Certified Business Brokers Review

Certified Business Brokers (CBB) is a Houston, Texas-based business brokerage firm that has been facilitating the sale of privately-held companies since 1974.

With over five decades of operating history, a collective team experience of 230-plus years, and more than $1 billion in total transaction revenues closed, CBB occupies a distinct position among U.S. business brokers particularly for Texas-based business owners looking for experienced representation on either side of a deal.

CBB was established in Houston in 1974, making it one of the oldest business brokerage firms in the United States.

The firm was a founding member of both the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), the largest business broker association in the world, and the Texas Association of Business Brokers (TABB), which served as the model for similar associations nationwide.

That founding role is relevant context: CBB helped shape the professional standards that govern the industry today.

The firm operates as a full-service brokerage. It handles the entire arc of a business sale, from initial valuation through closing, and also offers buy-side representation for buyers actively searching for acquisition targets.

Their referral network includes transaction-experienced attorneys, accountants, financial planners, SBA lenders, and commercial real estate firms, a broad infrastructure that most solo brokers or smaller regional shops cannot match.

The M&A division is led by CEO Frank Stabler and focuses on manufacturing, wholesale/distribution, energy, and service sector transactions. Buyers in this segment are typically Private Equity Groups (PEGs) or corporate acquirers, which requires a different level of deal complexity than a standard business transfer.

CBB uses a standardized 10-step methodology that has been in place, and continuously refined, for over 40 years. Here's a condensed breakdown:

1. Business Valuation — A pre-sale valuation determines your price range in the current market and helps recast financials to show true earnings potential.
2. Listing Contract — You sign an exclusive agreement. All buyer contacts are pre-qualified and required to sign a confidentiality agreement before seeing any sensitive data.
3. Marketing Package — CBB builds a detailed business profile covering financials, assets, market position, and growth potential, packaged to attract the right type of buyer.
4. Buyer Screening — Buyers are vetted for both financial qualification and strategic fit before receiving any information about your business.
5. Business Operations — During the sale process, you remain responsible for daily operations and supplying updated financials.
6. Buyer-Seller Meetings — CBB schedules all meetings confidentially and serves as liaison during price and terms discussions.
7. Offer Negotiation — All offers are presented by CBB, with the firm facilitating negotiations to get to a close that works for both parties.
8. Due Diligence — CBB coordinates the buyer's inspection period, typically two to four weeks for most business sizes.
9. Closing Coordination — CBB manages lease assignments, utility transfers, financing, and legal documentation through a formal closing in their office.
10. Tax Guidance — The firm walks sellers through the tax implications of asset allocation, capital gains, and non-compete agreement structuring.

This level of process documentation is useful for any seller evaluating whether a broker has genuine transactional infrastructure or is simply making it up as they go. CBB clearly has a repeatable system.

CBB's professional memberships go well beyond the basics. A full list of their active affiliations includes:

• International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) — Founding Member
• Texas Association of Business Brokers (TABB) — Founding Member
• M&A Source — World's largest organization of Middle Market Intermediaries
• Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)
• Pratt's Stats Private Transaction Database — Hall of Fame Member
• Certified Equipment & Machinery Appraisers (CEMA)
• Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
• Multiple regional chambers of commerce including Houston Hispanic Chamber and Indo-American Chamber of Commerce
• Texas Licensed Real Estate Broker
• Texas State Licensed Securities Dealer

The Pratt's Stats Hall of Fame designation is worth noting. That database tracks private transaction data across the U.S., and Hall of Fame membership reflects a sustained, documented track record of closed deals — not just claimed experience.

CBB's buyer-facing services are equally structured. Prospective buyers must register, complete a financial profile, and sign a confidentiality agreement before accessing listings.

The firm offers direct buy-side representation for buyers who want CBB working on their behalf to identify targets, not just listing inventory. Financing guidance is available, including SBA loan coordination for qualified buyers.

One area worth noting: CBB screens buyers rigorously before connecting them with sellers. If you're a buyer expecting casual browsing without vetting, CBB's approach will feel formal. That formality protects sellers, but buyers should arrive prepared with financial documentation.

For business owners concerned about employees or competitors finding out about a pending sale, CBB has explicit confidentiality protocols built into each step. Buyer showings are scheduled outside operating hours when possible.

Business identity is protected in all marketing materials until a buyer has been fully qualified and signed the appropriate agreements. This is a structural concern for many sellers, and CBB addresses it systematically rather than as an afterthought.

CBB does not publish its commission rates publicly on the website, which is common in business brokerage. Fees are typically a percentage of the final sale price, negotiated at the listing stage.

The free value assessment is a no-cost entry point for sellers to get an initial read on their business's market value before committing to anything.

Certified Business Brokers is a well-documented, long-operating firm with the credentials, process infrastructure, and deal history to back up its reputation in the Texas market.

For any business owner in the Houston area or the broader Texas market  considering a sale, CBB is a credible first call.