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Services
Licensed Minnesota Brokerage Since 1987
The quiet way to sell the company you spent a lifetime building.
Confidential business sales, valuations, and exit planning for Minnesota owners — led by a Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary with three decades of closed transactions.
30+
Years in M&A
$250M+
Transaction value
5
Elite credentials
Credentialed by the most rigorous bodies in business brokerage
M&AMI — Mergers & Acquisitions Master IntermediaryCBI — Certified Business IntermediaryABI — Accredited Business IntermediaryCVB — Certified Value BuilderGRI — Graduate Realtor InstituteIBBA MemberM&A SourceABBAM&AMI — Mergers & Acquisitions Master IntermediaryCBI — Certified Business IntermediaryABI — Accredited Business IntermediaryCVB — Certified Value BuilderGRI — Graduate Realtor InstituteIBBA MemberM&A SourceABBA
What We Do
Six disciplines. One trusted advisor. Every transaction handled in-house.
Why BLS
A boutique advisor who actually picks up the phone.
BLS Consulting is referral-driven by design. Owners come to us through their CPA, attorney, or peer who already sold — and they get the principal broker on every call, every meeting, every negotiation. No hand-offs. No junior associates.
Lower commissions, full service
Most brokers charge 10–12%. Our tiered programs are built around the size and complexity of your business — not a fixed percentage.
Absolute confidentiality
Coded blind listings. NDA-gated information. Your team, customers, and competitors learn at closing — not before.
Real M&A credentials
M&AMI, CBI, and ABI designations require completed transactions, continuing education, and peer review. Most brokers hold none.
Buyer network beyond Minnesota
Listings syndicate to the most-trafficked industry platforms worldwide via IBBA, M&A Source, and ABBA networks.
Recent Sales
A track record measured in closed transactions.
A representative sample of businesses BLS Consulting has confidentially taken to closing across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Names of sellers and buyers are withheld to honor the privacy that defines every BLS engagement.
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Automotive
RV & Truck Service Center
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Education
Performing Arts Studio
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Trades
HVAC Business
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Construction
Home Remodeling Business
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Manufacturing
Custom Wood Products
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Services
Modeling Agency
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Retail
Outdoor Power Equipment Business
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Professional
Engineering Business
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Construction
Pool Company
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Manufacturing
Natural Essentials Manufacturer
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Manufacturing
Custom Woodworking Business
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Distribution
Warehouse & Distribution
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Technology
Network Cabling Business
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Services
Printing & Copy Center
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Services
Dog Boarding & Grooming
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Technology
EMC Testing Facility
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Industrial
HVAC Recycling Business
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Personal Care
Hair Salon
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Technology
Telecommunications Business
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Food & Beverage
Restaurant & Sports Bar
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Services
Graphic Design & Apparel
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Distribution
Cabinet Distributor
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Manufacturing
Specialty Manufacturing Company
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Manufacturing
Prototype Manufacturing Company
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Food & Beverage
Cake & Candy Supplier
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Technology
Internet Access Provider
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Construction
Specialty Glass Construction
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Personal Care
Salon & Day Spa
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Manufacturing
Optical Manufacturer
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Manufacturing
Playground Equipment Builder
Thinking about selling? Every transaction begins with a confidential, no-obligation conversation.
Instant Estimate
What is your business worth — directionally?
This calculator uses industry multiples on Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) for a directional estimate. A formal BLS valuation incorporates asset, income, and comparable-transaction approaches and produces a written, defensible report.
Request a formal valuationEstimated Value Range
$770,000 — $1,225,000
Based on 2.2×–3.5× SDE for Services. Directional only.
The BLS Process
From first conversation to wire transfer — six deliberate steps.
01
Confidential Consult
We meet, understand your goals, and assess fit. No pressure, no cost.
02
Valuation & Recasting
We produce a written valuation and a recasted financial package buyers can underwrite.
