Houston registered the nation’s biggest gain is private-sector employment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released today. As a matter of fact, Houston has been the pace setter for employment for the last couple of years. The Houston area added 42,400 private-sector jobs between November 2007 and November 2008, almost three times the gain of […]
Private Equity Groups have excess capital to invest and are looking for business acquisitions. One of the major market shifts for the acquisition of privately-held companies has been the growth in the number of Private Equity Groups (PEGs) over the last decade, they number in the thousands. PEGs have become key players in business acquisitions. […]
With negative economic news grabbing the headlines in the United States, business owners may think it is not a good time to sell their company. But fortunately for owners looking to sell, that is not necessarily true. Business sales are still taking place with sellers capturing attractive prices and favorable terms, when the deal is […]
There are more than 15 million family businesses in the United States, ranging from giants like Wrigley and Marriott to the local corner grocery store. Yet, history tells us that less than one-third of family owned companies will make it to a second generation. One reason for the disheartening statistic may be that business owners […]
Despite the current credit crunch, well capitalized community banks still have money to lend for business acquisitions. The SBA 7(a) loan program is an excellent way for both bank and borrower to tread through this troubled business environment. While many large financial institutions are licking their wounds from the mortgage mess and the credit market […]
Selling a business and walking away can be very difficult. But in many cases, as part of the sale, there’s a transition period that can be as short as a month or as long as a year or two, depending on the size of the company and the role of the owner. In most situations, […]
Acquiring a business is a team effort and finding the right business broker (intermediary) is just the start of building your squad. Here’s a very common question posed by prospective buyers: “I’m ready to purchase a business that’s currently available for approximately $1.1 million. I feel I need a person who can help me with […]
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 TWELVE MONTHS, business owners need to be in the right frame of […]
Keynote speaker at the recent International Business Broker Association last week in Denver, Jerry Osteryoung, Executive Director of Global Entrepreneurship at FSU, was kind enough to allow this reprint of his report concerning the future economic changes that will be necessary in our society and the way we do business in order to cope with […]
When preparing for any invasive procedure, you would want to first address the issues that are the most crucial when deciding if further exploratory examination is warranted. Therefore, every person looking for a business to buy should ask key questions that will cut right to the chase in order to decide if a particular business […]
Buying a business takes time and planning. Just as it would be sensible to pre-map a road trip through unfamiliar territory, it would be practical for a first-time buyer to develop a plan to navigate the path to business ownership. Charting the route is key to buying a business and becoming your own boss. If […]
The current status of the small business marketplace in Houston is dynamic. Buyers in every category are plentiful, our economic position is one of the top in the nation, business policies are in place for continued prosperity and growth, interest rates are at historic lows, and capital is available for business acquisitions. Fueling the Houston […]
Despite a sluggish economy in the U.S., Houston is still displaying its buccaneering spirit. While the oil boom is a large part of the Bayou City’s good fortune, it is not the only gusher pouring out prosperity. A diversified business base is the fuel that powers Houston’s shining-star status. Newsweek published an article this weekend titled, Houston, […]
Keeping the Process Moving and Keeping the Deal on Track helps Seal the Pact. Many factors can bog down the sale of a business. In fact, more than purchase price or structure, time is the most likely reason that a business sale may fail. Time can breed frustration and fatigue. As a potential sale drags […]
The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH), as part of their Small Business Success Series, will be hosting a moderated dinner event at Bombay Brasserie Restaurant in Houston, Texas, on June 24, 2008. Tara Energy, headquartered in Houston and one of the largest independent retail electricity providers in Texas, is sponsoring the event. […]
“I have a medium sized company which I have owned for about 20 years. We specialize in the manufacture and distribution of chemical products and have built a good business over the years. However, none of my children is involved or interested in the business so I am considering selling it. The problem is that […]
The International Business Brokers Association (IBBA®) is having its 47th Semi-Annual Conference this month, June 1 -7, in Denver. The IBBA®, established in 1983, is the largest international non-profit association operating exclusively for the benefit of professionals and firms engaged in the various aspects of business brokerage and mergers and acquisitions. The association represents professional, […]
