You’ve Built It. Now Let’s Maximize Its Value.
Operator-Turned-Advisor Before advising others on selling, I built and sold businesses myself.
Built. Scaled. Sold.
Operator-Turned-Advisor Before advising others on selling, I built and sold businesses myself.
Built. Scaled. Sold.
Hi, I'm Denise Houghtaling.
Before I became a business broker, I was a business owner.
I've personally bought, built, operated, and sold multiple businesses across Florida.
Today I help owners maximize value, attract qualified buyers, and confidently transition into their next chapter.
🏆 #1 BBF Top Co-Broker SWFL 🏆
🏆 Deal Maker IBBA Award Winner 🏆
🏆 Top 50 BBF Broker Statewide Award Winner 🏆
🏆 Chairman's Circle IBBA Award Winner 🏆
🏆 Only Female Broker to win IBBA Deal Maker & Chairman's Circle Statewide 🏆
🏆 27 Businesses Sold in 24 months 🏆
🏆 CMAP | CBI | CEPA | ABI | SVA 🏆
🏆 Business Owner Turned Advisor 🏆
🏆 Director At Large - Business Brokers of Florida 🏆
Most business brokers help owners sell businesses.
I’ve built, bought, scaled, and sold businesses myself.
As a business owner, I understand the years of hard work, risks, and sacrifices that go into building something valuable. That’s why my approach goes beyond simply listing a business for sale. I help owners understand what their business is worth, prepare for a successful transition, attract qualified buyers, and negotiate the strongest possible outcome.
Whether you’re considering selling next year or simply planning for the future, my goal is simple: help you maximize value, protect your legacy, and move confidently into what’s next.
Real experience. Real conversations. Real results.
My Why:
Having experienced the challenges, risks, and rewards of business ownership firsthand, I know that selling a business is one of the most important decisions an owner will ever make. It is often the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and commitment. My mission is to guide business owners through that transition with confidence, helping them maximize value, achieve their goals, and preserve the legacy they have created.

✅ I've personally owned and sold businesses
✅ Operator perspective—not just broker perspective
✅ Experience on both the buyer and seller side
✅ Strategic exit planning
✅ Strong buyer network
✅ Confidential process
✅ Proven negotiation experience
✅ 25 transactions closed in 24 months
Rooted in SWFL
Southwest Florida has been home to my family since 1973, and business ownership and development have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father, Gary Spaniak, was a respected developer who helped shape the region through projects such as Coralwood Mall in Cape Coral, the North Fort Myers Winn-Dixie Shopping Center, and numerous other commercial developments throughout Southwest Florida.
Growing up in an entrepreneurial family gave me an early understanding of what it takes to build, grow, and invest in successful businesses. I later became a business owner myself, operating within Southwest Florida's construction and service industries, where I gained firsthand experience managing growth, overcoming challenges, creating value, and ultimately achieving successful exits.
Today, I bring that lifetime of business experience, local market knowledge, and entrepreneurial perspective to every client I serve. Having personally built, scaled, and sold businesses, I understand the decisions, risks, and opportunities business owners face—and I'm passionate about helping them maximize the value of what they've worked so hard to create.
BUILT. SCALED. SOLD.
I strive to stay in communication with my clients. Have a question about how I can match your specific needs? Send me a message, or give me a call. I am always happy to meet new customers!
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Denise Houghtaling
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