Archive

6 Things to Do Before Selling Your Business

No matter what type of brand you own, selling a business can be both  exciting and paralyzing. Along with the validation of selling something you’ve spent so long working to establish, the stress of the sale process can grow overwhelming fast.

That’s where early preparation comes in. Organizing your business in advance allows you to to streamline the sale process and improve your company for greater profitability. If you’re considering selling your brand, here are a few steps to consider on the front end.

1. Be Sure You’re Ready to Sell

Before you start the selling process, be sure you’re mentally and emotionally prepared to sell. Consider the current shape of your company, talk with your support network, and seek advice from business owners who have gone through the process before you.

In addition, lay out a plan for what you’ll want to do in the first six months after your business sells. If you’re hoping to retire, in particular, you’ll want to ensure that you understand how much money the sale will contribute to your retirement plans.

2. Consider the Timing

It’s better to sell your company when it’s in its prime based on its recent profits, though this isn’t always practical for every business. In addition, consider the state of the industry as you go into the sale.

When possible, give yourself plenty of time—at least a year—to prepare for the sale in advance. This allows you to organize and improve your financial documentation and expand your customer base. These improvements can not only ease the transition, but they can also make your sale more profitable.

3. Get Your Paperwork and Finances in Order

Having clean, organized financial reports isn’t just good business. It can also be a helpful way of preparing to send information to potential buyers, and it shows wary investors they can trust you. The last thing you want is for a chaotic back office that gives would-be buyers concerns about how you’ve run the business in the past.

Make sure your signature shows up on the appropriate contracts, get your meeting minutes all in one place, and write and tidy up your documentation around key processes. Review any important assets, draw up an equipment list, and make sure any undocumented or verbal deals get put on paper.

You’ll also want to gather all of your financial documents going back at least three years. If needed, review these with your accountant. Make copies of significant documents to show prospective buyers.

This is also a great time to start preparing your due diligence documents. Buyers will have a checklist of documents they want to see, and preparing these standard due diligence documents in advance can save you time down the line. Work with your business broker to understand what to expect.

4. Deal With Anything That Might Raise Concerns

Buyers considering your business won’t want to see anything that looks like a loose end or a sign of mismanagement, especially if these things could raise their financial risk.

Before you sell, take care of any existing lawsuits, investigations, or other forms of litigation, no matter how minor. Risk-averse buyers will flee at the idea of purchasing a brand with ongoing issues.

At this time, you’ll also want to take care of any financial complexity from your accounts, such as mingling personal and business expenses. This can raise legal issues, and it can also complicate your business valuation and a buyer’s attempts to get financing.

5. Get a Business Valuation

Before you go into a sale, get a business valuation. Knowing your overall business value can help you understand whether or not you’re starting out with a reasonable asking price.

You can reach out to a financial professional for help with this, but most small business owners can do this evaluation on their own. You’ll need to use some of the financial information you’ve organized above, including your business assets and liabilities as well as your net worth. In addition, you’ll want to do some research into how much similar businesses have sold for in the past.

6. Assemble Your Team

Unless you have extensive legal, tax, and business sale experience, you’ll want to reach out to a few experts to help you. Having the right advice can ensure that you’re making a great deal, and it can also protect you if the sale becomes messy and complicated.

If you don’t already work with either a tax attorney or a CPA, it’s time to find one. Working with these experts can help you get your finances in order long before the sale. These professionals can also help you understand your financial requirements both during and after the transition.

The expertise of a business lawyer can also be invaluable if you’re striving to get favorable terms, and a lawyer can also help you with the burden of gathering and organizing the necessary paperwork. As you meet and negotiate with prospective buyers—who will likely have their own team of lawyers on hand—a business attorney can defend your interests.

Last, working with a business broker is often a smart move if you need to free up time to deal with things that matter—such as running and growing your business. Brokers can also help you increase your brand’s value, identify fair offers, and even get a higher price for your business.

Prepare Before Selling Your Business

Selling your business can be a monumental event, and it often takes much more preparation than the average entrepreneur expects. From managing your finances to finding the right team, you’ll need to have a few plans in place before you make the leap.

If you’re looking for expert assistance with the sale of your brand, we’re here to help. As a full-service, confidential business broker you can trust, we’re happy to answer questions about everything from exit strategies to valuations. To learn more, contact us today or reach out for a buyer consultation.

