5 Ways that Sellers Can Focus on the Positives
When you are looking to sell, always focus on the positive aspects of your business. Many business owners fail to properly make a case for the benefits of their businesses to prospective buyers. Be sure to make it clear that your business has stability and ample financial health. Let’s take a closer look.
1. Prepare in Advance
Preparing paperwork in advance will help to make sure that everything is in proper order and you’re not scrambling at the last moment. When your records are organized and correct, your prospective buyer will be able to truly see the value of your business. Buyers will also like to know that you have robust accounting processes that they can rely on in the future.
You should also make sure that inventory is in stock and that any necessary upkeep has been done. All of these updates are part of the big picture when it comes to presenting your business in the best light to buyers.
2. Reveal Your Methods of Operations
You’ll also want to demonstrate that you have a solid formula for a successful business. Buyers love to see items in place like procedures manuals, as they reveal the routine tasks necessary to run the business. Anything you can provide that will help the buyer understand how to successfully run your business will help them understand its advantages.
3. Keep Things Consistent
During the sales process, you’ll want to be sure to maintain regular operations. If prospective buyers see any kind of dip in success, this could negatively impact your deal. Selling a business is an all-encompassing process, and it can be next to impossible to handle all the associated tasks while still putting all the necessary time and energy into your business.
Additionally, you will want to absolutely make sure confidentiality is maintained. A breach of confidentiality, whether to employees or to competitors, can quickly sabotage your deal. There are countless instances where a deal fell through due to a breach in confidentiality.
4. Get an Outside Perspective
What is the best possible light for your business? Since you’re involved in the day to day running of the business, it is hard to have an outside perspective. Plus having never sold a business before, it can be hard to know what buyers will respond positively to. That is a great reason to work with a business broker or M&A advisor. They have years of experience knowing what attracts and deters buyers. They will help you to emphasize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
While emphasizing the positives, you will of course want to be sure to be transparent about issues affecting your business. Otherwise, the lack of knowledge can come back to haunt you. When it comes to negative factors, your business broker or M&A advisor will work to help buyers to understand how some of these can be turned into positives once they take over the business. Or they can assist you to fix some of those weaknesses before putting your business on the market.
5. Price Your Business Correctly
It should come as no surprise that if the price you set on your business is too high, you will lose interest from prospective buyers. That is another advantage to working with business brokers or M&A advisors. They will assist you to assign a fair market value to your buyers. When the price is optimal, the strengths of your business will stand out more. While it’s essential not to undervalue your business, you also want to make sure that you don’t overvalue it either. The good news is that brokerage professionals have experience and expertise at listing the optimal price.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
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The Top 3 Reasons Why Deals Fall Through
No one likes to think about the deals that didn’t succeed. However, the fact of the matter is that sometimes things go wrong during the process and a sale doesn’t successfully close. We have pinpointed the most common reasons why this happens into three main categories. By understanding the issues that can prevent a deal from finalizing, we are able to dramatically maximize the odds of success for clients.
1. Issues with the Seller
If a seller lacks a strong reason for wanting to sell his or her business, that seller is often unable to be flexible on the terms of a deal. As a result, when complexities arise during the sales process, the seller doesn’t have the patience, commitment and/or stamina to work to overcome those issues. In many cases, a seller has presented an unrealistic price for the business and simply cannot be realistic about the true value the business will sell for on the market. Another common issue that arises with sellers is that they are not fully transparent with the potential buyer. For example, they might be neglecting to mention serious problems with the business, such as new competition on the horizon.
2. Issues with the Buyer
Just like circumstances surrounding the seller may interfere with the sale of a business, the same is true for buyers. In some cases, the buyer is just mildly interested in being a business owner. As a result, he or she doesn’t have the wherewithal to continue on and navigate the complexities that can arise during the stages leading up to a successful deal. There are other issues that often pop up with buyers as well. For example, they also may have unrealistic expectations regarding price. Some buyers are not willing to pay the fair market value for a given business. In other cases, once they find out the amount of work that will be required to make the business successful, they are unmotivated to continue.
3. Third Party Interference
In some instances, there is no issue regarding the buyer or seller. Instead, it is a third party that interferes. An example of this would be a landlord being unwilling to transfer a lease or grant a new one. Or unexpected issues with the federal or local government could cause problems. Another problem that involves a third party occurs when outside advisors, such as attorneys, overlook the fact that the goal is to put together a deal that will work. Instead, they get so caught up in protecting the best interests of their clients that they erect too many roadblocks for a deal to succeed. These types of problems are often completely unexpected by either the buyer or seller.
It is hard to argue with the fact that if a buyer isn’t really committed to selling, perhaps it is not the best choice for them in the long run. The good news is that if potential problems are handled at the appropriate stage of the deal, most business deals do come to a successful conclusion. Business brokers and M&A advisors are specialists when it comes to resolving and circumventing potential issues.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
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The Four Essential Stages of a Closing
When it comes to reaching a successful closing, there are four important stages to keep in mind. In this article, we will take a look at the process and what sellers can expect. If you are planning to sell a business, it is also helpful to understand in depth what the stages are from a buyer’s perspective.
