Buying an F&B establishment is one of the most complex commercial transactions — involving licenses, leases, equipment, staff, and reputation all at once. Here’s how MPG manages it:

• Market & Site Analysis: We identify opportunities matching your concept, budget, and preferred trade area across Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan.
• Confidential Outreach: Many of the best deals never hit the open market. Our proprietary network surfaces off-market sellers.
• Letter of Intent (LOI): We draft and negotiate your offer before you commit to full due diligence — protecting your time and leverage.
• Due Diligence Support: We coordinate review of financials, POS data, lease assignments, health department records, and equipment condition.
• Lease Assignment & Negotiation: We work with landlords to secure favorable lease terms or assignments — a critical step often overlooked by first-time buyers.
• Closing Coordination: We manage timelines with attorneys, title, and MLCC to get you to closing efficiently.

Selling a restaurant or bar while keeping operations running requires a broker who understands confidentiality. Employees, vendors, and customers cannot know until you’re ready. MPG operates with strict discretion:

• Valuation First: We establish a defensible asking price based on revenue multiples, EBITDA, asset value, and Metro Detroit market comparables.
• Blind Teaser Marketing: Buyers are qualified before they receive any identifying information about your business.
• NDA-Gated Process: Every prospect signs a Non-Disclosure Agreement before accessing financials or operational details.
• Qualified Buyer Pool: We screen for financial capability, industry experience, and local licensing eligibility before introductions.
• Asset vs. Entity Sale: We advise on the structure that maximizes your net proceeds — asset sale, membership interest transfer, or hybrid approach.

The Michigan MLCC (Michigan Liquor Control Commission) process is one of the most significant variables in any F&B transaction. Understanding it upfront prevents deals from falling apart at the finish line.

• License Types: Class C (on-premises consumption), Resort License, Club License, and Special Licenses each have different transfer requirements and eligibility rules.
• Transfer Timeline: Standard license transfers take 90–120 days from application submission. We build this into every deal timeline from day one.
• Escrow Arrangements: Michigan law allows conditional closing with MLCC approval pending — we structure deals to accommodate this properly.
• Local Approvals: Municipalities (city, township, village) must approve the license transfer. We coordinate local government filings concurrently with MLCC applications.
• New License Applications: For blank-canvas buildouts, we manage new license applications from eligibility assessment through final approval.

MPG is uniquely positioned to take a new F&B operator from concept to opening day. This is more than just finding a space — it’s full project stewardship:

• Site Selection: Demographics, traffic counts, parking, competition mapping, and lease structure analysis for your specific concept.
• Contractor Coordination: MPG works with licensed contractors for build-out, ADA compliance, kitchen hood and ventilation, and code-required improvements.
• Health Department & Licensing: Food service licensing, CO2 systems, grease trap requirements — we coordinate all pre-opening regulatory filings.
• Equipment Procurement Guidance: We connect operators with commercial kitchen suppliers and advise on new vs. used equipment trade-offs.
• Lease Structuring for Buildouts: We negotiate tenant improvement (TI) allowances, rent abatement during construction, and kick-out clauses to protect your investment.

Restaurant and bar valuations follow different rules than other businesses. MPG applies industry-specific methodology:

• Revenue Multiples: Full-service restaurants typically trade at 0.3x–0.5x annual revenue. Bars with strong liquor sales often command higher multiples.
• SDE Multiples: Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) — the true owner benefit — is typically multiplied by 1.5x–3x depending on transferability, lease terms, and concept strength.
• Lease Value: A below-market lease in a high-traffic location is a significant asset. We quantify this in every valuation.
• Brand & Reputation: Established concepts with strong reviews and loyal customer bases command premium pricing over raw financials.
• Equipment & FF&E: Fully equipped kitchens with owned (not leased) equipment add to asset value independently of income.

• 20+ Years Metro Detroit Experience: We know the trade areas, the landlords, the local regulators, and the active buyer pool.
• Full Transaction Management: From first conversation to closing day — one team handles everything.
• No-Pressure Consultations: Every engagement starts with an honest conversation about your goals, timeline, and realistic outcomes.
• Licensed & Professional: Michigan-licensed real estate and business brokerage services, fully insured.
• Connected Network: Attorneys, lenders, MLCC specialists, contractors, and commercial landlords — all accessible through MPG.

