Across the Table: Market Pulse & Q1 Recap from Transworld Brokers Nationwide

The Deal Board

Andy and Jessica welcome you to another episode of The Deal Board Podcast. This week, they check in with Transworld brokers from across the U.S. to get a pulse on the market as Q2 2025 kicks off. Guests Rupesh Bharad, Sam Curcio, Matt Friscia, Scott Hislop, Bill Kleinschrodt, and Johnathan Choe share updates from their regions, highlighting rising buyer demand, increased seller activity, and creative deal structures becoming more common. They also discuss SBA lending shifts, tariff concerns, and why strong financials matter more than ever. This week’s Listing of the Week features a long-established screen print shop in Florida, and the Deal of the Week spotlights the sale of four med spas to a local entrepreneur. Tune in for expert insights, trends to watch, and actionable advice for buyers and sellers alike!

Listing of the Week:

This Fort Lauderdale screen print shop has been serving individuals and businesses for over 20 years, offering specialty services for flat, round, and irregular surfaces, often on rush orders. The sale comes with over $100,000 in equipment. Annual revenue is approximately $200,000, with $30,000 in discretionary earnings. It is listed at $150,000. The owner is retiring and seeks a cash buyer. For more information, contact Jake Tobin at [phone] or [email protected] for more info.

Deal of the Week:

A local entrepreneur in Virginia acquired four med spa locations for $1,2 million, despite not being from the industry. The deal closed with 75% SBA financing, a 10% seller note, and 10% down from the buyer. The seller will stay on for 90–180 days to support the transition. Thanks to creative structuring and a strong team effort by Andy Shah, Neil Gulati, and Rupesh Bharad, this deal was a win for both sides. To learn more, call Rupesh at [phone] or email [email protected].

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:23] Introducing today’s guests from across the US: Rupesh Bharad, Sam Curcio, Matt Friscia, Scott Hislop, Bill Kleinschrodt, and Johnathan Choe.

• [02:50] Q1 feedback from our guests on buyer and seller activity in their respective regions.

• [03:49] Johnathan Choe on the uptick in activity on the West Coast.

• [04:35] Scott’s observations, including a 21% increase in buyer activity during Q1.

• [05:36] Bill’s report on growth trends in the Deep South post-COVID.

• [07:33] Matt’s insights on Q1 trends in Chicago and manufacturing in the Midwest.

• [08:33] Sam Curcio on why it’s an excellent time to do business in New York.

• [09:33] Rupesh’s insights from the Washington, DC and West Virginia area.

• [11:19] Reflections and analysis of Q1 trends from across the US.

• [13:09] What our guests expect to see in Q2 and Q3 of 2025.

• [22:18] Parting words of advice to buyers and sellers for the rest of 2025.

• [29:02] Listing of the Week: Jake Tobin (Fort Lauderdale) is selling a long-established screen print shop with specialty capabilities and over $100,000 in equipment.

• [30:52] Deal of the Week: Rupesh Barard (Richmond, Virginia) sold four med spa locations to a local entrepreneur in a creatively structured $1,2 million deal.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Deal Board Podcast

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The Deal Board on LinkedIn

The Deal Board on Facebook

United Franchise Group

Transworld Business Advisors

Transworld on LinkedIn

Transworld on Facebook

Call us on [phone]

Email us at [email protected]

Sam Curcio

Matt FrisciaScott Hislop

Bill Kleinschrodt

Johnathan ChoeJake TobinJake Tobin emailCall Jake Tobin on [phone]Rupesh Bharad

Rupesh Bharad emailCall Rupesh Bharad on [phone]

Andy ShahNeil Gulati

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Quotes:

“For buyer activity [in] our first quarter, we’re 21% higher than we were a year ago in the first quarter.” — Scott Hislop [0:05:18]

“I always tell agents [to] be creative. Try to help transition corporate people and show them [the] right business.” — Rupesh Bharad [0:10:37]

“Not every business is going to be perfect. It's going to have some warts on it. If it was perfect, it probably wouldn't be for sale right now. ” — Matt Friscia [0:22:57] “For our sellers out there: prepare. The more prepared you are, the better chance you're going to have to sell your business, and for a higher value. That's a big thing that we see across a lot of our deals, is that the owners that are prepped have higher value exits that happen faster.” — Sam Curcio [0:23:12] “We do a lot with [first-time buyers]. We have to be able to guide them in a way that puts them in the right spot [at] the right time but also educate them to make sure that when their guts [are] churning and they know that's the one for them that [they are] ready to act quick and not delay.” — Bill Kleinschrodt [0:23:52]

“There is such an asymmetric understanding of what it takes to buy and sell a business, and if you're doing it for the first time on either side, you're learning as you go. You need a good broker who's experienced and who can get the job done.” — Johnathan Choe [0:25:57]