Testimonials

I was very apprehensive at first as I have not bought a business before. Could not have been easier to purchase a property with John’s help. The seller and the banker (Dennis & Ted) were tremendous. Beautiful experience.

Darren has been great to work with! He has a great personality and is able to connect buyers and sellers. Great job!

Great team to work with, friendly, concerned, attentive. Love the girls in the office & love Michael.

I’m really glad I used CBS-Global’s services to sell my sporting goods store. They really made it easy for me, and the whole process was smooth and stress-free. Darren was there for every step. He went above and beyond during the entire process.

I would definitely recommend them!

Creative Business Services was a wonderful and supportive company to service the sale of our business, All Sports Marketing USA, LLC.

Thank you, to Michael and his entire team.

From start to finish, it was clear the entire team at CBS-Global prioritized the relationship between us rather than simply the transaction. The team’s concerted efforts to go beyond my immediate needs and align the acquisition based upon my long-term vision surrounding globally and creatively impacting others made the complete process welcoming and exciting. I will certainly be returning to the team at CBS-Global for any consultative or acquisition needs as I continue to develop my overall business strategy.

We hired Michael to do a market analysis for our business. After the analysis we hired CBS-Global to market and sell our company. Michael worked with many people to get us top dollar for our business. Thank you for all your help in facilitating the deal!! On to retirement!

My brothers, Norm, Howard and I want to thank you and Gary Van Sistine for the way you handled the sale of our business. We were impressed with the professionalism and knowledge you have shown throughout the process. We selected you because of your personal past experience in manufacturing and distribution. You yourself have gone through the sale of your business and understand the process from beginning to end and realize the concerns of the existing and future owners. We like the way you put the package and the people together. The sale happened very quickly, and we were amazed with the coordination in such a short time frame. During the due diligent phase, you were very reassuring to the partners that everything was being done and handled in a proper manner. You put several meetings together with the prospective new owners and helped us all the way, trying to be fair to both parties; again, because it was your understanding of business and manufacturing that made it work. When it came time to legal matters, you were able to direct us to several attorneys who specialize in the sale of a manufacturing business and again you were able to spend time working with them every step of the way coordinating all the paperwork, and all the time, acting in our behalf and trying to keep the fees reasonable for a manufacturing company of our size. The sale of a business is an emotional roller coaster, but after manufacturing for over three decades, it is great it is a great opportunity, and we were fortunate to have had your company as our partner handling the numerous details during the process. We want to thank you again, and wish you the best during the New Year.

We enjoyed working with Michael and his office of wonderful helpers… They were all very efficient in getting our needs accomplished and giving us the support we needed.

Mike Van was really great to work with. He was very patient with us and helpful throughout the transaction. Mike Van is very easy to work with.

Thank you for your professional service in selling our three stores: hardware, appliance and furniture. Even though we had to overcome many obstacles, you kept the buyer, bank and lawyers on track to get this complicated deal done to everyone’s satisfaction. Now I can finally retire and relax.

I enjoyed working with Michael Schwantes and his team from Creative Business Services / CBS-Global in selling my industrial ten acre property in the Sturgeon Bay Industrial Park. Michael is very dedicated in finding the correct buyer for a curtain piece of property. He never gives up and works seven days a week in promoting sales. I recommend him and his company to anyone interested in selling or buying property.

My family and I were looking to purchase a business here in Green Bay. We were from out of state so business transactions and procedures in Wisconsin were a bit hazy for us. Mike and Karen with Creative Business Services not only helped guide us with the process of buying our new business, but also helped us setup business accounts and tax information with the state of Wisconsin. Creative Business Services cared about us as a family moving into the community. We really appreciate the foothold Creative gave us in moving here. We already feel welcomed and like we belong. Thank You.

I was looking to purchase a small business in the Appleton area. Creative Business Services tirelessly helped me find what I wanted, and also assisted me in obtaining the best financing. They did a great job.

Michael and Karen played an instrumental role in helping me achieve a lifelong goal of being a restaurant owner. Throughout the entire process the service, expertise, professionalism, and guidance, Michael and CBS provided was truly top notch. I highly recommend Michael and the Team at Creative Business Services as they help make dreams become reality.

Thank you and Mike for working through the commission agreement with us also. This transaction has been challenging for sure and appreciate all your hard work moving it forward.

We at Hawthorne enjoyed working with a professional group like CBS. They were instrumental in getting our transaction completed and showed a strong understanding of the acquisition process that was very helpful.

