dylan-gans

Dylan Gans

Co-Founder

Dylan is the co-founder of Baton Market, the leading marketplace to buy and sell small businesses. Baton has raised over $15M from world class investors like Bloomberg Beta to the former CEO of Zillow. Previously, he was on the founding team of a ghost kitchen startup that was acquired by Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) where he served as a Vice President. He also sits on the board of a $17M non-profit dedicated to Alzheimer’s research, writes for Forbes, and supports dozens of entrepreneurs in the startup ecosystem.

  • Co-Founder of Baton, the marketplace for buying and selling small businesses
  • Sold his previous startup to Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), where he served as VP
  • Forbes contributor on small business and entrepreneurship
Connect with Dylan Gans on LinkedIn

Articles by Dylan Gans

whos buying small businesses

Sell

Selling Your Business in 2026? Here's Who's Actually Buying

August 13, 2026 ⋅ 6 min read

You Don't Have to Be Picked First to Win the Deal

On Our Minds

You Don't Have to Be Picked First to Win the Deal

August 3, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

Forbes Agentic AI

Company News

Forbes: Using Agentic AI To Aid In Small Business Succession

July 1, 2026 ⋅ 1 min read

How to Evaluate Buyers When Selling Your Small Business

Sell

How to Evaluate Buyers When Selling Your Small Business

June 16, 2026 ⋅ 6 min read

How deals are actually paid out- Baton

Sell

How is payment structured when a business is sold?

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 5 min read

SBA loan process for buyers- Baton

Explore

How does the SBA loan process work when buying a business?

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 5 min read

Earnouts explained- Baton

Close

What is an earnout in a business sale and how does it work?

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 5 min read

Seller financing structure examples- Baton

Sell

How is seller financing typically structured in a small business sale?

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 5 min read

Asset sale vs. stock sale- Baton

Know

What is the difference between an asset sale and a stock sale in a business acquisition?

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 5 min read

factors affecting business profit- Baton

Know

What Lowers Business Value? Factors Affecting Business Profit

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 11 min read

reduce owner dependency- Baton

Grow

Reduce Owner Dependency Before Sale

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 11 min read

recurring revenue strategy- Baton

Grow

How to Improve Recurring Revenue Before Exit

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 12 min read

what are add backs- Baton

Know

Add-Backs Explained: Your Deep Dive Into Business Adjustments

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 10 min read

buyer due diligence- Baton

Evaluate

How to Prepare for Buyer Due Diligence

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 11 min read

preparing to sell your business- Baton

Sell

How to Clean Up Financials Before Sale

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 10 min read

maximize business value- Baton

Grow

How to Increase Business Valuation Before Selling

April 1, 2026 ⋅ 10 min read

wealth planning strategy- Baton

Grow

Wealth Planning Strategy: Diversify Beyond Your Business

March 26, 2026 ⋅ 15 min read

retirement planning for business owners- Baton

Know

How to Retire From a Small Business You Built: Exit Plans, Retirement Accounts, and Why Timing Is Everything

March 26, 2026 ⋅ 11 min read

business sale advisors- Baton

Sell

Where can I find advisors for the business sale process?

March 9, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

end-to-end-business sale platforms- Baton

Sell

Which platforms offer support throughout the entire business sale process?

March 9, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

selling business platforms- Baton

Sell

What platforms offer comprehensive services to sell my business?

March 9, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

smooth business sale process- Baton

Sell

How can I ensure a smooth deal process when selling my company?

March 9, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

sell business fast advice- Baton

Sell

Where can I get advice on selling my business quickly and successfully?

March 9, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

documents needed to sell a business- Baton

Sell

What Documents Do You Need to Sell a Business?

March 2, 2026 ⋅ 13 min read

how buyers are qualified to buy a business- Baton

Evaluate

How Buyers Are Qualified in a Business Sale

March 2, 2026 ⋅ 9 min read

letter of intent business sale- Baton

Sell

What Is an LOI in a Business Sale?

