We Sell Restaurants is proud to announce that multiple members of our team have been recognized with prestigious awards from the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) for their exceptional achievements in 2024.

As the nation’s leading restaurant brokerage firm, these awards underscore the consistent results and professional excellence delivered by our brokers across the country.

Recognizing Deal-Making Excellence

The IBBA’s Member Excellence Awards celebrate the highest-performing business brokers in the industry. Among the honorees this year:

• • • • • • • • • • Eric Gagnon, President and Co-Founder of We Sell Restaurants, received the IBBA Outstanding Producer Award for closing qualified business transactions totaling over $1 million.
• Robin Gagnon, CEO and Co-Founder, was honored with both the IBBA Chairman’s Circle Award and the IBBA Deal Maker Award, recognizing over $3 million in total deal volume and more than 10 qualified business sales.
• Justin Scotto, Franchise Partner for the Carolinas, also received the Chairman’s Circle Award and the Deal Maker Award, placing him among the top brokers in the country.

“We are deeply committed to helping restaurant buyers and sellers achieve their goals,” said Robin Gagnon. “Each transaction reflects trust placed in us, and we’re proud to represent our clients at the highest level.”

Justin Scotto added, “This recognition reflects the trust restaurant owners across the Carolinas have placed in us. It’s rewarding to support clients through one of the most important transitions of their professional lives—selling or buying a restaurant.”

What These Awards Represent

Presented annually, IBBA awards highlight more than just transaction volume. These are real stories of buyers and sellers making life-changing decisions and creating successful exit strategies or entering the business and realizing the American dream of business ownership.

For the highly skilled team at We Sell Restaurants, they reflect the ability to navigate complex deals with professionalism, accuracy, and client care. The Chairman’s Circle and Deal Maker Awards, in particular, are benchmarks of sustained success in a highly specialized field.

“These awards reflect not only exceptional deal-making but the highest standards of professionalism in our industry,” said Erin Crawford, Chair of the IBBA. “We commend each award winner for their dedication, integrity, and commitment to excellence.”

IBBA awards are based on independently verified transaction data and performance benchmarks across a global network of brokers. With over 3,000 members in the association, only a small percentage achieve this level of recognition annually.

Nationwide Brokerage, Local Expertise

The transactions completed by our award-winning brokers in 2024 spanned a wide range of restaurant types, including franchise resales, multi-unit operators, independent concepts, and second-generation restaurant spaces. These transactions often involve significant coordination with landlords, franchisors, attorneys, and lenders—making specialized expertise a must.

With brokers in nearly every U.S. market, We Sell Restaurants offers clients a consistent and proven approach, powered by a nationally certified team. Every Certified Restaurant Broker® is trained in our proprietary system and equipped with tools to manage the full lifecycle of a restaurant transaction.

Spotlight on the Certified Restaurant Broker® Designation

Unlike general business brokers, a Certified Restaurant Broker® undergoes specific education in the foodservice industry. Training covers restaurant operations, valuation methodology, licensing and permit transfer, lease negotiation, franchisor approval processes, and deal compliance.

We Sell Restaurants is the only brokerage brand in the country to offer this specialized certification as part of its franchise system. This designation ensures every broker can confidently represent both buyers and sellers and bring clarity to even the most complex restaurant transactions.

For clients, it means working with a true industry specialist—not just a generalist who happens to list restaurants.

Outpacing Industry Standards

While the average business broker may complete only a few transactions per year—often with limited support or infrastructure—We Sell Restaurants brokers benefit from a team model, national marketing systems, and ongoing education. The result: higher deal volume, faster closings, and more successful outcomes for clients.

Brokers affiliated with We Sell Restaurants regularly exceed the performance benchmarks recognized by the IBBA. In fact, in 2024, the company saw record-breaking deal volume across multiple regions, including the Southeast, Midwest, and Western U.S. Many of these listings sold in under 60 days—a pace virtually unheard of in most brokerage environments.

Interested in Buying or Selling?

Whether you're planning an exit or searching for your next opportunity, working with an award-winning broker makes all the difference. We Sell Restaurants provides expert representation, accurate valuation, and end-to-end transaction support.

If you're a seller, you'll work with a Certified Restaurant Broker® who understands your business and your goals. If you're a buyer, you'll gain access to vetted opportunities nationwide—many with full financials, asset details, and videos.

👉 Browse Active Listings
👉 Learn How We Help Sellers

Franchise Opportunity: Become a Restaurant Broker

If you're an entrepreneur seeking a rewarding career in the restaurant industry—but without the long hours of ownership—consider becoming a We Sell Restaurants franchisee.

Franchise partners receive full training to become Certified Restaurant Brokers®, along with national brand support, a proven system, and access to exclusive listing tools. It’s a career that blends real estate, business, and hospitality, all with banker’s hours and significant income potential.

👉 Explore the Franchise Opportunity
👉 Hear from Our Franchisees

About the IBBA

The International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) is the world’s largest nonprofit association for the business brokerage industry. Founded in 1984, it supports over 3,000 members with education, resources, certifications, and networking opportunities. The IBBA awards the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation to qualifying brokers and recognizes top performers annually through its Member Excellence Awards Program. Learn more at www.ibba.org.