ASPIRA Business Brokers Research
Advisory Approach
ASPIRA Business Brokers is a Main Street business brokerage firm founded in 2015 with a mission to provide small business owners with the level of expertise and service typically reserved for Wall Street clients. The firm operates with a clear thesis: the skills required to build and operate a successful business are fundamentally different from those needed to sell that business. ASPIRA positions itself as the trusted advocate and partner that guides business owners through the complex, high-stakes process of selling their life's work.
The firm's approach is characterized by three core values: Advocacy (going the extra mile for clients), Partnership (working as a team with integrity), and Innovation (leveraging new tools and technology). ASPIRA's process involves thorough preparation of the business for sale, conducting Broker Assessments of Value (BAV), drafting Confidential Business Reviews, matching sellers with qualified buyers based on multiple criteria, and quarterbacking deals from offer presentation through due diligence, financing, and settlement.
What distinguishes ASPIRA from competitors is their claim of delivering 25-50% higher value for owners versus competitors or for-sale-by-owner approaches. Their closed deals average approximately 120 days from marketing to settlement. A published case study demonstrates this value creation: a franchisee with a $600,000 offer that fell through engaged ASPIRA, which subsequently secured a $750,000 accepted offer—a 25% increase in sales price and 113% increase in net gain.
Sector Focus
ASPIRA serves the Main Street market—businesses with $500,000 to $20,000,000 in annual revenue. Their geographic focus is the Mid-Atlantic region, specifically New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York, with headquarters in Cherry Hill, NJ.
The firm's deal history and listings demonstrate broad industry exposure across several sectors:
Food & Beverage/Restaurant: This appears to be a core competency based on numerous listings. ASPIRA handles liquor license sales, full-service restaurants, pizzerias, bars, and taverns. Their portfolio includes "R" license liquor businesses in Pennsylvania, freestanding restaurants with real estate, and various food service establishments.
Retail & Consumer Businesses: The firm works with retail establishments, including flower shops, balloon and event decor businesses, and various consumer-facing businesses.
Business Services: ASPIRA lists staffing businesses, cleaning companies, and other B2B service providers. They also have presence in manufacturing based on M&A Source directory listings.
Professional Services: As a business broker, they handle professional service firms including healthcare practices, property management businesses, and other professional practices.
Deal Track Record
ASPIRA maintains active listings on BizBuySell, BizQuest, and BusinessBroker.net, indicating ongoing deal activity. Specific transactions include:
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Franchise Business Sale ($750,000): Documented case study where ASPIRA increased value from $600,000 to $750,000 (25% increase), taking less than 4 months to find the ideal buyer. The deal took over a year to close due to challenges, demonstrating ASPIRA's persistence in navigating complex transactions.
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Liquor License Transactions: Multiple PA liquor license sales ("R" licenses) in Wilkes-Barre and other locations.
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Restaurant and Food Service Sales: Various restaurant and bar transactions, including asset sales and businesses with real estate.
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Service Business Sales: Staffing agencies, cleaning businesses, home-based businesses, and other service companies.
While ASPIRA does not publicly disclose aggregate transaction counts, their BizQuest profile indicates 30 sold listings, and their BizBuySell profile shows active engagement with multiple listings across their territories.
Process & Fee Structure
ASPIRA describes their process in detail on their website:
- Business Valuation: Conducting valuation based on current buyer market demand
- Confidential Business Review: Drafting comprehensive marketing materials
- Buyer Matching: Screening and matching with qualified buyers based on cash flow needs, industry strengths, geographic restrictions, and cash requirements
- Offer to Close: Facilitating from offer presentation through due diligence, financing, and settlement
Fee Structure: ASPIRA is primarily a commission or success-based firm. They offer:
- FREE no-obligation Broker Assessment of Value (BAV)
- Fee-based valuation services as an affordable alternative to accountants or certified valuation analysts
- Success-based compensation on completed transactions (the firm does not get paid unless the transaction closes)
The firm can also be engaged on a fee-basis as a consultant, coach, or advisor for specific needs outside of full transaction representation.