We at DBT felt like we were dealing with someone who was like part of our family. Mike knew how we worked hard for what we had, and helped us to get the most out of it. It sure was great having him as not only a mentor but also as a business partner and a good friend. His whole crew at Creative did a great job as well!

Michael was the listing broker in our purchase of The Lighting Center of Green Bay, providing us with answers to questions, lease negotiations and the push to make the transaction happen. He continued to help overcome any obstacle that came up.

We hired Creative because of their experience and background in selling many Door County businesses… especially Hotels & Resorts. The past sales experience of a business broker is essential in getting the job done.

I was very pleased with the time Creative Business Brokers took to understand our business. They were able to protect and manage our interests. They were able to market and sell our business in a slow economy and a stressed banking time. I feel their experience and years of dedication transformed our 20 years of hard work into a unique vision of reality for the new owner. Cedar Creek is proud to be associated with Mike and Anne and want to thank the entire staff of Creative Business Brokers.

A few years back when we first consulted your firm for the potential sale of our business, we were only lukewarm about really going forward. At that time, I remember telling my partners that when the time comes to go forward I thought your firm was the route to take. You had gained our confidence through that brief encounter. At this later date, our early confidence proved accurate.

Mike has assisted us and our company on multiple purchases, including the acquisition of commercial property in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. While every transaction presented unique challenges, Mike was unflappable in expediting the transactions and bringing each to a successful conclusion. The most accurate testimonial I can put forth is to state, unequivocally, that we would use Mike Schwantes and Creative Business Services in all our future purchase and sales transactions.

Working with Mike Schwantes was great. He guided me through the business selling process, taking much stress off my shoulders and enabling me to focus on running my business in those final months and weeks. The sale would not have come out the same without his help.

Our (residential) realtor had assisted marketing The Bluff Pub & Grille. While it had been on the market for a couple years, it only took two months to sell after working with Mike and Karen at Creative Business Services. Thank you for helping with the sale.

I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for all your assistance and hard work to get the Packerland Drive commercial building sold. Although this was a very complex transaction, I was very pleased that you were able to assist in getting the property sold by the date written in the contract. I hope we can work together on future transactions. Thank you again for all your hard work and dedications to get this deal done!

Michael was very well prepared and showed great professionalism during the entire purchase. Several situations arose that he was very attentive too and was able to come to a positive resolution for all parties. Highly recommend Michael for commercial brokerage. We appreciate him bringing us the Tony Roma’s/Famous Dave’s project.

We will have to celebrate in style soon, but in the meantime I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the tremendous amount of work and creativity you brought to the table. And also for keeping me from jumping off the ledge ☺. Again, many thanks!

I would like to say a special thank you to CBS for patience and determination in selling our restaurant. That was not something we could have done on our own without the knowledge and team work of CBS! Very professional and efficient! Thank you again!

Creative Business Services were involved in every part of the selling process and made sure everything went smoothly for both of us.

Five Lakes Investments would like to thank Michael for the excellent job he did in listing our building. Being from Milwaukee and not having real estate as our core business, Michael  coordinated all of the mowing, snow plowing and maintenance that would have been very tough for us to handle. Michael  kept us informed in all aspects of the listing and sale. I would recommend Michael on any project in the Fox Valley/ Green Bay area.

Creative Business Services / CBS-Global was great to work with. Michael was always quick to respond with any question I had.

Great experience working with Michael on purchase of the Vacant Land at 1738 Allouez. Professional and transparent each step of the process is what I appreciated, very easy to deal with and understand. Thanks Michael , looking forward to the next deal together!

Thank you both for bringing Valley Pattern Inc to my attention. The offering book you prepared about the company accurately conveyed the great opportunity it truly is and answered many of the questions early on that I might have had. The material was informative and factual. The investment meets all of my criteria. Thank you also for working with my attorney and banker to make this deal a reality. I’m excited to grow the business to a new level!

Thank you Michael for helping us to sell our company. We elected to work with your firm because of your strong track record and your reputation as trusted M&A advisors. We were not disappointed! From the valuation you prepared for us, to the marketing materials produced by your office, to the qualified buyers you presented for our consideration, to the offer we accepted in the end, to nurturing our new relationship with our buyer, to your negotiation skills and overall professional expertise, you truly helped us achieve our goals. Though the transaction was complicated, you were up for the challenge, resolving every concern that arose – all the while maintaining friendliness, a personable demeanor and optimistic attitude. Though there were many moving parts, you kept everything moving forward to a successful closing, giving us sound advice and coordinating activities with our attorney and accountant as well as the buyer’s advisors and bank. We could not have been better represented or better served.

