Zoom Business Brokers Review

If you're thinking about selling your California business and Zoom Business Brokers came up in your research, you're probably asking the right question before making any calls. Selling a business is one of the biggest financial events of your life.

Picking the wrong broker can cost you time, money, and sometimes the deal itself. So let's get into it.

Zoom Business Brokers is a California-based business brokerage and M&A advisory firm. Their main office sits in Laguna Hills, with a branch in Cerritos and brokers spread across Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Central Valley.

 The company describes itself as a full-service firm for buying, selling, and merging small to mid-size businesses.

The team collectively claims over 100 years of combined experience. That's not marketing math the individual broker profiles show a mix of veterans with decades in the industry and newer brokers who hold certified designations.

Their DRE license (02125637) is publicly verifiable through the California Department of Real Estate, which is one of the first things to check when evaluating any brokerage in the state.

Consultations for both buyers and sellers are offered at no charge. That's worth noting because some brokerages charge upfront fees just to get on a call, which Zoom does not appear to do.

Yes. This is probably the most important thing to verify when evaluating any business broker, and ZBB clears that bar. In California, business brokers who deal with the sale of business assets must hold a real estate license.

ZBB's DRE license number (02125637) is listed publicly on their site, and individual brokers also list their own DRE numbers.

Beyond licensing, ZBB is a member of two industry organizations worth knowing:

• IBBA (International Business Brokers Association): The largest trade organization for business brokers in the world. Members are held to a code of ethics and can earn the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation.
• CABB (California Association of Business Brokers): A state-level trade group with its own professional standards.

Membership in these organizations isn't a guarantee of quality, but it does mean brokers have committed to ongoing education and ethical standards.

Several ZBB brokers hold the CBI designation for example, Antoinette Gonzales is listed with both CBI and CBB credentials.

The team page lists named brokers with photos, individual DRE numbers, contact info, and service regions. That level of transparency is worth noting because vague or anonymous brokerage teams are a red flag. Here's a cross-section of their current roster:

• Antoinette Gonzales, CBI, CBB — San Francisco Bay Area
• Brian Reeves — Southern California (DRE: 01164227)
• David Jacobs — Technology Group, SF Bay Area
• Frank Turner — Central Valley
• Jazmin Garrison — San Francisco Bay Area
• Donna Aguirre — Southern California

The team collectively carries over 100 years of combined experience across multiple industries and regions of California.

ZBB uses a nine-step structured process. This matters because a broker without a defined methodology often improvises and that improvisation tends to hurt sellers at the worst possible moments.

Here's how their process flows:

1. Planning — Recasting your P&L to determine Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE). They give a concrete example: cutting $5,000 in costs can add $20,000 to a sale price using a 4x multiple.
2. Broker's Opinion of Value — Setting a realistic asking price using multiple valuation methods.
3. Documentation — Preparing an Information Memorandum (IM) that meets legal disclosure requirements.
4. Identifying Buyers — Tapping their database of qualified buyers without revealing the seller's identity.
5. Marketing — Running targeted ad campaigns across web, social, and other channels while keeping the business name confidential.
6. Screening Buyers — Vetting inquiries for education, experience, and financial capacity.
7. Purchase Agreement — Coordinating with legal and financial teams to negotiate a conditional deal.
8. Due Diligence — Managing the document review period, which can range from 5 days to 90+ days for complex businesses.
9. Closing — Opening escrow, finalizing conditions, and distributing funds.

The fact that they've published and documented this process publicly suggests they've run it enough times to know it works.

The testimonials on ZBB's site are named and specific enough to carry some weight. A few standouts:

One client, D. Hines, sold a 46-year-old family machine shop in 2019 through broker Phil Wolfstein.

The business sold in seven months after three buyer meetings  which, for a manufacturing business, is described as a quick turnaround. 

The testimonial specifically mentions Wolfstein's handling of contract details and negotiation.

Another testimonial from Bill Brennan, CEO of Kalologie Spa Destinations LLC, credits broker Kellie for keeping a franchise transaction together, writing that the deal likely wouldn't have closed without her involvement.

That's useful signal. Testimonials that name a specific broker, deal type, and outcome are generally more credible than generic praise.

ZBB brokers have received awards from the IBBA as recently as 2024:

• Sara Vaziri received the 2024 IBBA Chairman's Circle Award
• Joseph Khoury received the 2024 IBBA Platinum Chairman's Circle Award
• Phil Wolfstein received the 2024 IBBA Outstanding Producer Award
• Joseph Khoury was also recognized by M&A Source in 2024

The Chairman's Circle Award from IBBA is given to top producers in the business brokerage field. Getting multiple brokers recognized in the same year is a reasonable signal of consistent performance across the team.

ZBB describes their focus as small to medium-sized businesses across all industries. They have geographic coverage across California, and their specialty divisions include a Technology Group (based in the SF Bay Area under David Jacobs). Their services extend to:

• Traditional business sales
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Pre-sale consulting (getting the business ready before listing)
• Exit strategy planning
• Business valuation and broker opinion of value reports

They also offer free consultations, which is standard in the industry but worth confirming since some brokers charge for initial assessments.

ZBB operates exclusively in California. If your business spans multiple states or you need a broker licensed elsewhere, they may not be your match.

Their primary strength appears concentrated in Southern California (Laguna Hills, Cerritos, greater Los Angeles area), with reach into Northern California and the Central Valley through specific brokers.

The website's "Recent Transactions" and "Featured Listings" sections showed no items loaded during review that's either a technical issue or the sections are actively being updated. Either way, prospective clients should ask directly for a list of recent comparable transactions during a consultation.

Do they charge upfront fees?

ZBB offers free initial consultations. Like most business brokers, they typically work on a success-fee basis, meaning commission is earned at closing. Confirm the exact fee structure during your consultation.

What size businesses does work with?

Their stated focus is small to medium-sized businesses. They haven't published a specific revenue or valuation floor on their site, so it's worth asking about your specific situation when you call.

How long does it take to sell a business?

Based on the client testimonial above, seven months was considered a fast result for a manufacturing business. Average timelines vary widely by industry, business size, and market conditions.

The due diligence phase alone can take anywhere from 5 business days to 90 days or more.

Are they members of any professional organizations?

Yes, IBBA and CABB. Several brokers hold CBI (Certified Business Intermediary) designations through IBBA.

Conclusion

Zoom Business Brokers is a licensed, IBBA-affiliated California brokerage with a documented track record, named brokers, verifiable credentials, and industry awards as recently as 2024.

For California business owners looking for a structured, confidential sale process, they're worth a conversation.