Strategic Business Brokers Group Review

For Arizona business owners trying to sell, or buyers trying to find the right acquisition, the process tends to be slow, stressful, and surprisingly opaque.

Strategic Business Brokers Group, headquartered in Scottsdale with additional offices in Phoenix and Tucson, has spent over 35 years trying to fix that.

The firm specializes in the confidential sale, acquisition, and valuation of small to mid-sized privately held businesses across the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

The company operates out of three Arizona locations: its main office at 8080 E. Gelding Dr. in Scottsdale, a Phoenix office on N. 32nd Street, and a Tucson location.

They work with individual investors, private equity groups, and owners of privately held corporations. 

The client base isn't niche they handle transactions across construction, manufacturing, restaurants, transportation, technology, professional services, franchises, and consumer products, among others.

Membership in both the Arizona Business Brokers Association (AZBBA) and the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) means the firm adheres to established industry standards and ethics codes.

Listings appear on major marketplaces including BizBuySell and BizQuest, which broadens buyer exposure considerably.

Their numbers, as reported on the company website:

Brian Bond leads the brokerage as a Certified Business Broker and M&A Advisor. The AZBBA named him Broker of the Year, a credential that carries weight in Arizona's M&A community. 

He is supported by Bryan Vitagliano, who brings more than 15 years of leadership and business development experience to the team, and Shad Sikes, who began his career in the insurance sector covering Life, Health, Property, and Casualty across the Southwest before transitioning to business brokerage.

Jessica Scheer, Executive Assistant with over 20 years in customer service, rounds out the core team.

It's a lean group. That can be a plus clients tend to work directly with experienced advisors rather than getting passed to junior staff.

Whether that scales well during high-volume periods is a reasonable question for prospective clients to ask upfront.

Strategic Business Brokers Group covers the full transaction lifecycle. Their core service areas include:

• Business brokerage services for buyers and sellers of small to mid-sized privately held companies
• Business valuations, including a free initial valuation for sellers considering their options
• Mergers and acquisitions advisory for more complex transactions
• Commercial real estate brokerage when property is part of the deal
• New franchise opportunity guidance for buyers interested in franchise acquisitions

The free business valuation is worth noting. Many brokers offer this only after a signed listing agreement.

Providing it as an entry point gives owners a useful data point without immediate commitment, which aligns with how most serious sellers prefer to start the conversation.

The company follows a nine-step framework from first contact to closing. Here's a plain-language version of those steps:

1. Initial consultation with a broker to assess readiness
2. Pricing strategy development to attract qualified buyers
3. Confidential marketing to position the business in the market
4. Buyer screening to find the right match
5. Facilitating meetings between seller and screened buyers
6. Negotiation and offer management
7. Due diligence support
8. Escrow and financing coordination
9. Closing and transfer of ownership

Confidentiality runs through every stage. Sellers understandably worry about employees, competitors, or customers finding out before a deal is finalized.

The firm's emphasis on discreet marketing is a reasonable response to that concern, and it's consistent with how reputable brokers in this space generally operate.

The testimonials on the company site span multiple industries and transaction types. A few representative examples:

Mustafa, who sold Gus's Pizza in Phoenix, noted that the business sold quickly using what he described as creative marketing techniques to locate a qualified buyer.

Joe Verone, who sold Villa Deli, said the business entered escrow within months.

Jason Ewing mentioned that he both bought a business and later sold the same business through Strategic Business Brokers Group the kind of repeat relationship that tends to reflect satisfaction with the process.

Ken Cobb cited Brian Bond's work ethic directly, noting that Bond "worked diligently to get our business sold."

The pattern across reviews is consistent: fast timelines, professional handling, and brokers who stay focused on the client's outcome rather than just closing any deal.

The firm covers a wide swath of Arizona. Their listed service areas include:

Avondale, Buckeye, Cave Creek, Chandler, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, and Tucson.

That's essentially the entire Phoenix metro plus northern and southern Arizona markets.

For a business owner located outside the immediate Scottsdale/Phoenix core, it's worth confirming whether local market knowledge is as strong in areas like Flagstaff or Tucson as it is closer to headquarters.

The website does not list specific commission rates or fee structures. That's standard practice in business brokerage fees are typically a percentage of the final sale price, often in the 8–12% range for smaller transactions, but this varies significantly based on deal size, complexity, and negotiated terms. 

Prospective clients should ask for a clear fee breakdown during the initial consultation.

How long does it typically take to sell a business through Strategic Business Brokers Group?

Timelines vary based on business type, pricing, and market conditions. Based on client testimonials, some deals have moved from listing to escrow within a few months.

The firm's nine-step process is designed to keep transactions moving, but sellers should plan for anywhere from three months to over a year depending on circumstances.

Does Strategic Business Brokers Group work with buyers, or only sellers?

Both. The firm explicitly serves individual investors and buyers looking to acquire businesses, in addition to owners looking to sell.

Buyer registration is available directly on the website, and the team screens buyers as part of the sale process to match sellers with qualified candidates.

What types of businesses does the firm handle?

The firm covers a broad range of industries including construction, manufacturing, restaurants, technology, transportation, professional services, franchises, and consumer products.

They work with small to mid-sized privately held businesses, so very large enterprises or publicly traded companies fall outside their typical scope.

Strategic Business Brokers Group brings 35 years of Arizona market experience, 340+ closed deals, and a structured process that addresses the two things most sellers care about most: confidentiality and results. 

For business owners in the Phoenix metro area or across Arizona who are evaluating their exit options, this firm is worth a conversation.