Both Ken and I were extremely impressed with Michael professionalism, and ability to keep the project rolling smoothly. We knew Michael was extremely qualified from previous references, and he stood up to his reputation by providing over 20 qualified buyers for our company. Not only did Michael get us top dollar, he also worked with our CPA to save us additional monies. You only get to sell your company once, so make sure you trust the best. We would highly recommend Michael .

We wanted to sell our store and make certain the long-standing employees who helped us grow our brand would be taken care of. It was important to us that the business broker we hired would understand that, and work to find a buyer that had similar management style as we did. We feel we have found that in Pat, and we are eager to see him grow the store beyond what it is today. He will do well! Michael understood the many parts of selling our business and did a great job navigating the many moving parts and explaining the process and solving the issues as they arose. We would recommend Michael again.

Michael has a passion for not only helping his client, but by communicating efficiently and effectively to make sure that both parties can come to an agreement. Edible Arrangements, thanks to its amazing guests, is propelling into it’s future. Continuing to provide delicious chocolate covered fruit in beautiful arrangements, but also now serving smoothies, donuts, delicious drip cakes and so much more! So much fun and excitement thanks to our amazing guests!

Great experience working with Michael on purchase of our 34,000 sq ft warehouse facility with multiple tenants. He handled all the details including putting leases in place for current tenants to satisfy bank requirements. Professional and transparent each step of the process is what I appreciated, very easy to deal with and understand. Thanks Michael, looking forward to the next deal together!

I contacted Michael through a referral from my attorney. Michael immediately came down and evaluated my real estate and business, and within 1 month was able to secure an offer from a qualified buyer. Michael worked hard to handle all elements of the transaction. He is truly a seasoned professional who knows exactly what needs to happen, and when, to make sure a complicated transaction is successful. When looking to sell your company or real estate, I would highly recommend Michael .

We appreciate your professionalism and expertise on the sale of our building. You really were aggressive and got the job done for us. Your ability to obtain so much interest in our old building was impressive, and we know you put in many many hours to get the job done for us. We will be contacting you in all future ventures that we may have.

Thank you for helping us sell our greenhouse in Pulaski. We know that you spent a lot of time on this. Although this is a sad day for us because we have worked so hard growing this greenhouse business to what it is today, we know it is time. Thank you for taking the time to understand what we wanted to get out of this sale and for always being there for our questions and concerns. We hope Jon has as many great years here as we have had. Thanks again!

John did a great job representing both buyer and seller interests in our closing. Not only did he coordinate the standard Buyer and Sellers activities he also kept the pressure on the bankers and attorneys in getting the deal done. Certainly John’s contacts in the banking industry played a significant role in getting our funding and ultimately closing.

As a business owner, life can be incredibly busy and often doesn’t allow time to take on additional opportunities. I am this business owner, but with the help of a highly qualified business broker these opportunities are possible. This business broker is John Foster. He has successfully helped me (the buyer) and the seller to get the information we needed to close the transaction on time and in a positive manner. This can be confusing to someone new to a business purchase, but John helped both parties come together to get the sale done. Many thanks John, I am looking forward to moving my new salon to the next level!

John at Creative Business Services was a great choice in my decision to hire a business broker to sell my hair salon. John did a great job in pricing my business, finding a qualified buyer and organizing the closing and the attorneys involved. I would recommend John and Creative Business Services to anyone looking to sell their business.

After attempting to sell our restaurant with two agents, including trying to sell it ourselves, we were fortunate to meet your broker, John Foster. He approached us of his own initiative and asked if he could take over the account, saying he was confident he could sell it. We liked John and his approach to the problem, and so we agreed. He has been a source of comfort to us over the past year and a great morale booster when we would become discouraged. He always kept our best interest at the fore. We would recommend John to any business looking for a broker with integrity and who gets results! We thank John for all his hard work.

After having our business listed with another broker for two years we contacted John Foster. He took the time to sit down and help us put a realistic value on our business and property. It was less than a year and the business was sold and we were able to retire. The transaction went off smoothly and professionally. In the depressed market that our business was located we feel less than a year is a remarkable feat. Thank you John and your entire staff for you help.

