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Restaurant Deal Making EXPOSED! With Patrick and Andy

Restaurant Deal Making EXPOSED! With Patrick and Andy

Written by: Patrick Totah and Andy Mirabell
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 Selling (or buying) a restaurant or bar is no small feat. It's a complex and lengthy journey filled with many hurdles and deal-killers along the way. Restaurant Deal Making EXPOSED! is a masterclass in the navigation of these restaurant transactions, helping buyers and sellers to prepare for the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes with them. Whether you're looking to sell your lifelong business for top dollar or are on the hunt for the perfect restaurant or bar to call your own, this podcast will equip you with the knowledge and strategies you need to succeed. Show hosts Patrick Totah and Andy Mirabell are ex-restaurateurs and seasoned brokers who specialize exclusively in restaurant sales. Every other week, join them and their guest experts as they leverage their industry experience to uncover the secrets to successful deals, expose the challenges, share insider knowledge and wisdom, and provide invaluable insights and practical advice for buyers, sellers, and lessees to help them avoid common pitfalls, and guide them through the restaurant transaction process as seamlessly as possible. For more insights and to learn how Patrick and Andy can help you find high-caliber buyers for your restaurant or bar, visit: www.therestaurantsalesbroker.com. This is the show for you if you find yourself asking questions like: *How do I sell my restaurant? *How do I sell my bar? *How can I prepare my business to be sold? *Who sells restaurants? *Can I sell my restaurant if it is losing money? *Can I use a commercial broker to sell my restaurant? *Who should I contact to sell my restaurant? *Who should I contact to sell my bar?© 2026 Patrick Totah and Andy Mirabell Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 043. New Year, New Systems: How Smart Operators Build Value Before They Sell

    043. New Year, New Systems: How Smart Operators Build Value Before They Sell
    Jan 8 2026

    How do smart restaurant owners start the year by strengthening their business? In this episode, we talk about why January is a natural moment to step back and evaluate how a restaurant is really operating. We explore how reviewing financials, questioning assumptions, and looking closely at costs can help owners build a healthier business, whether or not a sale is coming soon.

    We discuss the financial habits that tend to show up in stronger operations, including cleaner books, clearer separation between personal and business expenses, and reviewing numbers across different time frames. We also share a few reflections from our own experience as operators, including the parts of running a restaurant that consistently created the most pressure.

    Get full show notes, resources, transcript, and more information here: https://www.therestaurantsalesbroker.com/43.

    If you’re considering selling your business and would like a free consultation, reach out to patrickAndAndy@therestaurantsalesbroker.com or visit TheRestaurantSalesBroker.com to learn more.
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    22 mins
  • 042. Exposing 2025: Restaurant Deal Trends and What’s Ahead

    042. Exposing 2025: Restaurant Deal Trends and What’s Ahead
    Dec 25 2025

    What kind of year was 2025 for restaurant deals? In this episode, we look back on the past year and talk through what stood out most to us as brokers working closely with restaurant owners, buyers, and sellers. We reflect on how the year unfolded, what surprised us, and what stayed consistent even as conditions shifted.

    To close things out, we spend some time looking ahead and sharing a few personal reflections from the year, along with some holiday stories and moments that made us laugh along the way. It is a chance to wrap up the year, say thank you to everyone listening, and head into the holidays with perspective and optimism.

    Get full show notes, resources, transcript, and more information here: https://www.therestaurantsalesbroker.com/42.

    If you’re considering selling your business and would like a free consultation, reach out to patrickAndAndy@therestaurantsalesbroker.com or visit TheRestaurantSalesBroker.com to learn more.
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    18 mins
  • 041. SBA Now: Restaurant Lending with Loan Officer Scott Cisneros

    041. SBA Now: Restaurant Lending with Loan Officer Scott Cisneros
    Dec 11 2025

    Securing an SBA loan for a restaurant isn't easy. Banks understand the risks involved, especially given the high failure rate of restaurants. In this episode, we sit down with Scott Cisneros, a senior loan officer at City National Bank, who specializes in SBA 7a loans for restaurant acquisitions. With decades of lending experience and a reputation for straightforward advice, Scott is a trusted resource for brokers and buyers navigating restaurant financing.

    Scott explains why most banks prefer SBA financing for business acquisitions. We dive into why experience matters in the application process, how seller financing can impact the deal, and why smaller SBA loans are significantly more challenging to secure than larger ones. We also explore the current lending landscape, including why recent years have been among the toughest, and what to expect as interest rates continue to change.

    Get full show notes, resources, transcript, and more information here: https://www.therestaurantsalesbroker.com/41.

    If you’re considering selling your business and would like a free consultation, reach out to patrickAndAndy@therestaurantsalesbroker.com or visit TheRestaurantSalesBroker.com to learn more.
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    41 mins
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