We had the good fortune of connecting with Yvette Criner and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Yvette, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I believe that when you take a risk, you step out of your comfort zone without knowing what lies ahead. It involves trust—not just in the outcome, but in yourself, your abilities, and sometimes something greater. This trust in yourself and abilities and vision forms the foundation of faith. In business, risk-taking is essentially an exercise in faith, as it requires believing in your vision and your capacity to turn ideas into reality despite of. I literally have walked by faith in every business I have ever started and in life in general. You never know what’s just around the corner, but do we stop? No, we keep walking.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I started my career as a business broker, I was aware of two things. First, the industry is vastly underrepresented by minorities. Second, being a Female African American Business Broker Under 50 sets me apart in a field dominated by white males in their mid-50s. Despite the odds, I not only gained accreditation but now proudly own two firms—Childcare Sales and Consulting, and Texas Businesses For Sale LLC.and The Professional Business Broker Association which provides comminity, resources and training to business broker.
Starting without any formal training or experience I was brokering before I know what Brokering was. My success didn’t come without mistakes. With no formal training, in valuating and selling businesses, I could have made huge mistakes, I was very lucky. Even after completing two Business Broker training programs, I doubted my abilities and made errors in choosing mentors who weren’t as successful as they appeared. Most brokers average 9-12 listings a year; I secured 26 listings within my first 90 days. Yet, I was having a hard time accepting that I was on to something… I was pretty good at this. God was showing m favor,
One of my proudest achievements is introducing Business Brokering to more minorities. It’s a well-researched fact that the average business broker is a white male in his late 50s. By breaking into this field, I aim to change lives and build generational wealth among underrepresented communities. This career has the potential to generate substantial income, as evidenced by the $100,000 commissions seen in just one month.
My path hasn’t been easy, especially without a college degree. However, I’ve been a business owner since the age of 19, owning six childcare centers by 35. Navigating unknown territories has always been challenging, but faith, favor, and continuous learning have been my guiding principles. I immerse myself in reading, podcasts, and research to bridge any knowledge gap. I love conferences and workshops.
The key lessons I’ve learned along the way are rooted in faith and focus. Where God gives you a vision, He will also make provisions. Faith and fear cannot coexist, so I remain steadfast in my vision, unwavering in faith.
In my first year as a business broker, I made over $500K. My passion for this profession drives me to show others how they can achieve similar success. I love helping sellers reach their goals and buyers start their new chapters. Balancing work and life, I find immense joy in what I do, and I’m excited about the future.
I want you to know that business brokering is more than just a job for me—it’s a mission to empower minorities and foster economic growth within our communities. This is about legacy and generational wealth. When I help an owner sell instead of shutting down his life work and closing the doors after 30 years, its so rewarding! I just helped that family’s legacy continue, When I introduce a 30 year old single mom making 35k per year to business brokerage and she makes 50k her first month in commissions, I’m changing her life, helping her create generational wealth. Its Empowerment. Thank you for taking the time to learn about my journey and what sets me apart in this dynamic field.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ok So we are going to first stop by the galleria to get some things. Lunch at Davis Street at Hermann Park , Gotta eat at Papas Bar b Q,. We will have to get dressed up and to to Empire State Jazz Cafe, Im starting to love life music, For Brunch we have to go to Gracie’s. Lakewood Church. I love Gangnam Spa. We could stay all day there and then go to Perrys Steak House. I love a day at the Aquarium Amd Id lov love it if she would come for the rodeo!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
At 23, I was a widow, My 25-year-old husband passed away in a motorcycle accident. About two years later, I found a letter written to me a few years before his death. In it, it stated “As soon as you stop telling yourself that you can’t, you will be able to accomplish anything that you put your mind to do.” He believed in me, more that I believed in myself. It motivated me then and it still motivates me. I look at this letter every time I feel doubt in myself, His encouragement to me has fueled my success.
Website: info@tpbba.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvettecriner/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvTlfxqTN_NNQpB0jSGR0Ag
Other: https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-broker/yvette-criner/texas-business-for-sale-l-l-c/38945/
Image Credits
Yvette Criner