12 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Company
1. Build a solid management team. A business with sales of $5 million and up needs a full complement of officers and directors. Such a team might include: a COO, a CFO, a sales manager and, depending on the of type business, an IT director. It is also beneficial to create a Board of Directors with at least two outside members. This professionalization of management can remove the stigma of “the one man band.” Not only will this build a stronger company, it will increase the value to a possible acquirer. Smaller firms should also build a strong management team, and creating an outside advisor group is also a good idea.
2. Loyal employees. Happy and loyal employees make for a strong company. Top management should have non-compete and/or confidentiality agreements. Solid benefits plans for all employees should be in place. A company’s greatest asset is its employees and perhaps its biggest value-increaser.
3. Growth. Some smaller companies are kept small to maximize the owner’s benefits – the proverbial “cash cows.” However, if building value is the goal, then developing new products or services, building market share, expanding markets or opening new ones, is critical. This generally requires a financial investment, but building a strong growth rate also builds value.
4. Understanding your market. The value of a company may be contingent on its industry, its place in the industry and the direction of the industry itself. How big is the industry, is it headed up or down, who is the competition and how big is the company’s market share? Is it time to change direction or diversify?
5. Size counts. Companies with less than $5 million in sales and an EBITDA of less than $1 million can be perceived as small. Therefore, they may be dependent on continuing outside financing and lack the critical mass for both buying and selling power. These companies can be perceived as too small for acquisition or are penalized when it comes to value. However, over the past few years corporate buyers, as well as private equity firms, have seen the advantages of purchasing smaller firms. Obviously, companies with $10 million or more in sales and an EBITDA of $1 million or more are considered as solid and able to stand on their own.
6. Changing direction. Small companies can be very adept at changing course and implementing change. They have to be able to change and move quickly to take advantage of new markets, to fill voids in existing markets and even to add or change products or services.
7. Documentation. Business plans, financial plans and personnel plans should all be in writing – and kept current. Terms of employment agreements should be spelled out and in writing. Business planning and company objectives, etc., should also be in writing and reviewed periodically. Contracts should be reviewed and maintained on a current basis.
8. Diversification. A major problem with many small companies is that their business is concentrated on one or two major customers or clients. Ideally, no customer or client should represent more than 10 percent of sales. Expanding to new markets, introducing new products, and finding new customers must be considered without deviating too far from the company’s core business.
9. Name and brand identity. Nothing beats the name Walt Disney, or Kleenex® or the soft drink called Coke® – they are household names. Small firms may not have the brand or name recognition of these companies, but they can work at it. This recognition is especially powerful in the consumer product area. But franchising has expanded this name or brand recognition to many different types of businesses.
10. Taking advantage of proprietary and other assets. Patents, brand names, copyrights, alliances, and joint ventures are all examples of not only proprietary assets, but, in many cases, valuable ones. Even equipment can be used in several different ways. Large landscape companies in cold climates put snow plows on their trucks, utilize their existing workforce and become a snow plowing company for their regular landscaping customers — office complexes, apartment and condo developments, etc.
11. “Lean and Mean.” Many companies lease their real estate needs, outsource their payroll, have their manufacturing done offshore, or have UPS handle all of their logistical needs. Since all non-core requirements are done by someone else, the company can focus its efforts on what they do best.
12. Do it now! The owners of small firms, even large ones, have an attitude that says, “I don’t have time now, I’ll do it tomorrow” or “I’m too busy now putting out fires.” So the real challenges of building the business, and value, get sidetracked or put off indefinitely. Creating value is critical to the long-term (and short-term) success of the business.
Keep in mind that the best time to consider selling is when business is good, the business is running profitably, and many of the above “value-adders” are in place. By contacting your local professional intermediary you can explore which of the above will add the most value to your firm, so it will be ready to sell when you are.
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How to Sell a Restaurant: The Ultimate Guide
Did you know there are just over 1 million restaurants in the US?
On some nights, nothing beats heading over to your favorite restaurant. It feels good to give up cooking duties for the night.
Unfortunately, on the other side of the coin, the owner of the restaurant is over their head. They’re pulling out their hair while you slurp pasta. Or they may simply ready to move on from the business.
Does the owner sound like you? If you own a restaurant and want to sell it, keep reading. We’ll teach you how to sell a restaurant.
