Business Team USA at United Realty Group Research
Advisory Approach
Business Team USA at United Realty Group is a Florida-based business brokerage and M&A advisory firm specializing in the sale of main street and lower middle market businesses. Founded by Alan Mehrez—Harvard Law School graduate and former Vice President at E.F. Hutton & Company—and his partner Aileen Rodriguez, the firm operates with a distinctive philosophy: no advance fees, performance-only compensation, and exhaustive buyer outreach.
The firm's thesis is that business owners deserve institutional-quality representation without Wall Street fees. Unlike many competitors who charge retainers upfront, Business Team USA prepares comprehensive Confidential Information Memorandums, professional business valuations, and high-quality video presentations entirely at their own expense, earning revenue only upon successful closing. This alignment of interests has made them one of the top-producing teams within United Realty Group's network of approximately 6,000 agents across 19 Florida locations.
Sector Focus
Business Team USA focuses on founder-owned and family-operated businesses in the $1 million to $10 million enterprise value range. Their core industries include:
- Distribution and Logistics: Wholesale distributors, including an international distribution company with $5 million in annual revenue and $1.6 million EBITDA
- Retail and E-commerce: Independently owned retailers with established track records
- Consumer Services: Restaurants (high-volume diners, fast-food franchises, sports bars), beauty salons, and nail salons
- Business Services: Contracting companies specializing in short-term rentals, custom closets, and custom drapery
- Construction and Trades: Home service contractors with recurring revenue models
The firm's deal history demonstrates particular depth in distribution, food and beverage, and personal services—businesses with tangible assets, recurring revenue, and transferable customer relationships.
Deal Track Record
Business Team USA has demonstrated consistent transaction velocity. In the third and fourth quarters of 2024 alone, Alan Mehrez sold businesses totaling over $10 million in value. Recent representative transactions include:
- Multi-million dollar distribution company: Sold to buyer Andrew R., who praised the team's precision and expertise throughout the acquisition process
- Fort Myers business acquisition: $2.3 million deal structured with 5% down payment plus $100,000 in working capital at closing, facilitated through SBA financing
- Restaurant acquisition: $1.425 million restaurant grossing over $2 million, structured for a first-time buyer with 100% financing including working capital
- Auto repair shop: Daytona Beach acquisition facilitated with SBA lender introduction
The firm's Recent Sales portfolio showcases established businesses with strong cash flow: distribution companies with $5 million revenue and $1.6 million EBITDA; retail stores with $5 million revenue and $1 million EBITDA; contracting companies with $5 million revenue and $1 million EBITDA; and restaurants ranging from $1.4 million to $2.7 million in gross revenue with $350,000 to $450,000 in EBITDA.
Process & Fee Structure
Business Team USA runs a structured sell-side process optimized for main street businesses:
- Business Valuation: Comprehensive valuation analysis to determine fair market value
- Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM): Professional documentation package presenting the business to qualified buyers
- Video Presentation: High-quality video production to introduce the business visually to prospective buyers
- Buyer Outreach: Active engagement with their network of 4,000+ qualified buyers
- SBA Financing: Strong relationships with SBA lenders to facilitate buyer financing
- Transaction Management: Full administrative support from document preparation through closing
Fee Structure: Performance-only model with no advance fees. The firm earns success fees upon closing, with no upfront retainer required. This aligns their incentives entirely with successful outcomes for clients.
Buyer Network
Business Team USA maintains an active database of over 4,000 qualified buyers and leverages United Realty Group's network of 6,000+ agents nationwide. Their multilingual capabilities (English, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic) enable them to connect with international investors, including buyers from Europe and the Middle East.
The firm's buyer network includes:
- Individual buyers and first-time business owners seeking SBA-financed acquisitions
- Family offices and high-net-worth individuals
- Strategic buyers looking for add-on acquisitions
- International investors interested in U.S. businesses
Based on their deal history and client testimonials, the firm has closed transactions with both individual buyers and investor groups, with a strong emphasis on SBA-financed acquisitions that enable buyers to acquire businesses with as little as 5% down.
Competitive Positioning
Business Team USA differentiates through several key advantages:
Wall Street Pedigree, Main Street Focus: Alan Mehrez's background as a Vice President at E.F. Hutton, where he managed $6 billion in annual trading volume, brings institutional rigor to small business transactions. This is rare in the business brokerage space.
Performance-Only Model: By eliminating advance fees, the firm reduces risk for business owners and demonstrates confidence in their ability to close transactions.
SBA Financing Expertise: The firm's deep relationships with SBA lenders and creative deal structuring enable buyers to acquire businesses with minimal down payments (as low as 5% plus closing costs), significantly expanding the buyer pool.
Multilingual Reach: The ability to conduct business in five languages opens doors to international buyers not accessible to monolingual brokers.
Full-Service Administrative Support: Aileen Rodriguez manages all document preparation and administrative tasks—a level of hands-on support not commonly provided by other brokerage firms.
Not a Fit If
Based on their transaction history and positioning, Business Team USA is likely not a fit for:
- Businesses with enterprise value above $10 million (they focus on main street and lower middle market)
- Technology startups or pre-revenue companies without operating history
- Businesses outside Florida or the Southeast (their geographic focus is Florida-centric)
- Sellers seeking a limited-process sale to a pre-identified buyer (their value is in exhaustive buyer outreach)
- Distressed asset sales or turnarounds (they specialize in going-concern businesses with established cash flow)
Team
Alan Mehrez – Founder and Managing Director. Graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School. Former Vice President at E.F. Hutton & Company, where he managed $6 billion in annual trading volume and was among the firm's highest-paid executives. 40+ years of entrepreneurial business experience, including owning and managing businesses with 100+ employees. Recipient of the IBBA Chairman's Circle Award (May 2024) for top performance in 2023, with the Chairman's Circle Platinum Award expected for 2024 performance. Multilingual: English, French, Spanish, Arabic.
Aileen Rodriguez – Co-Founder and Partner. Manages all administrative functions, including comprehensive document preparation services. Provides hands-on support throughout due diligence and closing processes. Native Spanish speaker, also fluent in English and Italian.
Giovanni Tanzi – Business Broker. Experienced sales and negotiation professional supporting deal execution and buyer relations.
Geographic Coverage
Business Team USA is based in Plantation/Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with primary focus on the Florida market. Through United Realty Group's 19 office locations across the state, the firm serves buyers and sellers throughout Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, and Tampa Bay. The firm's multilingual capabilities and national agent network enable them to facilitate transactions with out-of-state and international buyers.