Transworld Business Advisors of Albany: Helping Local Businesses Transition, Grow, and Thrive

For many small business owners, the journey of entrepreneurship is all-consuming. From the early days of building a brand to the long grind of day-to-day operations, the focus is often entirely on growth and survival. What frequently gets overlooked is what comes next: how to transition, exit, or sell a business when the time is right. This is where Stephen Tomb and Shawn Pepe of Transworld Business Advisors of Albany step in, offering expertise, guidance, and hope to entrepreneurs navigating one of the most important financial and emotional decisions of their lives.

From Business Owners to Business Brokers

Both Tomb and Pepe bring personal entrepreneurial and corporate experience to their work. Stephen Tomb previously owned a pedal cab company in Lake George, where he experienced firsthand the challenges of exiting a small business without proper guidance. That experience fueled his desire to help others avoid the pitfalls he faced. When Shawn Pepe approached him with the idea of joining Transworld, Tomb jumped at the opportunity, drawn by the mission of educating and assisting business owners in their exit strategies.

Pepe, for his part, has a long background in both corporate management and real estate. He worked in Fortune 100 companies overseeing large teams and systems, while also gaining experience as a real estate broker. Over time, he recognized a consistent problem: small business owners attempting to sell on their own rarely maximized the true value of their companies. They often prioritized tangible assets like real estate over the intangible yet vital elements—brand reputation, customer base, operating systems—that ultimately make a business valuable to buyers. This realization led Pepe to the world of business brokerage, where he saw an opportunity to bridge that gap and better serve entrepreneurs.

Why Transworld?

Transworld Business Advisors is no small player in the industry. With more than 40 years of experience, over 1,000 agents, and operations in 18 countries, the franchise has become the largest business brokerage network in the world. In fact, Transworld accounts for roughly 50% of all listings on BizBuySell, one of the most popular marketplaces for buying and selling businesses. For Tomb and Pepe, investing in the Albany franchise provided instant access to a proven system, powerful training resources, and a global network of expertise—all tools that allow them to focus on serving the Capital Region’s business community rather than reinventing the wheel.

The Local Mission: Preserving Community Businesses

What sets the Albany office apart is the team’s local mission. Tomb and Pepe are not focused on billion-dollar mergers. Their clients are the lifeblood of the regional economy—“mom-and-pop, Main Street companies” typically valued under $5 million. In fact, as they point out, nearly 80% of businesses nationwide fall under the $1 million mark. These are the restaurants, service providers, shops, and family-run enterprises that shape local communities.

One of their core goals is to keep these businesses from closing when owners are ready to retire or move on. As Tomb explained, whenever a business sells in the Adirondacks, he celebrates—not just for the owner, but for the community that gets to keep its jobs, services, and identity intact. With the looming “silver tsunami” of baby boomer retirements, an estimated $11 trillion in small business value is expected to transfer over the next decade. Without proper planning, many of these businesses risk simply shutting their doors. Transworld’s role is to connect sellers with qualified buyers who can continue to grow what others have built.

Guiding Owners Through the Exit Process

Selling a business is far from simple. Many owners assume they can sell in a matter of months, only to discover it requires years of preparation. Pepe and Tomb stress the importance of creating a “runway” of two to three years before selling. This allows time to clean up financials, establish standard operating procedures, and put proper systems in place—steps that make the business more attractive and valuable to buyers.

The advisors also provide valuations, a service that helps owners understand the true worth of their company. For a fee of around $4,000 to $5,000, they analyze tax returns, revenue, expenses, and industry benchmarks. Beyond the number itself, the valuation process reveals where a business is strong and where it can improve, giving owners actionable insights whether they plan to sell immediately or years down the road.

Confidentiality is another cornerstone of their work. Business owners often fear that if word gets out their company is for sale, employees, customers, and competitors could react negatively. Transworld safeguards that trust by ensuring financial details are never broadcast publicly and by carefully vetting potential buyers before making connections.

Beyond Selling: Problem Solvers for Entrepreneurs

Importantly, Tomb and Pepe don’t just help sell businesses. They see themselves as problem solvers for entrepreneurs at any stage. Sometimes, selling isn’t the right move. For certain clients, franchising may be a better way to grow. For others, restructuring or documenting internal processes may increase both value and peace of mind. The Albany team leverages Transworld’s global network to provide resources, answer unusual questions, and ensure their clients make the best possible decisions.

A Lasting Impact on the Capital Region

In every case, their work has ripple effects across the Capital Region economy. By keeping businesses open, facilitating smooth transitions, and empowering entrepreneurs to realize the full value of their hard work, Transworld Business Advisors of Albany is strengthening the small-business backbone of Upstate New York.

For Tomb and Pepe, it’s more than transactions. It’s about protecting legacies, preserving local jobs, and ensuring that the businesses that define our communities don’t simply disappear when owners move on. “We genuinely feel like we’re actually helping people who deserve help the most,” they said. “They’re working every day, building something they’re proud of, and we want to make sure that effort pays off.”