Antoinette Gonzales Norris is an award-winning business broker with more than 35 years of experience in business, both in leadership positions and as a business owner. Raised and educated in the San Francisco Bay Area, Antoinette founded her business brokerage firm, The Bay Advisors, in 2019 after successfully selling a former business she had built from the ground up. That selling process was an invaluable experience for her and sparked her interest in helping other business owners through the often challenging, but ultimately rewarding, process of selling a business and transitioning onto a new adventure. As an affiliate of Zoom Business Brokers, Antoinette is fortunate to work with a team of highly accomplished professionals who embody more than 100 years of collective real-world brokerage experience across all industries.
Prior to starting her first company, Antoinette worked in sales and hi-tech, eventually managing more than 80 employees at an Apple customer service center in Austin, Texas. She left Apple to tap into her entrepreneurial spirt and start her first company, where she was solely responsible for financials and accounting, HR and payroll, marketing, competition, and all daily operations. With a desire to return to the Bay Area, Antoinette put her company on the market and, with the help of a business broker, successfully sold her business and moved back to the Bay Area and into sales.
The experience of selling her business was never far from her thoughts as she was drawn to the idea of helping other business owners sell their businesses by offering expert advice and honest, reliable service. For that reason, Antoinette founded The Bay Advisors, and now handles the entire planning process and successful sale of businesses—for the best price—while sellers continue to run their day-to-day operations.
“I’ve always loved helping people, and what appeals to me most as a broker is working directly with business owners and assuring them that their dreams can happen. I’ve sold a thriving business, so I know the landscape and what sellers can expect during the journey ahead. I help them navigate the complexities of selling a business, blending brokerage expertise with a compassionate approach that represents the very best of what my industry can be.”
Selling can be a painful, emotional, and stressful process. With honesty and great respect, Antoinette makes it clear, from the very first meeting, that she is there to help her clients realize success if their expectations are realistic. In an industry of extremes, she has gained a reputation for trustworthiness and excellence among her clients and colleagues.
Antoinette is a lifelong learner and active networker who stays current on industry trends, market shifts, and ongoing education. She holds a B.A. from the University of Santa Clara and has earned both the Certified Business Broker (CBB) designation from the California Association of Business Brokers and the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) credential through the International Business Brokers Association.
Please contact Antoinette for a complimentary consultation and qualified broker opinion of value, and prepare to reimagine your future.