Business valuation is both science and market knowledge. MPG uses multiple methodologies to establish a defensible, market-accurate asking price:

• SDE (Seller’s Discretionary Earnings): The total financial benefit to a working owner — net income plus owner salary, perks, and non-recurring expenses. Most small businesses sell at 2x–4x SDE.
• EBITDA Multiples: For businesses with $1M+ in revenue, buyers focus on EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). Industrial and service businesses typically see 4x–7x EBITDA.
• Asset Value: For asset-heavy businesses (manufacturing, real estate-heavy operations), tangible asset value sets the floor on price.
• Revenue Multiples: Common in SaaS, subscription, and recurring-revenue businesses — typically 0.5x–3x annual revenue depending on growth rate and churn.
• Goodwill & Intangibles: Customer lists, brand reputation, proprietary processes, and key contracts all add premium value above hard assets.

• Engagement & NDA: We begin with a signed engagement agreement and full NDA — your information stays protected from the start.
• Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM): A professional document summarizing your business without identifying details — provided only to qualified, NDA-signed prospects.
• Targeted Buyer Outreach: We match your business to strategic buyers, financial buyers, and search fund operators actively looking in your category and geography.
• Letter of Intent (LOI): We negotiate the LOI — price, structure, contingencies, and timeline — before you incur due diligence costs.
• Due Diligence Management: We coordinate the information exchange, respond to buyer requests, and keep the process moving without disrupting your operations.
• Closing: We coordinate with attorneys, lenders, and title to ensure a clean, on-time closing.

How a deal is structured affects your tax liability, liability exposure, and net proceeds. MPG advises on the optimal structure in coordination with your attorney and CPA:

• Asset Sale: The buyer purchases specific assets (equipment, inventory, goodwill, customer list) rather than the legal entity. Preferred by most buyers — limits inherited liability. Common for LLCs and sole proprietorships.
• Stock / Membership Interest Sale: The buyer acquires the entire entity. Often preferred by sellers for tax treatment. Required when contracts, licenses, or permits are non-transferable.
• Seller Financing: Seller holds a note for a portion of the purchase price, paid over time. Signals confidence in the business, expands the buyer pool, and can increase total sale price.
• SBA 7(a) Loans: Most qualified buyers finance Main Street acquisitions with SBA loans. We work with SBA-preferred lenders and ensure your business is prepared for SBA underwriting requirements.
• Earnouts: A portion of the price is contingent on future performance. Bridges valuation gaps between buyer and seller — we negotiate protections to ensure earnout milestones are fair and achievable.

Due diligence is where deals die — or get repriced downward. MPG helps sellers prepare proactively so there are no surprises:

• Financial Records: 3 years of tax returns, P&L statements, balance sheets, and bank statements. Inconsistencies between reported income and bank deposits raise red flags.
• Customer & Revenue Concentration: Does one customer represent more than 20% of revenue? Buyers will discount heavily for concentration risk.
• Leases & Contracts: Are key contracts assignable? Does the lease have options or is it expiring soon? We identify issues before buyers do.
• Employee Agreements: Non-competes, key man dependencies, compensation structures — buyers want stability and continuity.
• Licenses & Permits: All operating licenses must be current and transferable. We audit this before marketing begins.
• Legal & Litigation History: Any pending litigation, liens, or judgments must be disclosed and resolved.

The biggest risk in selling a business is a confidentiality breach. When employees, customers, or competitors learn a business is for sale before the deal is done, the consequences are real:

• Key employees may leave, damaging operations and reducing sale price
• Customers may reduce orders or seek alternative vendors
• Competitors may use the information to poach clients
• Suppliers may tighten credit terms

MPG’s confidentiality protocol:

• Blind Listings: Initial marketing never identifies your business by name, location, or owner
• NDA Before Disclosure: Every prospect signs a binding NDA before receiving identifying information
• Buyer Qualification First: Financial capacity and industry fit are screened before any introduction
• Controlled Information Release: Information is shared in stages — more detail as the buyer advances through the process

MPG represents buyers as well as sellers. If you’re looking to acquire a business in Metro Detroit or Southeast Michigan, here’s how we help:

• Deal Sourcing: We surface both listed and unlisted opportunities matching your industry, size, and financial criteria
• Financial Analysis: We review financials with a buyer’s eye — identifying add-backs, normalizing earnings, and flagging risks before you make an offer
• LOI Drafting: We draft your offer to be competitive and protective — price, contingencies, exclusivity, and transition terms
• SBA Lender Introductions: We connect pre-qualified buyers with SBA-preferred lenders to accelerate financing approval
• Post-Closing Transition: We assist with seller transition arrangements, training periods, and employee communication planning

A professional business evaluation serves multiple purposes beyond preparing for a sale:

• Sale Planning: Know your number before you go to market. Sellers who are evaluated before listing command higher prices and negotiate from a position of confidence.
• SBA & Conventional Financing: Lenders require third-party business valuations for loans involving business acquisitions or recapitalizations.
• Partnership Disputes & Buyouts: When partners disagree on value, an independent valuation is the neutral standard. Avoid litigation with a credible evaluation.
• Estate Planning & Gift Tax: Business interests transferred between family members require IRS-defensible valuations to establish fair market value.
• Divorce Proceedings: Courts require business valuations when a business is a marital asset. MPG provides documentation that holds up under scrutiny.
• Succession Planning: Understanding value today helps you structure ESOP transitions, management buyouts, or family transfers years in advance.
• Insurance Coverage: Business interruption and key-man life insurance policies should reflect the actual economic value of the business.