Buyer Network
ASPIRA works with multiple buyer types:
- Individual Buyers: First-time business buyers and entrepreneurs
- Private Equity Groups: Growth-oriented PE firms
- Family Offices: Wealthy families seeking business investments
- Strategic Buyers: Companies looking for acquisitions
- Search Funds: Searchers seeking acquisition opportunities (noted on Searcher Insights)
The firm maintains buyer databases and actively screens potential buyers for financial capability and fit. Their process evaluates buyers on multiple dimensions including cash flow requirements, industry experience, geographic preferences, and available capital.
Competitive Positioning
ASPIRA differentiates through several key factors:
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Legal Expertise: Founder Orlando Rivera holds a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law, providing legal sophistication to transactions
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Main Street Specialization: Unlike many M&A advisors that focus on larger deals, ASPIRA specializes in the underserved $500K-$20M market segment
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Value Creation: Documented 25-50% premium over competitors or FSBO approaches
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Professional Process: Bringing institutional-quality processes to smaller deals, including thorough preparation, qualified buyer screening, and structured negotiations
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Geographic Focus: Deep knowledge of Mid-Atlantic market dynamics, licensing requirements (especially PA liquor licenses), and regional buyer networks
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Persistence: Willingness to navigate complex transactions that take extended periods to close
Not a Fit If
Based on their stated focus and market positioning, ASPIRA is likely not a fit for:
- Businesses below $500,000 in annual revenue (too small)
- Transactions above $20M-$25M (outside their Main Street focus)
- Purely real estate transactions without business operations
- Businesses requiring national reach beyond their Mid-Atlantic footprint
- Sellers seeking a limited process rather than comprehensive buyer outreach
Team
Orlando M. Rivera, J.D. - Founder & CEO
- Founder and principal of ASPIRA Business Brokers
- Holds J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law - Camden
- Previously built a national, multi-million dollar company from scratch
- Former New Jersey and Pennsylvania Attorney
- Experience as an executive and owner/operator who has successfully exited businesses
- 4K+ LinkedIn followers, 500+ connections
- Listed on BizBuySell, BizQuest, and BusinessBroker.net as Elite Broker
Additional Team Members (per LinkedIn company page):
- Margo Silk
- Tom Scurria
- Michelle Figueroa
- Satish Suri (Business Broker & Commercial Real Estate)
The firm describes itself as a diverse team of accomplished professionals with tools and expertise to sell businesses quickly, efficiently, and profitably. LinkedIn indicates the company size is 2-10 employees.
Geographic Coverage
Primary States: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York
Headquarters: 900 N. Kings Hwy, Suite 305, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Key Markets:
- New Jersey: Cherry Hill (headquarters), Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County
- Pennsylvania: Montgomery County, Delaware County, Philadelphia County, Wilkes-Barre, Wayne
- Delaware: New Castle County
- New York: NYC metro area
Phone: (856) 755-5755
Additional Notes
ASPIRA is not FINRA-registered as a broker-dealer. This is typical and appropriate for Main Street business brokers working on transactions under $25M, where securities registration is not required. Business brokerage and M&A advisory occupy different regulatory spaces, and ASPIRA operates within the business brokerage model serving privately-held, non-publicly-traded companies.
The firm maintains memberships and affiliations with:
- International Business Brokers Association (IBBA)
- M&A Source (manufacturing industry division)
- Exit Planning Exchange (XPX) Philadelphia - Orlando Rivera is a member
ASPIRA has been recognized among the "10 Best Business Brokers in New Jersey" by Writing Studio (2024), ranking #3 behind Website Closers and Empire Flippers.
Claims & Metrics:
- 25-50% higher value delivered vs. competitors or FSBO
- Average 120 days from marketing to close
- 4 months average time to find ideal buyer
- Free Broker Assessment of Value available