Tidy Up the Appearance
Just like you would when you sell a house, spend time tidying up the appearance to better appeal to potential buyers. It’s best to survey the restaurant when there aren’t any customers.
Look at the flooring, doors, windows, and counters. Does anything need a renovation or repair? We’re sure some bumps and dents have occurred over the years.
Head into the kitchen for a peek. Are the appliances working correctly? How bad are the splotches and stains?
Take a look at the overall aesthetic of the restaurant. The decorations and paint job may need some love and care.
Lastly, tidy up the outside of the restaurant. Guarantee the entrance is inviting and appealing to those passing by.
Contact local designers and contractors for anything you need to be taken care of. To save money, head to the local hardware store to get supplies for minor DIY fix-ups.
Know the Legal Stuff
Potential buyers need to know all about the legal formalities. Be one of the most organized restaurants for sale by keeping track of your lease, licenses, and permits.
Guarantee everything is up-to-date, and highlight any important rules and guidelines the new owner needs to know. It’s best to type up a comprehensive handbook or document to present to a potential buyer.
Never lie about the information you give the potential buyer. One way or another, the truth will come back around. If you’re having issues, tell the truth, and offer a solution.
Get a Grip on Your Finances
When looking at all the businesses for sale in an area, you’ll notice many are being sold due to unorganized finances and poor bookkeeping. Get a grip on the numbers.
Even if you don’t have the tools or resources to save the restaurant yourself, do what you can to organize the books so you aren’t handing off too large of a mess to the new owner. Work with an accountant if you need extra assistance.
Do you notice any loose ends? Before selling off the restaurant, tie up loose ends where you can.
Contact a Business Broker
Not many people can say they know how to sell a company. Business brokers do. Get in contact with one to keep the ball rolling in the right direction.
They’ll have a list of contacts to reach out to for leads on buyers. To be more specific in your search, hire a business broker with experience and a specialization in selling restaurants.
Brokers are large investments, but they’ll most likely be able to sell your restaurant at a much higher price than you could on your own. Plus, they take the extra stress off your back.
Remain Rational and Logical
Selling something you worked hard to create is emotional. You’ll go through waves of sadness, disappointment, happiness, and relief. It’s a rollercoaster ride.
Recognize your emotions, but remain logical throughout the selling process. Don’t let the emotions get to your head. Do your best to steer clear of cold feet.
If the stress and anxiety are too much, seek out a therapist. Even if it’s only for a short time, a trusted therapist will help you work through what you’re feeling.
Refrain from dragging your employees into the emotions. They may also be sad, especially if they’re left without a job.
Learn How to Negotiate
Did you decide to do without a broker? Spend time learning the psychology of negotiation. It’s crucial.
Smart and experienced buyers will do their best to push down the price. Depending on how good they are, you may not even realize they’ve lowered their asking price to an unfair level of low.
One written or verbal error on your end can wreck a big deal. Be thoughtful with your pitch and offers.
Place an Ad
If you’re having a difficult time selling your restaurant, it’s time to place an ad. Head on over to Google, a local newspaper, or even Facebook.
Advertise your restaurant, and always provide contact information. Take time each day to sift through any emails or phone calls you’ve received regarding your offer.
Keep an open schedule to meet with potential buyers. Give them a short tour of the restaurant, answer any questions, and ask about their experience owning a restaurant. Be friendly and professional.
Before giving a tour, remember first impressions are key. While you might be in the middle of renovations, do your best to keep the place clean.
Trust Your Gut
Until the papers are signed and the money is paid, the restaurant is yours. Take care of it.
Trust your gut and intuition throughout the selling process. If an offer seems too low, it’s too low. If a buyer doesn’t seem like they’re a good fit, they’re not a good fit.
Seek out a business coach and trusted friends if you need advice and reassurance.
Let It Go: How to Sell a Restaurant
Hiding under the stress and work it takes to keep a restaurant afloat is especially overwhelming as you learn how to sell a restaurant. Hopefully, our guide above provided clarity.
Perform maintenance and touch-ups before advertising the space. If you need help selling the company, reach out to a business broker. No matter what, always trust your gut through the process.
Are you not sure where to turn to find a trustworthy business brokerage? Look no further than our site. Contact us today for the help you need.