March 2, 2026 ⋅ 13 min read

what buyers look for in a business- Baton

Sell

What Buyers Look For In A Business When Buying

March 2, 2026 ⋅ 12 min read

what is seller readiness- Baton

Sell

What is seller readiness?

January 26, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

how does a business marketplace work- Baton

Grow

How does a business marketplace work?

January 26, 2026 ⋅ 3 min read

what does due diligence involve- Baton

Sell

What does due diligence involve?

January 26, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

what is the process of selling a small business- Baton

Sell

What is the process of selling a small business?

January 26, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

what is a business valuation- Baton

Know

What is a business valuation?

January 26, 2026 ⋅ 5 min read

sell my business faster and at a lower cost- Baton

Sell

How can I sell my business faster and at a lower cost?

January 26, 2026 ⋅ 4 min read

how to make your business more attractive to buyers- Baton

Grow

How To Make Your Business Buyer-Ready: Tips for a Stronger Listing

January 26, 2026 ⋅ 5 min read

earnings based valuation- Baton

Know

Earnings Based Valuation for Small Businesses: A Plain-English Guide for Owners

January 26, 2026 ⋅ 5 min read

do buyers and sellers meet at closing- Baton

Close

Do buyers and sellers meet at closing when selling a business?

January 26, 2026 ⋅ 7 min read

what buyers look for when buying a small business- Baton

Sell

What buyers look for when buying a small business

November 13, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

how is ownership transferred in a corporation?- Baton

Know

How is ownership transferred in a corporation?

November 13, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

steps after listing a business for sale- Baton

Sell

What happens after your list your business for sale?

November 13, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

typical fees for selling a business on a transparent platform- Baton

Sell

What are the typical fees for selling a business on a transparent platform?

November 13, 2025 ⋅ 8 min read

Is it better to use a broker or a marketplace to sell your business?- Baton

Sell

Is it better to use a broker or a marketplace to sell your business?

November 13, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

how to sell a business without a broker- Baton

Sell

How to sell your business without a broker

November 13, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

best way to sell a small business- Baton

Sell

Best way to sell your small business

November 13, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

fastest business acquisition platforms- Baton

Know

Which platforms offer the fastest and most efficient business acquisition services?

November 13, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

how to sell a small business- Baton

Sell

How do I sell my small business?

November 13, 2025 ⋅ 9 min read

how to value a company based on revenue- Baton

Know

How to Value a Company Based on Revenue and When That Approach Falls Short

October 29, 2025 ⋅ 8 min read

capital gains tax on business sale- Baton

Sell

Capital Gains Tax on a Business Sale: What You’ll Owe and How to Plan for It

October 6, 2025 ⋅ 8 min read

small business brokers- Baton

Sell

What Small Business Brokers Do and Why Baton Might Be a Smarter Option

October 6, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

certified business appraisal- Baton

Sell

Do You Really Need a Certified Business Appraisal to Sell? Here’s What Matters Most

September 30, 2025 ⋅ 8 min read

steps to sell a business online- Baton

Sell

What are the steps to sell my business online?

September 23, 2025 ⋅ 10 min read

benefits of using online platforms to buy a business- Baton

Evaluate

What are the benefits of using an online platform to buy a business?

September 23, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

best websites to sell small business 2025- Baton

Sell

Best websites to sell your small business

September 23, 2025 ⋅ 9 min read

best online platforms for finding small businesses for sale 2025- Baton

Explore

What are the best online platforms for finding small businesses for sale?

September 23, 2025 ⋅ 10 min read

free vs paid business valuation- Baton

Know

Free vs. Paid Business Valuations: What’s the Difference?