The Letter of Intent (LOI)
The letter of intent is one of the responsibilities that your business broker or M&A advisor will take on to assist you. Your letter of intent should include the price, terms, time frame anticipated as well as other factors, such as the seller’s transition and training. Details such as what is included and what is not included in the deal should always be addressed in this agreement.
Due Diligence
The due diligence process is also an essential step. Your business broker or M&A advisor will guide you during due diligence. All important facts and documentation should be evaluated, ranging from tax returns and internal P&Ls to leases, bank statements, and customer/employee lists. Buyers who do not invest enough time and energy into due diligence can often have serious regrets after the deal has closed. Be sure to take your time with this stage.
There are other areas of due diligence that should not be overlooked including the very important NDA, financial statements, credit reports and other factors. If you want to have a smooth closing (which clearly you do!), you will want to wisely invest your time in due diligence.
Financing Approval
Financing approval is considered your lender’s responsibility. However, if you need advice and insights, your business broker or M&A advisor should be able to assist you. You may want to look into local SBA lenders or seller financing.
Agreement Drafting
The final agreement drafting period must be taken seriously. This is a step where your attorney will be of tremendous assistance. Your written agreement should cover a wide range of aspects including everything from payment terms to assets and liabilities. Both the buyer and seller should know exactly what the arrangement will be.
When these four stages are followed properly, your deal should close in a timely and effective manner. If you have any concerns or uncertainties about these parts of a closing, be sure to always ask the necessary questions.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
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Exit Planning: How to Create a Checklist for Your Business Sale
Did you know that of the businesses that are up for sale, only an estimated 20-30% actually sell? Despite the fact that most business owners know that they’ll eventually want to sell their business in order to retire or explore new opportunities, few are preparing an exit plan.
Exit planning isn’t just about making sure that you can sell when you want to. It’s also about selling your business at the highest value possible.
Today, we’re going to talk about preparing your St. Louis or Metro East business for sale, no matter how soon you intend to sell.
Read on to learn what to include on your business exit checklist.
Assessing Value
All exit strategies should begin with a business valuation. To do so, you will want to partner with a business brokerage that has experience in your region and with businesses in your niche. Keep in mind that while a business appraiser may seem like the right choice, appraisers typically value businesses for legal purposes like divorce or tax preparation, not for sale.
Verbal opinions of value may be enough if you are the sole owner of your business and do not need anyone else to review your business valuation. However, it is often preferable to receive a written report that breaks down the calculation of value so that you and your partners can understand how your broker arrived at the range of values they’re reporting.
Preserving Value
Once you’ve received a range of values, it’s time to consider value preservation. Your business is unlikely to sell immediately, and you do not want to experience any value loss in the coming months or years.
To preserve value, consider hiring a lawyer to perform a legal audit to identify legal concerns that you need to address to avoid litigation. Review your business insurance policy to ensure that it will mitigate losses if necessary. You should also ask your lawyer and financial advisor about any tax liabilities that need to be mitigated, as well.
Increasing Value
One reason to begin thinking about your exit strategy before you’re actively looking to sell your business is that an early start gives you time to increase the value of your business. This will take a varied approach and will include steps such as:
- investing in updated marketing strategies with a high ROI to increase your customer base
- reducing excess employee dependency
- reducing employee turnover
- streamlining operations
- replacing old or worn equipment and prioritizing preventative maintenance
- expanding your product or service lines
- creating a strong and incentivized management team
Discuss the best strategies with your financial advisor or business consultant, as not all of these strategies are suitable for every business. It is often better to put your resources toward two to three of these strategies, rather than loosely trying to use all of them.
Considering Exit Options
Often, you will need to consider your exit options at the same time that you are determining the value of your business. An experienced business brokerage can advise you on the steps to take and in what order.
There are two primary exit options to consider. The first is an inside exit option, in which the buyer comes from your family or from within the business, itself. The second is an outside exit option, in which the buyer comes from outside of your family or business.
Keep in mind that while inside exit options may seem simpler on the surface, they can lead to disputes and emotional elements. They also tend to yield a much lower value than an outside exit option. That said, many people wish to keep a business in the family, and an experienced business brokerage can provide the objectivity needed to do so in the smartest and most beneficial way.
Accounting for Involuntary Exit Options
There is a third exit option that many business owners fail to account for. This is the involuntary exit option, which occurs when a business owner has no choice but to sell the business to someone else.
Involuntary exit options most typically occur in the event of the death, disability, or divorce of an owner. While these events are considered unforeseeable, you can still prepare for them in advance. Work with your advisors and lawyers to create legally binding contracts that will determine ownership and mitigate losses in the event of an involuntary exit.
