Why “Unreported Cash” Kills Restaurant Valuation: The High Cost of Off-the-Books Income
By Dominique Maddox, CBI, EATS Broker “The restaurant makes more money than the tax returns show”, is a common phrase EATS Broker hears from restaurant sellers. For a restaurant owner preparing to sell, that statement can undermine the asking price. Unreported cash hurts restaurant valuation because buyers cannot confidently verify the earnings they are purchasing. […]
The Pros and Cons of Selling Your Restaurant vs. Passing It to Family
For many restaurant owners, their business is more than just an investment; it’s their life’s work and sometimes their biggest financial asset or liability. Years of long hours, risk, and sacrifice go into building a restaurant that serves a community. As retirement approaches, a pivotal question emerges: Do you keep the legacy in the family, […]
What Every Restaurant Owner Should Know Before Selling Their Business
By Dominique Maddox, CBI, CFE | EATS Broker – Dallas Restaurant Broker | Most restaurant owners spend years, sometimes decades, building something they’re proud of and consider their “baby”. Then the day comes when they’re ready to move on. Maybe they want to retire. Maybe the grind finally caught up with them. Maybe a […]
2026 Texas Restaurant Closures: Trends & Opportunities | EATS Broker
The restaurant industry is constantly evolving, and keeping a pulse on the latest data is crucial for buyers, sellers, and investors. The newly released First-Half 2026 Restaurant Closure Report by RestaurantData provides a comprehensive look at the shifting landscape across the U.S. and Canada. For us at EATS Broker, analyzing these trends is vital to […]
5 Critical Points to Know About Landlords When Selling Your Restaurant
Most restaurant owners think the hardest part of selling their restaurant is finding a buyer, setting the purchase price, securing the equipment, handling the financials, and setting the closing date. EATS Broker decided to discuss “5 Critical Points to Know About Landlords When Selling Your Restaurant” because restaurant owners are struggling with this issue. After […]
What Will a Restaurant Broker Do for You
Why Restaurant Owners Should Work with a Restaurant Broker When Selling Their Restaurant? Selling a restaurant is very different from selling most other businesses. When it’s time to sell, you’ll hear a lot of advice about hiring a “business broker.” But here is the reality of the restaurant resale market: selling a restaurant is not […]
What Numbers Should a Restaurant Owner Know When Selling a Restaurant?
In the restaurant industry, there’s an old saying: “People lie, but numbers don’t.” The strongest restaurant operators know their numbers by muscle memory. They review performance daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, not just at tax time. Unfortunately, many restaurant owners don’t look closely at their financials until they’re forced to sell—often because of burnout, health […]
How to Buy an Existing Restaurant: A Practical Buyer’s Checklist
Buying an existing restaurant can be a cheat code and one of the fastest ways to enter the restaurant industry. The most common mistake for new restaurant owners is not planning for an exit strategy at the start, and having a buyer’s checklist. As a Dallas, Texas, restaurant broker, Dominique Maddox, CBI, CFE, works with […]
Restaurant Valuation for Baby Boomer Owners
Why a Professional Valuation Matters More Than Ever For many Baby Boomer entrepreneurs, your restaurant is more than a business—it’s years of early mornings, late nights, and a built-in community. Valuing your business relies not on sentiment, gross sales, or retirement needs, but on verified cash flow, market conditions, and risk. Restaurant valuation combines financial […]