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, […]
The following serves as an excellent checklist for a Buyer in compiling questions to ask the Seller about his business during the Due Diligence period. Potential Problem Areas to be Addressed Changes in law, New competition, Change in technology Foreign imports, Drop in demand, Equipment obsolescence Facility obsolescence, Market shifts, Down trends Employee theft, Interest […]
“Companies to service cargo and vessels at the Port of Houston and along the Houston Ship Channel will be in high demand for the foreseeable future and will continue to provide impetus to our city’s economic vitality.” — Above is a quote from one of my posts earlier this month touting Houston Growth in International Trade […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Certified Business Brokers (CBB) will host a breakfast Exit Strategy Seminar on April 10, 2008 in Houston’s Galleria Area. The seminar team will consist of CBB’s M&A Group, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisors, as well as Tax, Legal, and Accounting professionals. The seminar will cover key issues surrounding the successful sale of a privately-held company: […]
Back in March 2007 I wrote an article touting Houston’s booming economy. In revisiting that article, while there is certainly economic turmoil on today’s national scene, Houston is still hot! The reason for this blog post is to share some of our current hands-on observations and experiences that keep us aware of the climate in Houston. […]
Last Friday afternoon I was a guest on KSEV Radio AM 700 with host Aubrey Thoede and had the opportunity to discuss a subject that many call-in listeners wanted to learn more about….starting their own franchise. But buying a new franchise is not the best way to go about achieving the “American Dream.” Everyone reads […]
If you are looking to buy or sell a business in Houston, 2008 will see a wave of activity and be a year of great opportunities. We have already kicked off the New Year with a bang, closing four businesses between New Year’s Eve and the day after the Holiday. And, we currently have a […]
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. Rand understood the importance of business growth, entrepreneurialism, and free […]
If you want to be successful in making a business acquisition, you want to work with a brokerage firm with a large inventory of businesses for sale and an experienced staff of professionals who are focused ONLY on selling businesses and have the training and experience to successfully close the deal. While most first-time buyers may initially […]
Leadership November 26, 2007, 11:35AM EST text size: TT Are You the Best Boss for Your Business? Bakery Barn saw explosive growth in five short years, becoming a $6 million company. Now the founder thinks it’s time for a new leader by Kerry Miller The way Sean Perich tells it, the history of his […]
Can You Sell Your Home-Based Business? The value of a business depends mainly on the earnings it produces, with the expectation that those earnings will continue into the future should a new owner take the helm. It also depends on having something valuable to sell that allows those earnings to be produced. So, if you […]
The International Business Brokers Association is having its 46th Semi-Annual IBBA and M&A Conference this month, November 11 -17, 2007, in Dallas – Frisco, Texas. 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 brokerage and […]
When you are selling your business you should be prepared for the different types of deal structures that may be proposed from various buyers. A business sale often consists of multiple elements like cash at close, seller notes, non-competes, books and records adequate enough for business financing by lending institutions, allocation of assets, capital gains, […]
We often spend the least attention on the decisions that affect us most. Entrepreneurs pour heart and soul into building a business, often with the unexamined belief that the right exit will be bestowed on us as a reward for our hard work. On the other hand, seasoned successful CEO’s will tell you that planning […]
What are the odds of your business actually selling once you have made the decision to sell? Well, national statistics indicate that the odds of your business selling are only 25 to 30 percent. What does this mean? To put it bluntly: if you are thinking of selling your business, you have, on an average, […]
Business Owners Should Prequalify Their Business For Potential Buyers Before Putting It On the Market. Whenever we advise our business-owner clients this, they look at us sideways wondering if we have lost our minds! They usually reply, “isn’t it the buyers responsibility to get prequalified and get financing for the purchase of my business?” Nothing […]
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, […]
National statistics show that over 70% of all businesses on the market, are not sold. Why is this? The two strongest reasons for failure are lack of preparation and an unrealistic selling price. Valuing a business correctly tends to resolve the unrealistic selling price problem. Know when to hold the price and when to change […]
HOUSTON, TX — May 2, 2008 — Certified Business Brokers’ M&A Group (CBB) announced the sale of a privately-held, multi-state non-destructive testing company with headquarters in Houston and regional offices in three other states in the U.S. to a multi-national strategic acquiror. The Houston-based non-destructive testing (NDT) company, which has been providing inspection services to […]
It’s all about supply and demand. Potential buyers and sources of capital for the acquisition of profitable privately-held companies is plentiful while the supply of businesses on the market is not. This makes a profitable, established business a hot commodity and in demand. Inc. Magazine spells it out in this month’s issue, “The Most Valuable […]
Texas has long been the hot bed of restaurant activity in the U.S. With roughly $35 billion in sales expected in 2009, the restaurant industry in Texas is anticipated to be the leader in the restaurant sector in growth, according to the National Restaurant Organization, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. The $35 billion […]
With negative economic news grabbing the headlines, business owners are inclined to believe that it is not a good time to sell their company and that they will have to put their retirement plans on hold. While this rationale makes sense for some, waiting for better economic times does not necessarily equate to a higher […]
While the economy is expected to remain weak throughout 2009, there will continue to be plenty of opportunities for individuals and businesses in a position to buy, according to a recently released survey. The report, published by the International Business Brokers Association, found that 61 percent of the survey participants, professionals involved in selling businesses, […]
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. […]