculator on their website is a starting point, not a definitive number. BizEx is upfront about that distinction.

Industry specialization is something BizEx emphasizes intentionally. Each broker is encouraged to focus on a specific niche rather than taking anything that comes through the door.

Broker Kendric Foultz, for example, draws on 15 years as VP of a personal care products and industrial cleaning chemicals company to handle manufacturing deals. That kind of background matters when a buyer starts asking technical questions.

Here's the general flow for a seller:

1. Submit a free consultation request on BizEx.net
2. Get matched with a broker who has relevant industry experience
3. Receive a Broker's Opinion of Value
4. Sign a listing agreement (BizEx does not require this at the first meeting)
5. BizEx markets the business confidentially to its buyer database and other channels
6. Buyer inquiries get filtered and qualified before reaching the seller
7. Letters of intent are reviewed, due diligence is managed, and the deal closes through escrow

The typical timeline runs nine to twelve months, which is standard for lower middle market transactions.

This is where BizEx differs from a lot of boutique brokerages. The firm built a proprietary cloud-based CRM specifically for selling businesses. Rather than having each broker maintain their own buyer contacts, BizEx centralizes the entire buyer database.

As of 2025, that database holds over 16,000 registered buyers, including individual buyers, serial entrepreneurs, private equity firms, and strategic acquirers. When a new listing goes live, buyers whose criteria match the business get notified automatically.

BizEx brokers carry several industry credentials worth noting:

• California Real Estate License (required for business brokerage in CA) — Company License #01484102
• IBBA (International Business Brokers Association)
• CABB (California Association of Business Brokers)
• NACVA (National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts)
• CBI (Certified Business Intermediary)
• CM&AP (Certified M&A Professional)
• M&AMI (Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary)

The M&AMI designation requires significant transaction volume and ongoing education to maintain — it is not common among brokerages at any size.

Client testimonials on the BizEx website are numerous and specific. Dina Atalla-Mikhail, who sold JJ Trinity Compounding Pharmacy, noted that broker Tom Plotkin "stayed by my side and worked hard for me until we were able to sell and we sold for a much better price." 

Joon Paik, who purchased a Beverly Hills store through broker Mina Singson, said he'd use the same broker again for any future transaction.

Patterns in the feedback: communication, follow-through on difficult deals, and prices above initial expectations come up repeatedly.

Independently sourced reviews note that clients cite the firm's professionalism, valuation expertise, and willingness to stay engaged when deals get complicated.

BizEx is a good fit for many situations, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Geographic concentration: The firm is based in Southern California and most active in the LA metro, Orange County, and surrounding areas. They do handle some listings outside California, but their deepest network is local.
• Deal size floor: Businesses valued below $1 million aren't the firm's primary focus. Owners of smaller operations may find better support at a main street broker.
• No guaranteed timeline: Nine to twelve months is the typical window, and that can stretch depending on the business, financing conditions, and buyer availability.
• Results vary by broker: Like any firm with 20+ agents, quality and responsiveness can differ. Checking a specific broker's transaction history before signing is a reasonable step.

Does BizEx charge upfront fees?

BizEx offers free consultations and does not require a signed contract at the first meeting. Business brokers typically work on success-based commissions, meaning they get paid when a deal closes.

Is BizEx only for sellers?

No. Buyers can register on the site, sign an NDA, and access listings. BizEx's buyer database exceeds 16,000 registered contacts, so buyer-side activity is a real part of the business.

How does BizEx value a business?

They use a combination of a self-service online calculator for general estimates and a more detailed Broker's Opinion of Value conducted by a broker, which factors in value drivers, risk, cash flow, and market comparables.

Does BizEx handle SBA financing?

BizEx has relationships with SBA lenders and can connect buyers with financing resources, though they are not a lender themselves.

What happens if my business doesn't sell?

BizEx does not publicly advertise what happens in that scenario, which is worth discussing directly before signing a listing agreement.

BizEx is a licensed, credentialed, and long-running brokerage with a documented track record in the Southern California lower middle market.

The combination of a centralized buyer database, industry-specialized brokers, and a technology infrastructure built specifically for business sales gives it operational advantages over smaller or less organized competitors.

Sellers and buyers operating in the $1M to $50M range in California should consider BizEx a credible option worth evaluating, particularly if they can be matched with a broker whose industry background aligns with their specific business.