David Rutkauskas

About David Rutkauskas Entrepreneur | Business Broker | M&A Advisor | Franchise Executive | Business Builder Selling a business is one of the most important financial and personal decisions an entrepreneur will ever make. I believe the person representing that business should understand more than valuations, listings and transactions. They should understand what it actually means to build a business. I do. My career has been spent building, operating, growing, franchising, marketing and developing businesses. Today, I bring that entrepreneurial experience to business owners through Transworld Business Advisors of Tulsa, helping owners confidentially prepare, position and sell their companies while connecting them with qualified buyers locally, regionally and nationally. I Have Sat on the Owner’s Side of the Table One of the biggest differences between my approach and traditional business brokerage is perspective. I understand what it feels like to sign the front of the checks. I understand employees, payroll, leases, vendors, customers, expansion, financing, marketing, competition, cash flow and the countless decisions that come with owning a company. Most importantly, I understand that when an owner decides to sell, we aren’t simply selling numbers on a spreadsheet. We are representing something that may have taken 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years to build. That deserves to be handled accordingly. My responsibility is to understand the story behind the business, identify what makes it valuable, present that opportunity effectively to the marketplace and work relentlessly toward finding the right buyer and successfully completing the transaction. Decades of Entrepreneurial Experience My professional career includes extensive experience in entrepreneurship, restaurant development, franchising, business development, sales, operations and executive leadership. I founded and developed restaurant and franchise concepts including Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe and FreshBerry, gaining firsthand experience in building brands, developing operating systems, expanding concepts and working with entrepreneurs and franchisees across multiple markets. I have also served in senior executive leadership positions and have spent decades working directly with entrepreneurs, operators, investors, franchisees and business owners. That background provides a perspective that cannot be learned solely from a brokerage manual. When I evaluate a company, I look beyond the tax returns. I want to understand: Why do customers choose this business? What makes it difficult to duplicate? Where is the opportunity for the next owner? What could a strategic buyer see that others might miss? How can we position the company to generate maximum buyer interest? Those questions can make an enormous difference in how a business is presented and ultimately how a transaction is structured. My Approach to Selling a Business My philosophy is straightforward: Prepare it properly. Price it intelligently. Market it aggressively. Protect confidentiality. Qualify the buyers. Negotiate effectively. And get the deal closed. A successful business sale requires much more than putting a listing on the internet and waiting for someone to respond. Depending upon the business, my marketing strategy can include Transworld’s extensive buyer network, major business-for-sale marketplaces, confidential digital marketing, existing buyer databases, strategic-buyer research, direct outreach and targeted exposure to individuals and organizations that may have a specific reason to acquire the company. I believe in actively looking for buyers, not simply waiting for buyers to find us. Confidentiality Comes First For many owners, confidentiality is one of their greatest concerns when considering a sale. Employees may not know. Customers may not know. Vendors may not know. Competitors certainly should not know. I take that responsibility seriously. The objective is to create meaningful exposure to qualified prospective buyers while protecting the identity and sensitive information of the business throughout the process. Prospective buyers can be screened and confidentiality agreements executed before sensitive information is released. Finding the RIGHT Buyer More inquiries do not necessarily produce better transactions. Qualified buyers do. A serious buyer must have the financial capability, experience, motivation and realistic expectations necessary to complete an acquisition. Part of my responsibility is helping separate genuine acquisition candidates from people who are simply browsing. Depending on the opportunity, potential buyers may include: • Individual entrepreneurs • Existing business owners • Strategic industry buyers • Competitors seeking expansion • Companies entering a new geographic market • Private investors • Franchise and multi-unit operators • Buyers utilizing SBA acquisition financing Sometimes the best buyer isn’t actively searching the business-for-sale websites at all. That’s why strategic buyer identification and proactive outreach can be an important component of the process. From Valuation to Closing My involvement can begin well before a business is officially offered for sale. For owners contemplating an exit, I can assist with understanding market value, identifying potential obstacles and discussing ways to make the business more attractive to prospective purchasers. Once the business enters the market, I remain actively involved throughout the transaction process—from confidential marketing and buyer qualification through offers, negotiations, due diligence, financing and closing coordination. Selling privately held companies inevitably involves challenges. Deals can become complicated. Financing issues arise. Buyers have questions. Landlords become involved. Due diligence uncovers issues. Attorneys and accountants enter the process. Negotiations change. That is precisely when experience, communication and persistence matter. My job is to keep the transaction moving. Powered by Transworld. Personally Represented by David Rutkauskas. Through Transworld Business Advisors, my clients receive the reach and resources of a major international business brokerage organization while still receiving direct, personal representation. That combination is powerful. Business owners receive broad marketplace exposure, professional transaction resources and access to an extensive network of prospective buyers—while working directly with someone who understands entrepreneurship firsthand. I represent businesses throughout Tulsa, northeastern Oklahoma and surrounding markets, and I also work with buyers and acquisition opportunities throughout the region. Thinking About Selling? You do not need to have made the final decision to sell before having a conversation with me. In fact, some of the most productive conversations happen months or years before a business ultimately goes to market. If you’re wondering: What is my business worth? Is this a good time to sell? What would buyers find attractive about my company? What should I improve before going to market? Who might buy my business? How confidential can this process really be? Those are conversations worth having. There is no substitute for preparation. My Commitment to Business Owners Every business has a story. Every owner has different objectives. And every transaction requires its own strategy. My commitment is to provide business owners with straightforward communication, confidentiality, aggressive marketing, professional representation and persistent deal-making from our first conversation through closing. I’ve spent my career around entrepreneurs because I genuinely enjoy working with people who build things. Now I have the opportunity to help those entrepreneurs realize the value they have spent years creating. If you’re considering selling your business—or simply want to understand what your company might be worth—I would welcome a confidential conversation. David Rutkauskas Business Advisor & M&A Advisor Transworld Business Advisors of Tulsa 918.850.6762 Built by an entrepreneur. Represented like an entrepreneur. Sold with purpose.