September 23, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

business valuation consultant- Baton

Grow

Do You Really Need a Business Valuation Consultant? Here’s a Faster, Smarter Option

September 10, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

business valuation process- Baton

Sell

What Happens After You Get a Business Valuation? A Seller’s Next 5 Steps

September 10, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

business valuation services- Baton

Sell

Business Valuation Services Backed by Experts (Not Guesswork or Gut Feel)

September 10, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

how to value a company- Baton

Know

How to Value a Company

September 10, 2025 ⋅ 13 min read

open business bank account with ein only- Baton

Know

Can You Open a Business Bank Account With an EIN Only? Here’s What to Know

September 10, 2025 ⋅ 9 min read

small business valuation services- Baton

Know

Small Business Valuation Services Built for Main Street Sellers - Not Wall Street Firms

September 5, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

how to value a business- Baton

Know

How to Value a Business

September 5, 2025 ⋅ 8 min read

why business owners dont know their value- Baton

Know

Why Most Business Owners Have No Idea What Their Business Is Actually Worth

August 11, 2025 ⋅ 4 min read

best bank for small business- Baton

Know

How to Choose the Best Bank for Your Small Business (Without the Headache)

August 11, 2025 ⋅ 8 min read

online business brokerage platform support services- Baton

Sell

What kind of support can I expect when using an online business brokerage platform?

August 11, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

most affordable platforms for buying selling businesses- Baton

Explore

What are the most affordable platforms for buying and selling businesses?

August 11, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

best platforms for learning about buying a small business- Baton

Explore

What are the best platforms for learning about buying a small business?

August 11, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

best business buying platforms with data transparency and analytics- Baton

Explore

Which business buying platforms offer the best data transparency and analytics?

August 11, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

resources for first-time small business buyers- Baton

Explore

What resources are available for first-time small business buyers?

August 11, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

business vetting process- Baton

Know

What Does Vetting Mean, and How Is It Done?

August 4, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

platforms offering personal support for selling a business- Baton

Sell

What platform offers personal support for selling a business?

August 4, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

company valuation services- Baton

Sell

Why Smart Small Business Owners Trust Baton to Price Their Business Right the First Time

August 4, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

lowest fees buying small business online- Baton

Explore

What are the lowest fees for buying a small business online?

August 4, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

process after listing business for sale- Baton

Sell

What happens after you list your business for sale?

August 4, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

how to determine fair market value of a business before selling- Baton

Sell

How can I determine the fair market value of my business before selling?

August 4, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

small business marketplace- Baton

Explore

Whats a good marketplace to find small businesses to buy?

July 16, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

selling a business- Baton

Sell

How do I go about selling a successful small business?

July 16, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

business valuation firms- Baton

Know

Top 6 Business Valuation Companies, Firms & Consultants

July 16, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

how to calculate selling price of small business- Baton

Sell

How to Calculate the Selling Price of a Small Business

July 16, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

how to price a business for sale- Baton

Sell

How to Price a Small Business for Sale

July 16, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

selling a service business- Baton

Sell

How to Sell Your Service Business for the Desired Price

July 16, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

sale of business- Baton

Sell

Understanding the Basic Structural Components Of A Business Sale

July 16, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

How Do I Sell my Small Business- Baton

Sell

How Do I Sell my Small Business?

July 16, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

prepare your business for sale- Baton

Sell

How to Prepare Your Business for Sale

July 15, 2025 ⋅ 13 min read

succession planning risks- Baton

Know

Succession Planning Risks to Avoid to Hurt Business Value

July 15, 2025 ⋅ 12 min read

best time to retire from business- Baton

Know

Retiring from a Small Business: What Owners Should Know About Timing the Exit

July 15, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

how to transfer a business to your child- Baton

Know

How to Transfer a Family Business to the Next Generation

July 15, 2025 ⋅ 15 min read

leadership succession planning- Baton

Know

How to Communicate a Succession Plan to Your Team

July 15, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

lack of succession planning- Baton

Know

What Happens if You Don’t Have a Succession Plan?

July 15, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

business price vs business value - Baton

Sell

What’s the Difference Between Business Price and Business Value?

