Invest Local: A guide to superior investment returns in your own community

David Barnett is a 1998 graduate of the Williams School of Business and Economics at Bishop’s University, and a graduate of UNBSJ’s Electronic Commerce Management Program. Barnett is a deal making and small business financing expert. From 1998 to 2005, Mr. Barnett was a major account representative in the world of print media. This opportunity gave him an insight into the particular challenges of small & medium businesses as he dealt daily with the owners of these companies. In 2005, Mr. Barnett left the publishing industry to start a small business with a partner. Their venture was an immediate success. After opening, operating and building the business, an opportunity to sell presented itself in late 2006. In 2005, Barnett started acquiring and managing income properties in Moncton, NB. The portfolio grew to 4 properties over the next several years. In 2006, Mr. Barnett began building his professional consulting practice by starting Advantage Liquidity Partners Ltd. ALP Ltd. was a broker of commercial debt solutions for small and medium sized enterprises including commercial mortgages, business loans, factoring facilities, and capital leases. Working with entrepreneurs to build their companies and/or acquire other firms naturally led to the field of business brokerage. Barnett has arranged such financing for over 100 small and medium sized companies. Mr. Barnett joined an international business broker firm in 2008. In 2009, Barnett obtained his internationally-recognized professional designation in business brokerage. After completing an extensive training and testing process in 2009, Barnett was awarded the CMEA designation (Certified Machinery/ Equipment Appraiser) by the NEBB Institute. CMEAs are located throughout the United States, Canada and several other countries, and are used by charter banks, BDC, other lending institutions, accountants, lawyers, business buyers/sellers and others to provide needed financial information for a variety of reasons. Over a 3 year period, Barnett helped intermediate 35 business buy/sell transactions. In December of 2011, Barnett sold his business brokerage and began a role with a global financial institution. In addition to writing, Barnett offers full and half-day seminars on buying small businesses, preparing small businesses for sale, financing small businesses and making local investments.