Closing the deal can be the most challenging part of buying or selling an operating business. Valuations, investigations, and negotiations are complete and now it’s a matter of getting everything into writing in a form that satisfies everyone so that the transfer of ownership of the business can take place. However, you can definitely count on someone […]
6 Steps in the Buying Process Step 1: Self Assessment When you meet with a Business Broker, be prepared to discuss your background, work experience and financial ability to purchase a business. A Business Broker cannot adequately help you find a company that meets your needs without this knowledge. A personal resume and financial statement […]
Sustaining established family-owned businesses into the next generation is an important issue for rural community leaders. Many small rural businesses are family-owned, but statistics show that few survive beyond retirement of the current owner. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, only 30% of all family businesses succeed to the second generation. And of […]
A Simplified Checklist When Selling A Business & Closing A Deal – Adjust purchase price This would take care of prorated items such as rent, utilities and inventory up to the time of closing. – Review documents required to be provided by the seller This would be a corporate resolution approving the sale, evidence that […]
Preparation for putting a business on the market is like rehearsing for a stage performance….as the main character….in the spotlight. When entering the center stage spotlight, both a business owner and a star performer must know their roles, the script, the story, as well as the other major players and the roles they will play. […]
THE SUCCESSFUL CLOSING Now that all of the contingencies have been satisfied and removed from the Contract, it’s time to draft the final closing documents. These documents may be prepared by the Seller’s attorney, Buyer’s attorney or a third party attorney employed by the business broker. The basic documents associated with the transfer of a small business generally […]
Due Diligence is the last phase in the buying process. This is the time when you will have access to all of the company’s books, records and files. You will have a pre-determined period of time to investigate the information that you have been given so far to verify its accuracy. The goal of an […]
The Answer — in a Nutshell: The best time to sell a business is when the business has upward trending revenues, when the industry is in an upturn, when the economy is strong, when there is a multitude of buyers looking for business acquisitions, and when interest rates are low. There are many questions that need to be answered before […]
Who are the Buyers for Privately-Held Companies and What is Their Acquisition Criteria? Understanding who the buyers are and their acquisition criteria will enable business owners to be better prepared when the time comes to sell. Unrealistic expectations of value and factors that drive value result in many business owners being unable to sell their […]
The Individual Buyer Category represents the largest number of prospective buyers for small to midsize privately-held businesses. Understanding who the buyers are and their acquisition criteria will enable business owners to be better prepared when the time comes to sell. The individual buyer category encompasses a variety of buyer types that include wealthy individuals, […]
Why? Because SBA prequalified businesses for sale in the marketplace sell faster. The normal train of thought for most people is that it is only the buyer’s responsibility to get prequalified and get financing for the purchase of a business. Yes, the buyer must be able to qualify for a loan. However, the business must be […]
“Texas is a land of buccaneering capitalism.”- The Economist, 12/19/02 In addition to having a low cost of living and a great quality of life, Texas has one of the nation’s most favorable business environments. By 2030 the U.S. Census Bureau projects Texas population will increase by 60 percent compared with 2000 and will be one of the […]
It can be difficult to determine which kinds of insurance is needed for a small business. Different types of insurance have confusingly similar names. Your state, town, or county may have its own insurance requirements and many industries have coverage specific to them. To assist in determining which kind of insurance a business should have, […]
I recently posted a press release article citing the increased number of acquisition inquiries that business brokers in Houston are experiencing from business owners in foreign countries. It seems that Houston is not alone. The Center for an Urban Future, a New York City-based think tank, in a press release February 6, 2007, revealed a major […]
Why Should the Seller of a Small Business Consider Financing the Deal? One of the best ways to finance the acquisition of a business for a buyer is through the seller. The seller’s willingness to provide financing will be influenced by the buyer’s qualifications and by his or her own requirements such as tax considerations […]
Former Chairman of SCORE® Houston, a Nonprofit Organization, Takes Mission to Private Sector — the Small Business Marketplace HOUSTON, TX — (MARKET WIRE) — February 21, 2007 — After serving three years as Chair and Vice Chair of Houston Chapter of SCORE®, Thomas Pence, an expert in global trade and logistics, shifts back into the small business marketplace to […]
HOUSTON, TX (PRWEB) February 7, 2007 – As the prospects of political turmoil and economic instability develop in Latin America, Houston business brokers see increased inquiries about buying a business. Business Brokers in Houston, Texas, are noticing an increase in activity as some countries in Latin America experience political turmoil with leftist governments taking Office. The number of […]