03
Confidential Marketing
Blind teaser to the largest qualified-buyer networks. NDAs before any disclosure.
04
Vetting & LOI
We screen offers, structure terms, and negotiate the Letter of Intent in your favor.
05
Due Diligence
We coordinate buyer requests, your CPA, and counsel — keeping the deal on track.
06
Closing & Transition
Funded. Documented. Transitioned. We stay involved through handover.
In Their Words
Owners who trusted BLS with the most important transaction of their lives.
"James handled the sale of our manufacturing company with absolute discretion. Our employees and customers never knew until the day we announced — and we closed above asking. Thirty years of experience shows."
Daniel R.
Former Owner, Manufacturing
Eagan, MN
"We interviewed three brokers. James was the only one who walked us through the actual numbers behind his valuation — asset, income, and real SBA comps. The written report paid for itself in the first negotiation."
Karen M.
Co-Founder, Services Business
Minneapolis, MN
"After 22 years building the business, I wasn't going to trust the exit to anyone. James earned that trust call by call. Closed in nine months, full SBA financing, no surprises."
Thomas B.
Seller, Distribution Business
Burnsville, MN
"The BLS commission structure saved us a meaningful sum versus the percentage brokers we'd talked to — and we got more attention, not less. James was on every call himself."
Linda P.
Owner, Specialty Retail
Saint Paul, MN
Principal Broker
James Benincasa
Meet Your Advisor
Three decades. Five elite designations. One principal on your deal.
James is one of a small number of brokers nationwide to hold the Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary (M&AMI) designation — granted only to advisors with completed transactions, advanced education, and peer review. He pairs that with CBI, ABI, CVB, and GRI credentials and a Minnesota Real Estate Broker license.
M&AMICBIABICVBGRIMN Real Estate Broker
Read James's full background Common Questions
Answers to what owners actually ask.
Don't see yours? Call James directly at (763) 244-2941.
A business broker manages the confidential sale of a privately-held company end-to-end: business valuation, marketing to qualified buyers under NDA, vetting offers, negotiating Letters of Intent, coordinating due diligence, and guiding the transaction to a successful closing. At BLS Consulting, James Benincasa brings 30+ years of experience and elite M&AMI, CBI, and ABI credentials to Main-Street and lower-middle-market transactions across Minnesota.
Most traditional brokers charge 10–12% commission. BLS Consulting offers tiered programs designed around the size and complexity of your business, typically resulting in significantly reduced fees while delivering the full service of a credentialed M&A intermediary. We also offer a For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) program for owners who want to lead their own sale with expert tools and coaching.
We apply the three widely-accepted approaches — asset, income, and market — with our market approach grounded in actual SBA-closed comparable transactions for businesses of similar size and industry. The output is a written, defensible valuation you can use for sale, exit planning, partner buyouts, estate planning, or financing.
Most Main-Street businesses sell in 6–12 months from listing to close, while lower-middle-market transactions typically run 9–15 months. Preparation matters: businesses with clean books, documented processes, and a recasted financial package consistently sell faster and at higher multiples.
No. Confidentiality is foundational to everything we do. Buyers receive a blind teaser only, then sign an NDA before reviewing your Confidential Business Review. Listings are coded to industry websites without identifying your company, location, or owner.
BLS Consulting is headquartered in Burnsville, Minnesota and serves business owners throughout the Twin Cities, Greater Minnesota, and the Upper Midwest. Through our M&A Source and IBBA networks we also reach qualified buyers nationally and internationally.
Meet James · In His Own Words
Two short videos on how BLS Consulting works.
An introduction to James, his 30+ years in M&A, and the BLS approach.
How a confidential business sale actually unfolds — from valuation to wire transfer.
When you're ready to talk, the call is private.
Initial consultations are confidential and complimentary. Whether you're 12 months out or 5 years out, the right time to start the conversation is now.
"Wise owners don't ask if they need a business broker — they ask which broker they should trust."