Franco Ferrari

Franco Ferrari is the founder and a Broker Associate of Sunbelt Business Brokers of Orlando, with more than 40 years of experience helping business owners buy and sell privately held companies throughout Central Florida.

Franco began his business brokerage career in 1985 after previously owning and operating Casa Mia, a group of 13 Italian restaurants in the Orlando area. His firsthand experience as a business owner, including the process of selling his own businesses, led him to establish Ferrari Business Brokers. In 1993, he joined the Sunbelt Business Brokers network at the invitation of its founder, Ed Pendarvis, establishing the first Sunbelt franchise in the state of Florida.

Throughout his career, Franco has sold more than 1,000 businesses across a wide range of industries. His experience includes business sales, valuations, negotiations, and ownership transitions, providing him with a practical understanding of the challenges and considerations faced by both buyers and sellers.

Franco holds several professional designations, including Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), Certified Business Counselor (CBC), Certified Florida Business Intermediary (CFBI), and Accredited Business Intermediary (ABI). He has also served as an officer and member of the State Board of Directors of the Florida Business Brokers Association (FBBA), as well as President of its Central Florida Chapter. His involvement in the industry has included training and mentoring business brokers and contributing to professional education.

Beyond business brokerage, Franco has been involved in supporting entrepreneurship and business education throughout Central Florida. He served on the advisory board of the Disney Entrepreneur Center, volunteered with SCORE, and conducted educational seminars on buying, selling, and preparing businesses for ownership transitions. He also hosted The Business Advisor, a weekly radio program on WFLA, for 11 years, sharing practical information and advice with business owners and prospective buyers.