Raabe successfully negotiated a business sale in the $10 billion dollar supplemental education industry. This is a franchise re-sale. Upon closing this deal, Raabe lists another tutoring franchise.

Contact: Domenic Rinaldi
Address: 8745 W. Higgins Road, Suite 220, Chicago, IL 60631
Phone: 773-243-1603
Email: drinaldi@sunbeltnetwork.com
URL: www.chicagolandsunbelt.com

CHICAGO, IL – March 2, 2011 – Chicagoland Sunbelt (www.chicagolandsunbelt.com) announces today that Donn Raabe completed the sale of a franchise tutoring business in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago.  The business was a turn-key operation, complete with everything a buyer needed to ‘hit the ground running’. Thirty-nine people inquired and 11 prospective buyers were shown the business. Two offers were made and the winning offer closed on the sale of the business in less than a month. As a result of this success, another franchise selected Raabe to represent them in the sale of their successful franchise.

The business has great recognition amongst the consuming public. Catering to students from kindergarten to seniors in high school, the business offers tutoring programs in several subjects including: reading, math, writing, study skills, phonics, vocabulary, SAT & ACT exam preparation, high school entrance exam preparation. The franchisor supports franchisees via manuals, business templates, and software to run the business, curriculum, and marketing materials. The buyer will be in business for themselves, but not by themselves, and will be affiliated with one of the most successful franchise concepts in the past 25 years. This particular location has a nearly 20 year history of success that attracted the seller to the business.

Educational spending has been on a record growth curve for nearly the past two decades. Today, the supplemental educational market is approaching $10 billion dollars annually just by itself, and continues to see double-digit growth nearly every year.

“People looking to buy a business are very interested in tutoring,” stated Raabe, “They see it as a very steady, secure business to buy and are attracted to a business that they feel really helps children and helps the community as a whole. The challenges in this deal – and believe me there were challenges – seemed to recede when we re-focused on what value the business has for the community.”

“We see every day, buyers who are tired of a paycheck looking to buy a business in order to make a difference,” said Domenic Rinaldi, Managing Director of Chicagoland Sunbelt. “We get over 200 inquries from buyers every month looking to buy a business. If you have a business to sell, now is a great time to be on the market. We are seeing sellers getting great deals now.”

The buyer had a background in education and was excited to own his own business.

Raabe’s new listing is of one of the Chicagoland area’s most successful franchises. It is consistently rated in the top third in sales in the Chicagoland area. “Given the strong interest in the last transaction,” commented Raabe, “I expect that we will see a very good group of qualified buyers competing for this business.”

About Donn Raabe

Donn Raabe has been bringing people together and facilitating transactions for nearly 30 years, mainly in Chicago and suburbs. As a business broker, he draws on his own experience of having owned and operated a $2.5 million consumer electronics retail store. Raabe is versed in marketing, recruiting, managing transactions, and contract negotiations. He is committed to facilitating win/win outcomes for sellers and buyers and is held in high esteem for his ability to creatively help clients resolve issues.

As a licensed real estate broker in Illinois for over 20 years, he specialized in representing sellers and buyers of investment, commercial and industrial properties ranging in size from $50,000 to over $3,000,000. Raabe held senior positions within the 1,300,000-member National Association of RealtorsÒ, the world’s largest professional real estate association, where he managed corporate sales, marketing, training and client services. He also held executive positions with the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute (CCIM), the Realtors’ Land Institute, and the International Association of Assessing Officers. 

In addition to his business interests, Donn is involved in community, service, and professional organizations. He and his wife Carol enjoy volunteering at the Chicago home of L’Arche (“The Ark”), an international ecumenical community for developmentally disabled adults.

To learn more, see his bio at: www.chicagolandsunbelt.com/team-Raabe.htm

About Domenic Rinaldi

Domenic Rinaldi is the President and Managing Partner of Sunbelt Chicago. He was awarded the professional designation of Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and is considered an expert in the field of business brokerage. He is a seasoned executive who brings over 24 years of proven experience in merger/acquisition, sales, service, marketing and operations to the business brokerage arena. 

Domenic’s career began at Sprint Corp, where he spent 13 years in sales and operations. As VP of their Hospitality Division he led a national organization to $250 million in annual revenue. His experience as Chief Operating Officer of an e-commerce travel company offered the opportunity to grow a Silicon Valley startup into an international solutions provider. Additionally, Domenic’s small business experience running a New York City technology company gave him firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing business owners. It was at this privately held company he learned the business of raising venture capital and driving a small company to profitability, which ultimately resulted in an acquisition. 

Domenic is recognized by colleagues and associates as a leader with determination and integrity. He has helped countless business owners develop, execute and maximize their exit strategies. The business press frequently turns to Rinaldi as a subject matter expert oin small and lower middle market transactions in Chicago. Most recently he was quoted in Crain’s Chicago Business:  www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20110212/ISSUE02/302129999/get-the-right-price-for-your-small-business-now#axzz1Dwsox4K7.

To learn more, visit his bio at:  www.chicagolandsunbelt.com/team-Rinaldi.htm

About Chicagoland Sunbelt

Chicagoland Sunbelt is a business brokerage firm that focuses on helping people buy, grow and sell businesses in Chicagoland and the surrounding Midwest. Having sold hundreds of businesses, Chicagoland Sunbelt specializes in a broad range of industries, including business services, distribution, food & beverage, franchises, personal services and retail. Its experienced team of M&A brokerage consultants also develop and execute comprehensive strategies designed to meet individual financial and non-financial goals.

Chicagoland Sunbelt is also a proud member of Sunbelt Midwest, which operates offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin & Illinois. For your next business purchase or sale, visit Chicagoland Sunbelt at www.chicagolandsunbelt.com/sellers.htm.