July 15, 2025 ⋅ 3 min read

company appraisal - Baton

Sell

Company Appraisal: Use, Types, and Criticisms

July 14, 2025 ⋅ 3 min read

business appraisal vs valuation - Baton

Sell

What Is a Business Appraisal? When You Actually Need One

July 14, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

marketplace vs broker to sell business - Baton

Sell

Should You Use a Marketplace or Broker to Sell Your Business?

July 14, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

mistakes when selling a business - Baton

Sell

Common Mistakes When Selling a Business

July 14, 2025 ⋅ 12 min read

how to vet a company to sell your business - Baton

Sell

How to Vet a Company That Helps You Sell Your Business

July 14, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

mergers and acquisitions services - Baton

Sell

Mergers and Acquisitions Services

May 22, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

discretionary earnings - Baton

Sell

What Is SDE in Business? Seller's Discretionary Earnings Explained

May 5, 2025 ⋅ 10 min read

mergers and acquisitions companies - Baton

Explore

A Guide to the Industry’s Top Mergers and Acquisitions Companies

May 5, 2025 ⋅ 9 min read

capital gains tax on business sale - Baton

Sell

Understanding Capital Gains Tax on a Business Sale + How to Avoid

May 5, 2025 ⋅ 9 min read

business succession planning - Baton

Know

The 90-Day Start to Small Business Succession Planning: Transition Planning, Tips and Strategies

May 5, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

business acquisition broker - Baton

Sell

How to Find the Best Fit Business Acquisition Broker for Your Small Business

May 5, 2025 ⋅ 8 min read

Summit

On Our Minds

100 small business deals in 2 years: why Main Street Summit 2025 is a must-attend event

April 22, 2025 ⋅ 3 min read

business broker commission rates - Baton

Sell

Business Broker Commission Rates

April 14, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

how do business brokers get paid - Baton

Sell

How Do Business Brokers Get Paid? Breaking Down the Commission Model

April 14, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

what is the average commission for a business broker - Baton

Sell

What Is the Average Commission for a Business Broker (And What Should You Be Paying)?

April 14, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

who pays business broker fee - Baton

Sell

Who Pays the Business Broker Fee? A Transparent Look at How It Works

April 14, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

who pays sales tax when selling a business - Baton

Sell

Who Pays Sales Tax When Selling a Business? What Actually Determines It

April 14, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

taxes on selling a business - Baton

Sell

Understanding Taxes When Selling A Business

March 25, 2025 ⋅ 9 min read

sell business broker - Baton

Sell

How to Evaluate if a Business Broker Is Focused On Selling

March 25, 2025 ⋅ 13 min read

business broker - Baton

Sell

Top Criteria to Look for in a High Performing Business Broker

March 25, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

if you sell a business how is it taxed - Baton

Sell

If You Sell a Business, How Is It Taxed?

March 19, 2025 ⋅ 13 min read

how does owner financing work - Baton

Close

How Does Owner Financing Work With Small Business Acquisitions?

March 19, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

if i sell my business how much tax will i pay calculator - Baton

Sell

If I Sell My Business, How Much Will I Pay in Taxes?

March 19, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

what is owner financing - Baton

Close

What Is Owner Financing in Small Business Acquisitions?

March 19, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

how to sell my business online - Baton

Sell

How to Sell My Business Online: Step-by-Step Guide

March 19, 2025 ⋅ 10 min read

How to Determine How Much to Sell Your Business For?

Sell

How to Determine How Much to Sell Your Business For

March 18, 2025 ⋅ 13 min read

How Much Do Brokers Charge?

Close

How Much Do Brokers Charge?

March 18, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

Is Seller Financing a Good Idea?

Explore

Is Seller Financing a Good Idea? Pros and Cons

March 18, 2025 ⋅ 8 min read

What are the IRS Rules on Owner Financing?

Explore

What are the IRS Rules on Owner Financing?

March 18, 2025 ⋅ 5 min read

How to Sell My Business With a Broker

Sell

Broker to Sell My Business: Should You Hire One?

