John Whitten

After 30+ years in the consumer packaged goods industry, I charted a new course. I'm using that experience as well as 15 years of experience owning retail businesses with my wife of 32 wonderful years, Missy, and joined the exciting business brokerage industry as an intermediary supported by an Alabama real estate license for businesses that own the land and buildings on which they operate. I joined Transworld Business Advisors, the global market leader in bringing business buyers and sellers together, as an intermediary in Alabama. I'm excited to show small business owners like me that when they're ready for the next phase in their lives, they just don't have to close the doors...there are THOUSANDS of buyers looking to purchase good businesses! Missy and I plan to sell our business someday to help fund our next chapter. I want to take that mindset to educate other small business owners on how to do it...profitably and confidentially. More recently, to enhance my ability to help small business owners maximize the values of their businesses, I earned my Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) designation, from the Exit Planning Institute. As a CEPA® I work with business owners on exit planning, which is a business strategy to prepare an owner for the eventual transition of his/her business, while, at the same time, building significant value in that business today.

About Me: Most business brokers have studied business. I built one. For 28 years, I owned and operated a local service company. What started small grew into a well-known, systemized business with employees, benefits, retirement plans, and real community impact. Eventually, I successfully sold that company — not because I had to, but because it was ready. That experience changed everything. I know what it feels like to sign the front of the checks. I know what it feels like to lie awake at night wondering how payroll will get covered. I know what it feels like to build something that becomes part of your identity. And I know what it feels like to hand over the keys. Today, as a Transworld Business Advisor, I help other Main Street business owners do the same — but smarter, stronger, and without leaving money on the table. What Makes Me Different I don’t just list businesses. I help owners understand: • What their business is truly worth • What buyers are actually looking for • Where risk hides inside their company • How to increase value before going to market • How to prepare emotionally and financially for the exit Many owners wait until they are tired, burned out, or forced to sell. That is often when leverage is lowest and value suffers. My approach is different. We start with clarity. Business Valuation & Readiness A proper valuation isn’t just a number. It’s a diagnostic tool. Through financial normalization, Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) calculation, market multiple analysis, and risk review, we determine not just what your business might sell for today — but what drives that number. Then we create a plan to strengthen it. For owners who are 1–5 years from selling, we focus on value acceleration: • Reducing owner dependency • Strengthening systems and documentation • Improving financial reporting • Identifying transferable goodwill • Increasing buyer confidence When it’s time to sell, your business is positioned — not rushed. Confidential Sales Representation When you are ready to go to market, I handle the entire process: • Confidential marketing • Buyer screening and qualification • NDA management • Coordinating financial review and due diligence • Negotiation strategy • Working with attorneys, accountants, and lenders • Guiding the process all the way to closing My job is to protect your value, your confidentiality, and your legacy. Buying a Business For buyers, I provide honest guidance, financial analysis support, and help evaluating whether a business truly fits your goals and risk tolerance. Buying the right business can change your life. Buying the wrong one can create years of stress. I help you see clearly before you commit. Who I Work With I specialize in Main Street and lower middle market businesses — typically owner-operated or small team businesses generating meaningful cash flow. These are the businesses that feed families, support employees, and shape local communities. Why This Matters For most owners, selling their business is the largest financial transaction of their lifetime. It deserves more than a listing. It deserves strategy. It deserves preparation. It deserves someone who has been in your seat. If you're considering selling — whether now or years from now — or if you simply want to understand what your business is worth today, I’m happy to start with a confidential conversation. You built it. Let’s make sure you exit strong.