top of page

Travis Bryenton is a business broker specializing in the sale of outdoor and lifestyle businesses across the United States. I work with owner-operated and founder-led companies in outdoor retail, guiding and outfitting, travel, and experience-based businesses where seasonality, inventory, location, and owner involvement materially affect value.

​

My approach is grounded in how buyers evaluate outdoor businesses — focusing on transferability, risk, and long-term durability — and is informed by work in complex specialty segments such as fly fishing, where brand, community, and operational nuance play a significant role in buyer demand.

Outdoor Industry Business Broker: Retail, Guiding & Lifestyle Companies

Types of Outdoor & Lifestyle Businesses I Represent.

​

  • Outdoor retail businesses

  • Guiding and outfitting operations

  • Adventure travel and destination-based businesses

  • Specialty consumer or lifestyle brands

  • Experience-based businesses with real estate or lease components

​

​Many outdoor businesses combine multiple revenue streams — retail, services, travel, and experiences — which requires careful positioning when preparing a business for sale.

What Buyers Look for in Outdoor & Lifestyle Businesses

​

Buyers evaluating outdoor and lifestyle businesses tend to focus on durability, transferability, and risk more than top-line growth alone. These businesses often operate across seasonal cycles, rely on physical locations or destination appeal, and blend retail, services, and experiences in ways that require careful positioning during a sale.

Key factors buyers typically evaluate include:

  • Consistency of cash flow across seasons and demand cycles

  • Inventory management and ongoing working capital requirements

  • Real estate or lease stability, particularly where location drives customer behavior

  • Owner involvement and how transferable day-to-day operations are post-sale

  • Brand positioning, customer loyalty, and repeat demand

  • Scalability versus lifestyle dependence and operational complexity

​

Understanding how buyers assess these factors helps sellers prepare their business for the market, address perceived risks early, and align with buyers who are a realistic fit for the business.​​

Why Specialization Matters in Outdoor Business Sales

 

Outdoor and lifestyle businesses are not a single category, even when they appear similar on the surface. Retail-focused operations, guiding and outfitting businesses, travel and destination companies, and experience-based brands each carry different risk profiles, valuation drivers, and buyer expectations.

​

A specialized approach to outdoor business sales recognizes how factors such as seasonality, inventory mix, location dependence, owner involvement, and customer loyalty influence both value and buyer confidence. Generalist brokers often focus primarily on financial performance, while overlooking operational and cultural elements that materially affect how buyers evaluate these businesses.

​

By understanding how different outdoor business models are underwritten and transferred, sellers can position their business more accurately, reduce friction during buyer diligence, and attract buyers who are a realistic fit for the business — not just the highest initial offer.

Nationwide Representation

​

I represent outdoor and lifestyle businesses nationwide. Depending on the business model, location, and the owner’s goals, the right buyer may be local, regional, or national.

​

Each sale process is tailored to the specific business and market dynamics, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

Considering the Sale of an Outdoor Business?

​

If you own an outdoor or lifestyle business and are considering a sale — now or in the future — I can help you understand valuation, timing, buyer expectations, and next steps.

Initial conversations are confidential and focused on clarity: what your business may be worth, how buyers are likely to evaluate it, and what a realistic process and timeline could look like.

Outdoor & Lifestyle Industry Background

​​

Before transitioning into business brokerage, I spent many years working directly in the outdoor industry, focused on independent retailers, specialty brands, and the trade organizations that support them. I was an active member of EORA (now 360 Adventure Collective) and SEST, which provided consistent exposure to how outdoor and lifestyle businesses operate across different markets and regions.

​

During that time, I regularly attended major industry trade shows and buying events, including the Outdoor Retailer Show, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, SURF Expo, SHOT Show, and others over the years. These were not surface-level events—they were working environments where real conversations took place about inventory planning, margins, vendor relationships, seasonality, and the realities of running a specialty outdoor business.

​

A large part of my experience came from time spent inside stores, working directly with hundreds of independent retailers over the years. Being on sales floors and behind counters provided firsthand insight into how these businesses actually function—how dependent they often are on the owner, how decisions are made in real time, and where real value exists versus what doesn’t always transfer cleanly when ownership changes.

