The IBBA Q1 2026 Market Pulse is out. 300 brokers. 203 closed transactions. As Georgia's IBBA-credentialed restaurant broker, Jimmy Carey decodes every number that matters for Atlanta and Savannah sellers: SDE multiples, buyer proximity, the 68% exit planning gap, what exit planning actually involves, time to close, AI and valuations, and what the Boomer liquidity wave means for Georgia restaurant owners right now. Real broker intelligence translated locally. Serving Atlanta,

The Savannah up and coming restaurant market is backed by seven converging demand drivers — from 12.9 million annual visitors to a $4.5 billion port expansion to a wave of new hotels — that are drawing national operators south and creating favorable exit conditions for Savannah restaurant owners who understand the timing.

The Atlanta restaurant market in 2026 is moving — but not for every seller. Atlanta was named a top-5 market nationally. Q3 2025 showed the fastest deal velocity since 2017. Georgia leads in buyer inquiries. But 42% of operators weren't profitable in 2025, and overpriced listings are sitting. Here's the full picture — and the insight most sellers miss: the gap between your tax return and true SDE may be the most valuable number you're not looking at. Serving Atlanta, Savannah