Preparing Your Exit Strategy Team
In order to create and execute an exit strategy, you will need to develop an exit strategy team. Many businesses choose this step as a starting place, but the team can shift or evolve as you complete the steps we’ve mentioned above. If you do create your team before getting a valuation or considering your exit options, prepare to be flexible in adding or removing team members.
Your team should include:
- your business brokerage
- an attorney with experience in estate, tax, and financial planning as well as businesses within your niche and model (i.e. franchised businesses versus family-owned businesses)
- an accountant or CPA with similar experience as your attorney as well as retirement planning or business acquisition experience, depending on what you intend to do after selling your business
- a financial or insurance advisor
If you intend to increase the value of your business before selling, you may also want to work with a business consultant.
Include Fusion in Your Exit Planning Process
All exit planning requires a valuation of your business. While you might not secure a sale at that full value, you should still know how much your business is worth and how much value you might stand to lose or gain.
Fusion is one of the top business brokerages in the St. Louis area, specializing in the sale of small to medium-sized businesses. To find out how we can help you develop your exit plan, contact us today.
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How to Sell a Small Business, Step-By-Step
America has around 33.2 million small businesses, according to Zippia statistics. Unfortunately, only about 55% of said businesses may last more than a few years.
Whatever the reasoning, as a small business owner, you may reach a point where you want to sell. This can be a complicated process, but by following a few key steps, you can successfully sell your small business.
In this straightforward guide, we’ll set your mind straight on how to sell your small business the right way. Keep on reading in you want to remove all the worry and hassle from the process.
Determine Your Asking Price
Before you can start the process of selling your small business, you need to determine how much you want to ask for it. This is known as your asking price.
There are a few different factors that can influence your asking prices, such as the size of your business, its location, the industry it’s in, and its financial performance.
One way to determine your asking price is to use a business valuation method. There are several different methods you can use, such as the income approach, the market approach, and the asset approach. Each method looks at different factors to determine the value of your business.
It’s also a good idea to get an assessment from a professional business appraiser when you want to sell a business. A business appraiser can give you a more accurate estimate of your business’s value based on a thorough analysis of your financial records and other relevant information.
Prepare Your Business for Sale
Once you have an idea of your asking price, the next step is to prepare to sell your business. This involves getting your financial records in order, creating a list of your business’s assets, and making any necessary repairs or improvements.
First, it’s important to gather all of your financial records, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and tax returns. These documents will provide potential buyers with an idea of your business’s financial performance. You should also create a list of your business’s assets, including any equipment, inventory, and real estate.
It’s also a good idea to make any necessary repairs or improvements to your business before putting it on the market. This can help make it more appealing to potential buyers and increase its value.
Find a Broker or Agent
Once you have determined your asking price and prepared your business for sale, the next step is to find a broker or agent to help you sell your business. A broker or agent can help you find potential buyers, negotiate the sale, and handle the legal aspects of the transaction.
When choosing a broker or agent, it’s important to find someone who has experience selling businesses in your industry. You should also look for someone who has a track record of success and is well-respected in the business community.
Market Your Business
Once you have a broker or agent, the next step is to market your business to potential buyers. There are several different ways you can do this, including:
- Advertising in business publications or online
- Networking with other business owners and professionals in your industry
- Using social media to promote your business sale
Your broker or agent can help you come up with a marketing plan that will reach potential buyers and showcase the strengths of your business.
Review Offers and Negotiate the Sale
Once you start receiving offers for your business, it’s important to review them carefully and negotiate the best deal possible. Your broker or agent can help you with this process.
When reviewing offers, you should consider the price being offered, as well as any other terms and conditions that are included. You should also consider the buyer’s ability to finance the purchase and their plans for the business after the sale.
Once you have negotiated the terms of the sale, you will need to create a purchase agreement that outlines the terms of the sale and any contingencies. Your broker or agent can help you with this process.
Close the Sale
The final step in the process of selling your small business is closing the sale. This involves transferring ownership of the business to the buyer and completing any necessary paperwork.
To close the sale, you will need to sign a bill of sale, which is a legal document that outlines the terms and conditions of the sale. This includes the price, any financing arrangements, and any warranties or guarantees. You will also need to transfer any assets, such as equipment and inventory, to the buyer, as well as any leases or contracts that are associated with the business.
It’s important to work with a lawyer or other legal professionals to ensure that the sale is completed correctly and that all necessary documents are properly executed.
They can help you navigate the legal aspects of the sale, such as tax implications and intellectual property rights, and ensure that your interests are protected. They can also help you handle any disputes or issues that may arise during the closing process.
Sell a Small Business the Right Way
Selling a small business can be a complex process, but by following these steps, you can successfully sell your business and move on to your next venture.
By determining your asking price, preparing your business for sale, finding a broker or agent, marketing your business, reviewing offers, and closing the sale, you can navigate the process of selling a small business and achieving your goals.
We are Fusion Business Services and we understand that selling your business is a major decision. It may even be that your company represents something of your life’s work.
Whatever your situation, we’re ready to listen. Read here to learn more about selling your business with us.
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