RE/MAX All-Pro is a real estate brokerage firm franchise representing both buyers and sellers of single-family homes and commercial real estate properties across the United States. As the single-most recognized brand in the industry, agents are more knowledgeable, productive, and regularly voted as the most trusted. This brand recognition is what attracted Thomas Hatzis to the opportunity of becoming the next RE/MAX All-Pro owner of not just one location, but three locations in Illinois, overseeing 78 agents and 12 employees.
Before transitioning into business ownership, Thomas had been working in commercial banking for 20 years. However, he always had an entrepreneurial spirit, keeping an eye out for potential opportunities. It wasn’t until 2024 that he found a listing online for RE/MAX All-Pro and inquired to learn more. Thomas knew that it was already a big undertaking of having little to no entrepreneurial experience to jump right into managing three offices, and he’s grateful that the transition was made smoother with the support of the management team already in place.
Although Thomas had experience in banking and was familiar with the SBA products, he didn’t know who the right partner would be to help him secure the financing needed for this business acquisition. That was until he reached out to a former colleague who connected him with Dennis Wagner, Business Development Officer at FNB Small Business Finance. Dennis immediately took on the goals of the business acquisition and worked closely with Thomas to achieve those goals. There are many benefits of SBA lending, but the flexible structure to issue loans based on the value of the enterprise and not just hard assets was among the most beneficial features for Thomas. From the initial meeting to the loan application closing, Dennis was by Thomas' side and was incredibly knowledgeable, communicative, and responsive. By working with the team at FNB Small Business Finance, Thomas knew what to expect during the loan process from the very beginning and understood what items were necessary to provide to help speed the process along. With a unique perspective of already knowing much about SBA lending, Thomas said with confidence that Dennis and the team at FNB Small Business Finance are one of the greats in SBA lending and were a true pleasure to work with.
Thomas recalls his experience:
I knew I was going to be in good hands as soon as I was introduced to FNB Small Business Finance. Working with Dennis made the entire SBA loan process so much smoother, and I know who to call when I’m ready to grow my business in the future. They were more than just a bank that funded my loan; they felt like a partner in my business journey.
From Dennis and the entire team at FNB, we wish Thomas and RE/MAX All-Pro much success!