There is no single “correct” valuation method. MPG applies the approach (or combination) most appropriate to your business type and purpose:

• Income Approach (Most Common for Small Business): Values the business based on its ability to generate future cash flow. Uses capitalization of earnings or discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis. Best for profitable, established businesses with stable revenue.
• Market Approach (Comparable Sales): Values the business using real transaction data from similar businesses that sold in your industry and geography. MPG has access to private transaction databases covering Metro Detroit and national market comparables.
• Asset-Based Approach: Values the business based on net asset value — total assets minus total liabilities. Best for asset-heavy businesses, holding companies, or businesses with negative or minimal earnings.

A rigorous evaluation requires more than running numbers through a formula. MPG examines:

• 3-Year Financial History: Tax returns, P&Ls, and balance sheets — we normalize earnings by adding back owner compensation, personal expenses, one-time costs, and non-cash items to arrive at true SDE or EBITDA.
• Revenue Quality: Recurring vs. one-time revenue, customer concentration, contract length, and revenue trend (growing, stable, or declining).
• Owner Dependency: How much of the business depends on you personally? Buyers pay more for businesses that can operate without the owner — we quantify this risk.
• Industry-Specific Multiples: We apply Metro Detroit market-specific multiples by SIC code and revenue range — not generic national averages.
• Lease & Real Estate: Favorable lease terms or owned real estate significantly impact value. We analyze lease duration, renewal options, and market rent comparisons.
• Tangible Assets: Equipment age and condition, inventory levels, and capital expenditure requirements are assessed and factored into value.
• Intangible Assets: Trade name value, customer relationships, proprietary systems, trained workforce, and online reputation all contribute to goodwill value.

MPG delivers a professional written report that includes:

• Executive Summary: A concise overview of value conclusions and key drivers — suitable for sharing with advisors, lenders, or partners.
• Business Overview: Operations summary, market position, and competitive landscape analysis.
• Financial Analysis: Normalized income statements, earnings recast, and year-over-year trend analysis.
• Comparable Transaction Analysis: Data from actual business sales in your industry and size range.
• Valuation Methodology: Detailed explanation of the approach(es) used and why they’re appropriate for your business.
• Value Conclusion: A well-supported value range reflecting current market conditions.
• Value Enhancement Recommendations: Specific, actionable steps you can take to increase value before going to market.

National valuation tools and out-of-state brokers miss what makes Metro Detroit unique:

• Auto Industry Dependency: Businesses tied to the automotive supply chain have volatility profiles that national databases don’t capture accurately.
• Neighborhood-Level Value Differences: A service business in Macomb County may trade at a very different multiple than the identical business in Wayne County — due to buyer pool depth, demographics, and economic confidence.
• Local Buyer Pool: We know who is actively acquiring in Metro Detroit. A business priced and positioned for the actual local buyer pool sells faster and at better terms.
• Commercial Real Estate Context: If real estate is part of the business value, MPG’s integrated CRE expertise ensures real property is correctly valued alongside the operating business.

Many business owners are surprised to learn how much they can increase their sale price with 12–24 months of preparation. MPG provides specific guidance on:

• Clean Up the Books: Eliminate personal expenses run through the business. Buyers and lenders scrutinize this heavily — clean financials command premium pricing.
• Reduce Owner Dependency: Document processes, delegate client relationships, and build a management layer. Every dollar of owner-dependent revenue is discounted by buyers.
• Lock In Key Contracts: Multi-year customer contracts and supply agreements reduce buyer risk and justify higher multiples.
• Secure Favorable Lease Terms: If your lease is expiring, renew early. Buyers won’t pay full price for a business with uncertain occupancy.
• Address Deferred Maintenance: Equipment in poor condition or facilities needing capital investment reduce both price and buyer confidence. Fix it before listing.
• Build Recurring Revenue: Service contracts, subscriptions, and retainer relationships increase the quality and predictability of earnings — both key value drivers.