Job and Population Growth Bode Well for Small Business in Houston as its Economy Expands A revised report issued on March 8, 2007 by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), says Houston’s job growth rate was a full percentage point higher than the initial estimate released seven weeks ago. Houston’s 4.2 percent job growth during 2006 is well above […]
Building a business is like running a marathon, not a 40-yard dash. It requires hard work, a well-conditioned work ethic, a high pain threshold,and taking measured steps one mile at a time. But remember to save some kick for the final stretch to the ultimate goal…….the exit. If you want top dollar for your business, you can’t […]
There are many factors that determine right-timing for selling your small business. The financial condition of the company, valuation, growth cycle, profit history, and the current market. But there is one single thing about timing that comes into play that makes all other factors make little difference….it is the business owner’s emotional readiness to […]
Ayn Rand’s John Galt could not have built a better machine than Houston’s sturdy economic engine of today. In her epic novel, “Atlas Shrugged,” published 50 years ago, manufacturing and transportation were Rand’s focal points in the plot to stop the engine of the world. She understood the importance of business growth, entrepreneurialism, and free […]
Should you be the architect of a new business and start from scratch, buy a new franchise, or buy an established existing business? Every year, thousands of people consider going into business for themselves and these are the three routes to get there. Each course has advantages and disadvantages that one should consider. Starting your […]
One of the most time consuming tasks performed by business brokers in the process of selling a business is filtering through the mass of inquiries and databases of registered buyers to find qualified prospects. So, why does it take such a considerable amount of time in the qualifying process? Some people may think the quantity […]
Do you buy the stock of the company or the assets? This is a very important decision. If a business is set up as a corporation, the owner may want to sell you the shares of the business. This is called a stock sale. Sellers like this type of deal because their profits get taxed […]
ed to the suburbs, employees then feel comfortable moving another half-hour beyond that into the exurban periphery. As long as employers stay in the core, sprawl has practical limits if employees want to maintain a reasonable commute. The second key factor is maximizing the number of people and jobs inside the opportunity zone. People have […]
Something interesting happened at the bank yesterday. Sadly, it wasn’t that I noticed an extra $100,000 in my account. I was at the teller window and the young guy next to me was probably in his mid twenties, with his little toddler in tow. He was inquiring about the best way to set up regular […]
The International Business Brokers Association is having its 45th Semi-Annual Conference this week, June 3 through June 9, at the Memphis Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The International Business Brokers Association® (IBBA®) is the largest international non-profit association operating exclusively for the benefit of people and firms engaged in the various aspects of business […]
Investment groups and baby boomer corporate executives looking to get into action with companies of their own are making small businesses hot prospects these days. Buyers have money to spend and are turning more frequently to the local landscaping company or delivery company as good investments. There’s no question that Houston-area small businesses are becoming more frequent […]
Administaff Announces Results of Business Survey and Compensation Data HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE) Nearly 86% of small business owners say their companies are either growing as predicted or at a faster pace than forecasted, according to a Business Confidence Survey released May 8, 2007 by Administaff, with Headquarters located in Houston and a leading provider of human resources services for […]
The Wall Street Journal had a quite long and comprehensive op-ed a couple of days agao titled “The Realignment of America” on demographic shifts since 2000. While getting the link, I also noted it has been one of the most popular – and the most emailed – stories that day at WSJ. The graphic is […]
We report on economic conditions and other issues that affect the Small Business Community and its future outlook. This survey is important because it is essentially an interview with the generations that hold, in their hands, the future impact of small business on our economy. The outlook is encouraging. Let’s preface the Survey with […]
The likely team of experts will consist of a business broker, an attorney, and an accountant. Once an owner has decided to sell the business, he or she needs to determine who will handle the process. Utilizing professionals to facilitate the process is key to successfully selling the business within the shortest time frame for the […]
When it comes time to sell your business, knowing how to enhance its value and planning ahead are key to doing it on your terms. Selling a business can be complicated and very time consuming. Since the average business sale transaction takes anywhere from four to 12 months business owners need to be in the […]
Fortune Small Business scoured the country for the 100 Best Towns To Live and Launch a Business for 2008, as published in April. They looked for towns that combine a great business environment with alluring leisure offerings. They looked at economic conditions such as local taxes rates alongside natural beauty and easy access to museums, and more. […]
What would happen if all the baby-boomer business owners closed their businesses instead of selling them. The implications to our economy are alarming. It would bring about drastic changes to every sector of the U.S. landscape. But they are only a minute part of the picture. When a firm closes its doors, […]