Dallas–Fort Worth · Texas
Ferris business brokers and M&A advisors
For Ferris owners ready to sell a business, MDR & Associates acts for the seller as M&A advisor, handling everything between the first valuation and the last signature. Ferris lies on Interstate 45 about 20 miles south of downtown Dallas, straddling Ellis and Dallas counties, and since we are a Metroplex firm, meeting you in person at your company or somewhere private is simple.
The City that Bricked the World
Ferris earned that nickname through its kilns. By 1914 the town had six brick plants alongside cotton gins and gristmills, about fifty businesses in all, and four brick plants were still running in the 1950s. Founded in 1874 and incorporated in 1882, it was named for Judge Justus Wesley Ferris of Waxahachie, and it still stages a Brick Festival at the end of every April.
The 2020 census counted 2,788 residents. The spread of the Dallas–Fort Worth area and the building of Interstate 45 have since brought faster growth. For an owner, that adds up to a manufacturing heritage, a direct interstate link to Dallas and a location inside the Metroplex's pool of buyers.
Ferris at a glance
- CountyEllis County and Dallas County
- Metro areaDallas–Fort Worth
- Companies we sell$3M–$100M
- Typical transaction3–9 months
- Fee if we do not closeNone
What buyers check in a Ferris manufacturer or trade company
Acquirers of production companies focus on equipment condition, unused capacity, the skills of the people on the floor and how concentrated the customer list is. Trade and service companies are judged on their crews, their recurring work and how much the owner still does personally. Our manufacturing page goes into detail, and Smith Tool & Mfg. is one example of a manufacturer the firm has sold.
No buyer sees your name until they register, sign our confidentiality agreement and demonstrate the money to close. Meanwhile we assemble the financial recast, the marketing package and an HD video, then work to bring in more than one letter of intent so bidders compete on price and terms rather than one buyer setting both.
Ten steps, run from close by
Our ten-step process opens with a no-cost discovery meeting; after studying three years of financials, we hand you our estimated value range, low end and high end. Typical timing from signed engagement to money in your account is three to nine months. One of the firm's principals conducts the negotiating, and we are paid only on a completed sale. Owners elsewhere south of Dallas can find more on our Dallas–Fort Worth region page.
What we sell in and around Ferris
Industry decides the buyer, the multiple and the diligence. These are the four sectors we work in most.
Manufacturing
Equipment, real estate, backlog and customer concentration decide what a manufacturer is worth.
How buyers value itHome Services
Plumbing, HVAC, roofing, landscaping and other home service companies — where repeat customers, crews and technicians decide the price.
How buyers value itDistribution & Wholesale
Inventory, working capital and supplier agreements decide what a distributor is worth.
How buyers value itBusiness Services
Recurring revenue and owner dependence separate a two-times business from a six-times business.
How buyers value itStraight answers
Questions Ferris owners ask before they sell
Answered in full by the advisors who run the sales. Every Dallas–Fort Worth answer.
The process
How a Ferris sale runs
Ten steps in four stages, typically three to nine months. Click any step to see it in full.
- Prepare
- Go to market
- Negotiate
- Close
We also work with owners near Ferris
Questions owners in Ferris ask
Will a buyer pay more because my Ferris company is so close to Dallas?
Location helps in practical ways: a buyer based in the Metroplex can visit easily and may already serve the same customers. Price still follows earnings, customer mix and how well the company runs without you. We present those strengths first and use the location as a supporting point in negotiations.
My company makes building materials. Do buyers still want that kind of manufacturer?
They look for manufacturers with steady orders, sound equipment and a customer list that is not tied to one account. If your company has those, it can attract both strategic and financial buyers. We show order history, capacity and margins clearly so each buyer prices the business on facts instead of assumptions.
Talk to an advisor about your Ferris company
Four fields, a reply the same business day, and nothing shared with anyone. If you would rather talk, call (855) 637-2776.