May 27, 2008 (New York Times) A Crippling Year For Small Business: Few Sales, Tough Cash Flow Small businesses think the economy is falling apart with little light at the end of the tunnel. The Discover’s Small Business Watch index of confidence showed that “only 28 percent of business owners said that economic conditions were […]
The new 2020 Fortune 500 list of annual rankings of America’s largest corporations is out. Houston is called home by the 3rd largest number of the companies on the list, second only to New York City. Houston has been steadily adding to its collection of Fortune 500’s for the past several years, while New York’s number has […]
With rent typically being the second largest expense after salaries for small businesses, the property lease becomes a very important document if you are thinking about selling your business. When was the last time you reviewed the lease on your business premises? When you signed it years ago? The following aspects of your lease should […]
Most people will purchase or sell only one business in a lifetime. Therefore, as business brokers, a large part of what we do is educate buyers and sellers about the intricacies of the process. People rely on us to help them understand the steps involved in buying or selling a business. They understand that the […]
Small business owners often run their companies and treat their employees like a family — which has cultural meaning. A successful small business ‘family’ has clear core principles and goals that directly impact growth. When we talk of a strong “corporate culture,” that’s what we’re talking about, shared values, shared goals, and a single vision […]
The first job facing many prospective business owners is rounding up the cash necessary to make the purchase. They may find that banks have made borrowing difficult (or all but impossible), and that even SBA loans have requirements too stringent to meet. One viable option is obtaining financing from the seller; another is to seek […]
There are three major negotiation methods to bring a buyer and seller together in the business sale process. Keep in mind that negotiating means working with each other, not against each other, towards bridging the gap between the two sides. 1. Take it or Leave it A buyer makes an offer or a seller makes […]
You’ve made the big decision to put your business on the market. Your reasons for selling are valid, carefully-considered, and “good” – the kind that won’t make a prospective buyer shy away. Now, you may tell yourself, comes the fun part. You’ll come up with a price – maybe a little high, but why not? […]
If you are like most business owners, you have thought about selling your business a time or two. It’s perfectly normal to dream and wonder what it would be like to be free of all the trappings, headaches, and burdens of running your company. You probably also wonder how cumbersome the sale process might be […]
Setting goals and achieving them are so important in every aspect of business, but many businesspeople and entrepreneurs do not pay enough attention to the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Gap analysis is the process of looking at the difference between your goal and where you currently are. Typically, […]
As markets continue to stabilize, 45% of CEOs interviewed for Pricewaterhouse-Coopers’ Private Company Trendsetter Barometer survey are optimistic about the US economy over the next 12 months (up two points from the previous quarter), and 47% who market abroad are optimistic about the world economy. Additionally, an increasing number plan to raise operational spending over […]
Reporting a lower inventory to their accountant is something many business owners have been doing for a long time. And many accountants just accept the number. In addition to the obvious concerns, when it comes to selling the business, big problems can arise. How will the inventory be valued in the Purchase Allocations? And who […]
Updated August 2026 In this article: The closing is the formal transfer of a business. It usually also represents the successful culmination of many months of hard work, extensive negotiations, lots of give and take, and ultimately a satisfactory meeting of the minds. The document governing the closing is the Purchase and Sale Agreement. It generally […]
“Whatever the reason, there should be something other than dollars that motivates you to explore a sale. After all, if it weren’t more valuable to own the business than to sell it, no one would ever buy it.” Mike Sharp, M&A Today, November 2002. The owner of a successful company is considering selling, thinking now may […]
One of the very first questions that business owners really want to know is: How Much Is My Business Worth? A fair determination of a firm’s market value is essential to insure proper compensation for years of hard work and personal investment. The following are some key factors that add value to your company and […]
“My Business could be a Gold Mine for a New Owner!” The statement, “With a little sales and marketing, a new owner could make a fortune with my business,” has been heard over and over by prospective buyers. The question of course is, “Mr. Business Owner, why haven’t you made that effort?” Buyers are not […]
1. Know why you want to sell your business. Having a solid reason and a committed resolve to a sale is essential in achieving a successful transaction. In addition, one of the first questions buyers ask is, “Why is the owner selling?” They want to know that it is for a good reason and not […]
The following are factors that can have a negative impact on the value of a business and some are issues that can rear their ugly head during the due diligence investigative period. Keep in mind that this list is a compilation of potential problem areas and do not apply to all types of businesses. […]