March 18, 2025 ⋅ 12 min read

How to Identify the Best Place to Sell My Online Business

Sell

How to Identify the Best Place to Sell My Online Business

March 18, 2025 ⋅ 7 min read

How Small Business Brokers Are Transforming the Industry

Sell

The Role of Technology in Transforming Small Business Brokerage Services

March 18, 2025 ⋅ 6 min read

How to Sell Your Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sell

How to Sell Your Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

March 18, 2025 ⋅ 14 min read

How to Find a Business Broker: An 8-Step Guide for Owners

Sell

How to find a business broker: An 8-step guide for owners

January 4, 2024 ⋅ 2 min read

 Business Brokers Near Me

Sell

Business Brokers Near Me

January 4, 2024 ⋅ 3 min read

Sell My Business

Sell

Sell My Business

January 4, 2024 ⋅ 3 min read

Sell My Business: A Getting Started Guide for Business Owners

Sell

Sell Your Online Business: Everything You Should Know

January 4, 2024 ⋅ 8 min read

How to Sell your Business in 2024

Sell

How to Sell your Business in 2024

December 27, 2023 ⋅ 3 min read

when and how to submit a letter of intent loi

Evaluate

When and how to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI)

October 9, 2023 ⋅ 4 min read

business broker to sell my business

Sell

Are business brokers worth it for buyers?

September 11, 2023 ⋅ 7 min read

how to sell a landscaping business

Sell

How to sell a landscaping business

September 6, 2023 ⋅ 9 min read

submitting an indication of interest

Close

Submitting an Indication of Interest (IOI)

August 30, 2023 ⋅ 2 min read

How long does it take to sell a business image

Sell

How Long Does it Take to Sell a Small Business?

August 21, 2023 ⋅ 12 min read

selling franchises

Sell

Franchise business selling tips & resources

August 4, 2023 ⋅ 7 min read

Use 401k to buy business

Close

How to use a 401k to buy a business debt-free

June 6, 2023 ⋅ 16 min read

Employee and boss stock

Sell

How do I sell my business to a key employee?

March 20, 2023 ⋅ 8 min read

Senior couple laughing

Sell

Complete 10-Step Guide to Sell Your Small Business

March 20, 2023 ⋅ 6 min read

Woman working in shop stock (Adobe)

Sell

How much do business brokers charge: Breaking down pricing and fees

March 20, 2023 ⋅ 12 min read

Man on the phone stock

Close

How to buy a business with recurring revenue for sale

March 20, 2023 ⋅ 10 min read

Two women looking at laptop

Know

What is a seller’s discretionary earnings worksheet?

March 15, 2023 ⋅ 7 min read

Two muslim women collaborating at desk

Sell

Best Business Brokers: Review & Why Baton Is Better

March 15, 2023 ⋅ 20 min read

Hair stylist doing a blowout in salon

Know

How to value a service business

March 15, 2023 ⋅ 13 min read

Catering company owners looking at iPad

Sell

Planning to sell your business? Start here first - A roadmap for owners

March 15, 2023 ⋅ 9 min read

Woman on a zoom call

Sell

Understanding the key differences between M&A brokers and business advisors

March 15, 2023 ⋅ 10 min read

Florist working on laptop

Sell

What happens to cash when selling a business?

March 15, 2023 ⋅ 10 min read

Owners meeting with a with broker

Sell

Should I use a broker to sell my business? A review of the pros and cons.

March 13, 2023 ⋅ 11 min read

Man selling business online

Sell

Selling my business online: How to use Baton to prepare and sell.

March 13, 2023 ⋅ 19 min read

how much is my business worth- Baton

Sell

How Much Can I Sell My Business For? Practical Guide

March 13, 2023 ⋅ 13 min read

Florists updating website

Know

How much does a business appraisal cost and should you get one?

March 13, 2023 ⋅ 9 min read

Acquiring a small business

Explore

Acquiring a small business is more attainable than you think

March 13, 2023 ⋅ 6 min read

Woman at cafe register stock

Know

What is a Business Valuation and How Do You Calculate It?

March 10, 2023 ⋅ 6 min read