I have spent a decade in outside sales in multiple industries that has taught me exceptional negotiating skills. Being a small business owner myself, I take pride in my ability to listen to clients needs, relate to them, and put myself in their position. What I bring to the table on behalf of a buyer or seller is consistently having their best interest in mind. Buying a business or selling a business should be an enjoyable and exciting experience and I do everything in my power to accomplish that for each client.

In Oklahoma, small business make up 95% of our state’s companies and businesses. These business owners successfully make a living and provide jobs that keep our economy going. But – when it comes to buying or selling a business, people often feel uncertain about how to handle the situation without alerting their competitors, alarming their customers or alienating their employees. Some people tell me: • They feel unsure about the buying or selling process • Due to a life-changing event or emergency they need the process to move fast • They have built something valuable, but need help determining the right price and how to negotiate Let’s work together: If one of these situations sound familiar, then perhaps I can help. I am passionate about connecting business owners with opportunities to help them reach their goals – buying, selling or expanding their businesses. Business networking and learning from successful business leaders across all industries is one of the best parts of my job. If you’d like to talk, contact me via email, social media or give me a call.

Arvle has lived and worked in metro Phoenix since 2002. Since 2004, he has represented buyers, sellers, and tenants of office, industrial, retail properties. As a CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designee, he has completed a rigorous program of advanced coursework and training in financial and market analysis, and demonstrated extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry. CCIMs help you minimize your risk, maximize the return on your investment, optimize the value of your real estate, and make better informed decisions. After almost 20 years in commercial real estate, Arvle is now a Designated Broker and Business Advisor for Transworld Business Advisors of Phoenix NE, located in the Scottsdale Quarter. TBA specializes in business sales, franchises, mergers and acquisitions. Transworld works closely with over 500 franchisors. The company is also fully licensed in the sale and leasing of commercial real estate. With Transworld’s network of business advisors and franchises all over the United States and in 16 countries, the opportunities and business listings are endless. As Designated Broker of Transworld Business Advisors of Phoenix NE, he finds great joy helping small business owners achieve their ownership goals and walk along side them throughout this process. His role includes being a researcher, a counselor, a coach, a cheerleader, and also a task master to ensure things get done fast and well. He is personally and fully involved in every single client's journey, and looks out for their best interest at all times.