I had the pleasure of working with John Foster while buying The Flower Gallery. Once I made the decision to buy the business, John was extremely helpful in finding me the resources I needed to get the ball rolling. I had very little knowledge when it came to purchasing a business and couldn’t have had better broker than John. He made sure I had all the information I needed throughout the whole buying process; he even assisted me in finding a great attorney to help me with all the technical and legal aspects of the purchase. Even though my buying situation was a little out of the ordinary, John was very willing to work with me. He kept me on my toes when I often times would get caught up in the stresses of the process. Aside from being very knowledgeable and organized, John made sure I could reach him whenever I needed to–by phone, e-mail, text message… whatever worked for me, worked for him! It was a great opportunity for me and I couldn’t have imagined a more suited person to work with on the purchase than John!

Thank you for your service, and professionalism in selling our motel. We were very pleased with the performance of John Foster and Creative Business Services in coordinating everything with the buyer, bank and us. I know the last 2 weeks before closing were very stressful on both of us, but things got done. We are very happy that the motel is sold and Joe and I can finally retire. Thank you again John and hope you have a good year.

After recently completing the purchase of our new property I can say without hesitation, it would never have been possible without the assistance of John Foster. John was professional, patient, courteous & accommodating through every step of the process. He made everything simple. I will without question be using John for future deals. I wholeheartedly recommend him.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Creative Business Servieds for their hard work facilitating the sell of our property at 701 Mason Street in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. I would especially like to acknowledge the hard work that Gary Van Sistine put into the process and followed it through to the end. There were many hurdles that needed to be addressed and they were addressed professionally. I would highly recommend Gary Van Sistine and the staff at Creative Business Services to any of my colleagues.

I know one thing, there is a lot more involved than I expected in buying a business. I assumed it was similar to buying a house so I did not think that there was a lot more I had to do on my end. But what I found out, there are so many legalities involved and it is wise to look into things further with a lawyer and or a business consultant. Just seems that there were a lot of things involved that I did not expect.

Gary Van Sistine was a great help in buying Moe’s. He did an excellent job trying to keep all the pieces together. Thank you for all you did!

I would like to thank Creative Business Brokers and especially Gary Van Sistine. We contacted Gary Van Sistine indicating we were looking to purchase an existing CPA firm in the area. Gary was able to find a firm for us: Evans & Race Co. He was extremely diligent in the back and forth negotiations for our purchasing Evans and Race Co. He was conscientious in obtaining all records we required and answering any questions we had. Thanks to Gary’s help, we did purchase Evans and Race Co. on September 15, 2008.

The sale of our business involved some very difficult and lengthy legal negotiations as we dissolved a partnership. It was very frustrating for us, but our agents, Gary and Michael, didn’t panic. They kept everything moving forward, always communicating with the buyers and lawyers and accountants from both sides. Without them, we wouldn’t have gotten the deal done. A very professional team.

The sale of my building began as a casual conversation with a customer – Gary Van Sistine – who is a business broker with Creative Business Brokers. Tom commented: I was planning to sell the building in the future, but Gary explained he had two potential buyers now. So one month later we closed the sale…with a full price offer. “I feel like I won the lottery…and I was very pleased with the service!!

We worked with Gary Van Sistine of Creative Business Services. Gary helped us complete all the details and we closed the sale successfully! Also I asked Gary to look for additional units for sale. Thanks, Gary! Good Job!

A& J Mobility owner, John Kupsh, said he was pleased with Creative Business Services broker Gary Van Sistine’s ability to bring the buyer & seller together to work out differences and get a satisfactory transaction completed.

I want to thank you for the outstanding service you personally provided throughout our purchase of the Somerset Inn & Suites. There were many times that we felt that you rose above the call of duty in our behalf. When the time comes to list our property and/or look for another, we will certainly want to retain your services.

Congratulations on your closing the sale of Jim’s Cheese Pantry this week. This is an important step in the revival of this sleeping giant in Wisconsin dairy and cutting operation. Convinced that Chip and Steve can and will institute the changes needed for this company to grow and prosper with new services and destinations for Wisconsin dairy. They are already DBIC clients. The new owners from just two meetings have proven they have the skills and determination to succeed. Chip especially understands the challenge. Thank you for your critical role in this transaction and other projects you are leading to strengthen Wisconsin dairy. Relocations remain one of my great interests at DBIC. We are honored to have your organization a DBIC client, and trust together our organizations can bring new life to companies that are stagnant and tired with new leadership that wants to build profitable brands.

Being from Rockford, Illinois, we needed an advisory firm to help us select and acquire a firm that met our perimeters. Not only did Creative Business Services do just that, but we were very impressed with the professionalism and attentiveness to detail that was needed to make this transaction happen.