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How Understanding Psychology Can Benefit Your Deals
We work closely with our clients to preserve the integrity of deals so that they have the best chance of a successful closing. An often-overlooked aspect of the process is understanding and embracing human psychology. In this article, we will explore some of the most common ways that psychology comes into play.
The Element of Time
It is critical that both buyers and sellers feel well prepared at every stage of the process. It is also essential that a certain momentum is established through every stage of the deal. When too many delays happen, this can start to derail deals.
Think about the Buyer and the Seller
For both parties, the buying or selling of a business is a life-changing event. For this reason, it is important that you invest the time to think about the point of view of the other people involved. No doubt, buying and selling can be stressful, so it’s important to take other people’s thoughts and feelings into account. You are not the only one who may be experiencing a little stress.
The Issue of Non-Active Partners
In some deals, non-active partners can pose challenges to finalizing deals. They often have different motivations than the seller who is in the role of running the business. In a situation where two sellers have divergent goals, it can pose a challenge to a deal. The best thing to do is to try to understand the point of view of each seller and help them both reach their respective goals.
Identify Influencers
Influencers and recommenders can have a powerful sway over both buyers and sellers. By influencers, this could mean accountants, lawyers, relatives, etc. In order for a deal to go through successfully, often these influencers must be identified and their viewpoints must be addressed. On a practical level, there are also other people involved that can interfere with a deal, such as landlords. It’s important to make sure that these individuals feel as though they will benefit from the success of the deal as well.
There are many moving parts needed to get to the finishing line. Human psychology plays a huge role in what decisions get made. It’s vitally important to take the time to consider what others involved in the deal might be thinking or doing. Your Business Broker or M&A Advisor will benefit you by getting to know all parties involved and taking the appropriate actions to ensure things are done to the satisfaction of all parties.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
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6 Signs It’s Time for You to Sell Your Business
Entrepreneurship is a risky business. While starting your own business venture can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life, it can also be one of the most stressful. The reality is that not all entrepreneurships are made to last, and only a handful of businesses truly stand the test of time.
With this in mind, it’s always important to know when to move on and sell your business. In some cases, a struggling business may not be worth holding onto. Or you could be offered an opportunity of a lifetime in selling. But the real question is, how do you when the time is right?
This blog highlights the top signs it’s time to sell.
1. Entrepreneur Burnout
There’s no doubt that owning and running your own business is a full-on experience. Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur, either. It takes a certain type of motivation and dedication to make a true success of your entrepreneurial goals.
Whatever your reason is for burnout — whether you’ve given it your all and have nothing left in the tank, or want to pursue another type of career, you need to honor your fatigue.
What others see at surface level when you’re an entrepreneur is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to running a business. If you feel like you’ve done your time working grueling, long hours, and managing stress, there’s no harm in moving on.
Knowing when to call it quits takes just as much gumption as it does to start a business. And when it comes to burnout, you have far more to gain than to lose when selling a business.
At the end of the day, owning and running a business should be a fulfilling and motivating experience. If it’s not, you may need to consider moving on.
2. Excessive Business Risk
Here’s a sliver of reality for you: up to 50 percent of small businesses fail in the first five years of operation. As depressing as that sounds, it’s the reality of how risky it is to start and manage a business today.
If you’ve made it past the five-year mark, you’re already ahead of the curve. But what happens when your business success starts to slow down? There may come a time when your business growth comes to a plateau and the risks begin to mount against you.
Do you soldier on and hope for the best? Or do you accept when it’s time to fold and sell your business? Ultimately, it’s no easy decision. But if your gut is telling you that there are too many heavy clouds on the horizon, selling your business in the right timeframe could save you from disaster down the line.
3. An Offer of Purchase You Can’t Refuse
In some cases, the opposite of the above might happen, and your business could grow from strength to strength over the years. You may have dedicated your time to growing your business slowly while operating with a frugal budget.
Often, this gives way to a business that increases in value and captures the attention of other entrepreneurs and business investors. To add to this, your business could fall into a particular niche that grows in popularity over time.
When you’re offered a decent acquisition price, you could walk away with a decent profit. Or, you could walk away with an incredible profit that allows you to begin a whole other business venture. In this case, this might be a good time to sell!
