Selling a business is so much more than a transaction—and working with Oliver made all the difference. From our very first meeting, it was clear he genuinely cared—not just about getting the deal done, but about me, my team, and the legacy of what I’d built. He took the time to learn about every part of the business, even getting to know my employees by name, and showed deep respect for what made it special.

There were moments throughout the process that were overwhelming, emotional, and honestly just tough. Oliver became more than a broker—he was a steady presence, a sounding board, and sometimes even a therapist. He brought a level of calm, clarity, and perspective that only someone who’s been in the trenches as a business owner himself could offer.

His ability to stay level-headed, handle difficult conversations with grace, and always keep the bigger picture in mind is something I’ll never forget. I trusted him completely—and he earned that trust every step of the way. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner through one of the biggest decisions of my life.

Our CPA highly recommended Oliver Kotelnikov of IBA when we approached him on how best to sell our business along with the commercial property attached. Oliver had brokered the sales of several businesses in our small community, so we had no hesitation signing with him. At first we were skeptical to make our listing public and he was sensitive to our wishes to keep it private. We appreciated his guidance and support when we had to make a decision between two potential buyers. His communication was excellent from the beginning, and he was quick to respond to our questions and concerns as they arose; after hours, evenings, weekends – he was always available. Oliver’s knowledge and experience was evident at the onset and we couldn’t be more satisfied with the entire transaction from start to finish – it’s no surprise he was awarded the 2023 Broker of the Year! After owning our business for 40 years, we feel he helped us make the best choice on our successor.

We recently closed the sale of our winery business through the help of Oliver Kotelnikov at IBA. We were fortunate to find Oliver and IBA based on the recommendation of other local business owners who had similar success. Our transaction, involving both business asset and real estate components within a highly regulated industry, had many “moving parts”. Oliver was able to quickly grasp many complexities specific to our industry, deftly navigate the process, and bring a number of interested potential buyers to this niche sale, including two very serious and qualified parties.

As other reviewers have pointed out, beyond the many unexpected hurdles that inevitably pop up in any transaction between two parties with different goals, the sale of a business that one has built over decades is an emotional process. This takes a rare skill set, as well as patience and persistence. Oliver brings all of these things to the table. Our recommendation is hearty and unqualified.

After building my business for 26 years,I was ready to deploy my exit strategy for retirement. I thought I could sell my business on my own. Over the years I even had several competitors tell me when I was ready to sell to call them. After one year of trying to sell on my own I found the offers were at prices or terms that were not in my favor.

I started to interview business brokers and I was unimpressed with them until I spoke to Gregory Kovsky with IBA. He really spent time evaluating my business and my goals to make sure I was a good match for his services. Gregory took the time to explain how he determined the valuation for my business . In four months he was able to produce a quality selection of potential buyers . I completed the sale of my business within 6 months of working with Gregory as my broker. I always felt that he was looking out for my best interest and he was able to negotiate the terms that I wanted.

It is my pleasure to highly recommend Gregory Kovsky when you are in need of a business broker.