How to Accurately Value Your Restaurant Business

If you’re thinking of selling your restaurant, one of the first steps you’ll need to take is to have your business appraised. This will give you a better idea of how much your restaurant is actually worth and what kind of return on investment you can expect from a sale. However, valuing a restaurant business is not as simple as looking at its revenue or profit margins.

There are a number of factors that must be taken into account in order to arrive at an accurate valuation. Most people would agree that the restaurant business is a gamble. So when it comes time to sell your restaurant, how do you ensure that you are getting a fair price for all of your hard work?

Determining the Value of Your Restaurant Business

There are a number of different methods that can be used to value a restaurant business. The most common method is to use a multiple of the business’s annual sales. For example, if a restaurant does $2 million in sales per year, it could be valued at $4 million (a multiple of 2).

Other factors that can be considered include the profitability of the business, the level of debt, the location and condition of the property, and the long-term prospects for the industry.

When valuing a restaurant business, it’s important to use comparable sales data from recent transactions in order to arrive at a realistic figure. It’s also important to consult with an experienced appraiser who understands the nuances of the restaurant industry.

With accurate information and professional guidance, you can arrive at a fair valuation for your restaurant business. Let’s look at some specific valuation approaches.

Market Valuation Formulas

Business valuation is the process of determining the economic value of a business or company. There are many factors to consider when valuing a business, but the three most important are usually the market approach, income approach, and asset-based approach.

Market Approach

The market approach looks at similar businesses that have recently sold and uses those sale prices to value your business. With this approach, you first need to find comparable businesses that have sold in your area.

This can be a challenge, but it’s important to find businesses that are as similar to yours as possible in terms of size, type, and location. Once you have found a few comparable sales, you can use those sale prices to estimate the value of your business.

Income Approach

The income approach looks at the potential earnings of a business and discounts those earnings back to present value. This approach is often used to value businesses that are not yet profitable, such as start-ups.

With this approach, you need to estimate the future earnings of the business and discount those earnings back to present value using a suitable discount rate.

To help you estimate the future earnings of your business, you can use financial projections. Financial projections are a forecast of a company’s future financial performance. They usually include income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.

Asset-Based Approach

The asset-based approach simply adds up the value of all of your business’s assets (property, equipment, inventory, etc.) and subtracts any debts or liabilities. By taking this approach, you arrive at the book value of your business, which is often different from the market value.

When valuing a restaurant business, the market approach is usually the best option. However, all three of these valuation approaches can be helpful in arriving at a fair price for your business.

Factors to Consider When Valuing a Restaurant Business

There are a number of factors that can impact the value of your restaurant business. Some of these include:

The Size of the Business

It goes without saying that larger businesses usually sell for a higher price than smaller businesses. There are a few other factors to consider when it comes to the size of your business, however. For example, businesses that have a large number of employees usually sell for a higher price than businesses with fewer employees. This is because businesses with more employees tend to be more stable and have a lower risk of failure.

The Location of the Business

Another important factor to consider is the location of your business. Restaurants that are located in busy areas with a lot of foot traffic usually sell for a higher price than restaurants in less desirable locations. This is because businesses in busy areas have a built-in customer base and tend to be more profitable.

The Type of Business

The type of restaurant you own can also impact its value. For example, fast food restaurants usually sell for a lower price than full-service restaurants. This is because fast food restaurants have lower operating costs and tend to be less labor-intensive.

The Condition of the Business

Another factor to consider is the condition of your business. Restaurants that are in good condition usually sell for a higher price than restaurants that are in poor condition. A business in good condition tends to be more profitable and has a lower risk of failure. They are ready to go and in less need of renovation and major overhauls before they can be up and running.

The Financial Health of the Business

Of course, the financial health of your business is one of the most important factors to consider when valuing your restaurant. Businesses that are profitable and have a strong financial history usually sell for a higher price than businesses that are struggling financially.

Growth Potential and Profitability

A business that is not yet profitable but has high growth potential may sell for a higher price than a business that is already profitable but has little room for growth. This is because businesses with high growth potential are seen as being more valuable because they have the potential to generate a lot of revenue in the future.

Master the Food Industry

While there is no one “right” way to value a restaurant business, the three most common methods are the market approach, income approach, and asset-based approach. By taking into consideration all three of these methods, you can get a well-rounded understanding of what your restaurant is worth and ensure that you are getting a fair price for your hard work.

When you’re ready to sell, book a consultation with Fusion Business Brokers. We have a team of experienced restaurant brokers who will guide you through the process of valuing and selling your business. We’ll help you determine the best asking price for your business and market it to a wide range of potential buyers.