4. You No Longer Have the Power to Compete
It’s no secret that the world of business seems to change at the flick of a switch these days. With the advent of all things digital, this is where many businesses may find themselves unable to compete in certain industries any longer.
Most businesses today can no longer rely on the traditional means of running an operation. If your business has not been able to scale to the demands of the market and industry trends, you could find yourself lagging dangerously behind.
If this is the case, your product and services could become obsolete. As a result, you may not have the power to compete with local competition any longer. Your business model could crash and you may not be able to stay afloat.
While it may be a difficult pill to swallow, it’s crucial to face reality and know when it’s time to move on.
5. Your Own Aspirations Change
There’s no shame in admitting that a business you once had an undying passion for just doesn’t do it for you any longer. Your professional aspirations may change over time, and that’s normal.
On the other hand, you may also realize that you’re not cut out for a certain industry or even owning a business altogether. Whatever your personal situation may be, it’s better to be honest with yourself.
It’s also not the end of the world if you started a business and decide to sell it down the line. Think of it this way — it could provide you with some form of capital to pursue another professional venture.
6. The Circumstances of Life and Retirement
When it comes to business ownership it may feel like your work priorities consume all of your time and energy. While this is a common reality of owning a business, it shouldn’t get in the way of your family priorities. However, this is often easier said than done.
But, there may come a time when your personal circumstances change and your priorities have to shift. For example, a family member could fall ill and need your full attention. You could become a parent and your family will take top priority. Or maybe you’ve served your time in the business world and want to wind down into retirement.
There are a number of personal reasons and life circumstances that could spur the sale of your business. You are not a failure in this case. You have chosen to prioritize yourself and your family — and what could be more important than that?
Is it Time to Sell Your Business?
Making the decision to sell your business may be one of the toughest decisions you’ll ever make. It may feel like your life’s work is coming to an end, but in some cases, it could be the best decision you ever make, too.
If you’re in need of professional expertise on how to sell your business for the best price and on the best terms, then Fusion Advantage is your go-to. Selling your business for what it really deserves can make the entire process much easier to accept!
Learn more about our services, here.
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How to Achieve High Buyer Success Rates
Both buyers and sellers have a lot of emotion wrapped up in their respective decisions. It’s completely natural to feel that way. Business Brokers and M&A Advisors can assist clients with their concerns and fears by giving them more information about how the sales process works and also discussing common pitfalls to avoid. In this article, we’ll go over some of the various issues impacting buyers. If you are able to anticipate potential issues that could interfere with the deal, you’ll be more likely to be able to overcome those issues.
The Initial Intake Process
Buyers should understand that they will need to sign an NDA and treat the non-disclosure process seriously. Brokers representing a seller will be requiring a good deal of information, including financial details, and often even your resume. So don’t be surprised when you’re asked for this information. It’s all a normal part of the process.
The Lending Process
It’s important to realize ahead of time that the lending process can be slow. It is also very common for lenders to ask for more and more information before the approval goes through. If this happens to you, don’t panic or worry. This too is a standard method of operation.
Working with Lawyers
While lawyers are obviously necessary in the process of buying and selling a business, they can also be a source of anxiety. In their efforts to protect their clients, they also can often kill a deal. Of course, get the facts and logistical information that you need from a lawyer, but always remember that lawyers and other business advisors are not the decision makers. If you’re buying a business, the decision is ultimately yours.
The Non-Binding Offer
A non-binding offer allows both the buyer and seller to walk away from a deal if terms cannot be agreed upon in a set amount of time. A non-binding offer shows the seller that the buyer is interested in acquiring the business, but this form of agreement isn’t legally binding. The benefit of the non-binding offer is that it allows discussions and negotiations to move forward.
The Due Diligence Process
The due diligence process is another aspect that allows the buyer to move forward, while simultaneously having protection. At this point, the buyer will receive confidential and sensitive information about a business, such as the financials, inventory, and legal matters. Buyers will also have the ability to conduct additional research and ask the sellers questions. Like the non-binding offer, the due diligence process also means that you have the right to walk away. It is important to have this step available so that buyers can make the most informed decisions possible.
Business brokers and M&A advisors are essential in order to help buyers find the best fit. We not only save our buyers time and energy, but we also help to ensure that the transaction goes as smoothly as possible.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
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