​

Over time, that exposure built more than industry knowledge—it built a deep respect for the people and communities behind these businesses, and a desire to see them continue to thrive. Many outdoor retailers are more than stores; they are community hubs, educators, and entry points into the outdoors for the next generation. Helping preserve that legacy, while still allowing owners to realize the value they’ve built, is a core reason I do this work today.

​

How this background informs my work today

That industry experience directly shapes how I advise sellers and buyers—bringing real operational context, honest positioning, and disciplined transaction execution to every outdoor and lifestyle business I represent.​​

Outdoor & Lifestyle Business Brokerage – FAQs

​

Who do you work with?

We are a business brokerage and advisory practice specializing in outdoor and lifestyle businesses, while also serving owners and buyers across a wide range of industries. We advise business sellers, buyers, and investors on confidential business sales, acquisitions, and exit planning—particularly for owner-operated and community-driven businesses throughout Georgia, the Southeast, and select national markets.

​

What types of outdoor and lifestyle businesses do you represent?

We work with fly-fishing shops, outdoor retailers, adventure outfitters, guide services, specialty fitness concepts, wellness brands, and lifestyle companies built around community and experience. Many of these businesses are owner-operated or family-owned, and we understand how to position both financial performance and brand value during a sale.

​

Do you only work with outdoor businesses?

No. While outdoor and lifestyle businesses are a core specialty, we are full-service business brokers. We represent clients across multiple industries, applying the same disciplined transaction process while tailoring strategy to each business’s unique operations, market, and goals.

​

Do you work with buyers as well as sellers?

Yes. In addition to representing business owners, we work directly with qualified buyers interested in acquiring outdoor, lifestyle, and other owner-operated businesses. If you are looking to buy a business, we help source opportunities, evaluate deals, understand valuation, and navigate the acquisition process from offer through closing. If you’re interested in buying a business, reach out and let us know.

​

Why use a broker who specializes in outdoor and lifestyle businesses?

Outdoor and lifestyle businesses often involve seasonality, owner involvement, inventory considerations, brand loyalty, and deep community ties. Our specialization is grounded in a strong background in the outdoor industry, including direct experience with outdoor retail, guide services, and lifestyle brands.

As a business broker and transaction advisor, we understand the operational realities behind outdoor brands and know how to position both financial performance and brand value clearly with qualified buyers—while protecting confidentiality, valuation, and deal structure.

​

Can you help if I’m not ready to sell yet?

Absolutely. Many owners begin planning 12–36 months before a sale. We assist with exit planning, informal valuations, operational cleanup, and growth strategies so owners can sell on their timeline—and often at a stronger valuation.

​

Do you work with family-owned or legacy businesses?

Yes. Many outdoor and lifestyle brands are family-built and community-anchored. We take a thoughtful approach that balances financial outcomes with legacy considerations, employee continuity, and long-term brand stewardship whenever possible.

​

How do you value an outdoor or lifestyle business?

We evaluate cash flow, assets, inventory, growth trends, owner involvement, risk factors, and market conditions. For outdoor businesses, we also account for seasonality, discretionary revenue, and operational dependencies to arrive at a realistic and defensible valuation.

​

Who are the buyers you work with?

Buyers include first-time owner-operators, lifestyle entrepreneurs, strategic buyers, and private operators. We pre-screen buyers for financial capacity, experience, and seriousness to ensure alignment with the business and a smooth transaction process.

​

Will my business sale remain confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of our process—especially in tight-knit outdoor and local business communities. We use NDAs, controlled marketing, and staged information release to protect employees, customers, vendors, and brand reputation.

​

Can you assist with real estate tied to the business?

Yes. In many states, including Georgia, a real estate license is required to act as a business broker, making the real estate component a natural part of the transaction. When a sale includes leased or owned real estate, we coordinate the business sale alongside lease assignments, renewals, or property sales to ensure all elements align smoothly through closing.

​

What makes your approach different?

We combine:

  • Industry-specific insight (outdoor & lifestyle businesses)

  • Strong financial and deal-structuring discipline

  • Respect for legacy, brand story, and community impact 

 

This allows us to represent businesses authentically while maximizing value and reducing transaction risk.

 

What’s the first step if I want to sell or buy a business?

It starts with a confidential conversation. We’ll discuss your goals, timeline, and business or acquisition criteria, then outline realistic next steps—whether you’re selling now, planning ahead, or actively looking to acquire a business.

bottom of page