Market Pulse Featured on The Wall Street Journal Daily Shot

The Wall Street Journal’s Daily Shot featured findings from the Q3 2019 Market Pulse Report on issues affecting businesses and business advisors. In partnership with the Pepperdine Private Capital Market Project, International Business Broker Association (IBBA) and M&A Source Market Pulse Survey release quarterly reports to provide an analysis of market conditions for businesses being sold in Main Street and the lower middle market.

Though a recession isn’t here yet, over half (53%) of business brokers surveyed say a recession is the biggest concern especially for small businesses, according to the Q3 2019 Market Pulse Report. “The market doesn’t like uncertainty particularly on Main Street,” said Craig Everett, PhD, director of the Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Project at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. “Small business owners are worried that a recession is coming, and trade issues are causing volatility. All that nervous energy means buyers are dialing back a bit – particularly on smaller market deals.”

Uncertainty over the upcoming presidential election and the trade wars with China are having a smaller impact on small businesses than a looming recession. The Q3 2019 survey was conducted in early October and was completed by 236 business brokers and M&A advisors.