From a single office in Charleston, South Carolina, Sunbelt began began helping buyers find businesses for sale in 1978. In 1991, Ed Pendarvis, Sunbelt's founder, began partnering with local entrepreneurs to open additional Sunbelt offices throughout the Carolinas. In each new city, Sunbelt quickly became the dominant business brokerage firm thanks to its unique approach to the market and its proprietary methodologies. Recognizing the potential appeal of offering business brokers a proven operating system and brand name with which to associate themselves, Sunbelt began selling franchises in 1993. Sunbelt is the largest business brokerage firm in the world, making it the dominant force in the industry. The network has evolved into a business brokerage network including 325 offices throughout the United States and 30 foreign countries. We now broker the sale of approximately 4, 000 businesses each year. Our 1, 400 business brokerage professionals are dedicated to providing our buyers and sellers with superior service throughout the entire buying or selling process. Sunbelt's experienced methods make the transition smooth and uncomplicated. more... See more text