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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
And the city is still building—it’s not finished yet. Houston is a young city—compared to most others its size. It’s a young city in the median age of its population—still in the 30s. But Houston does have its history, its traditions, its heritage—and Houstonians are proud of this and do not forget their city’s glorious […]
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 […]
According to Dr. Jerry Osteryoung, a professor at Florida State University, the purpose of business is to serve others who have a vested interest in its success, such as its employees and investors, because they are the ones who suffer the most if the business fails. To fully understand my response, one must first read […]
“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 […]
As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has relaxed some of their policies in regards to lending. I said before that they “became a lot more flexible by making changes to the acquisition policies impacting purchases which included Intangible Assets. These changes give “Preferred Lender Providers” (PLP) more […]
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 pundits would have you believe deal making has all but dried up in this dismal, credit-starved economy. Take a closer look, though, at the market for smaller companies and the picture isn’t so dire. According to Thomson Reuters, the dollar value all of mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. totaled $1.1 trillion through Nov. 30, […]
Over the past 20 years, private-equity groups (PEGs) have become key players in business acquisitions. PEGs offer flexibility as a liquidity source, giving entrepreneurs the ability to take some cash off the table, recapitalize their company or simply sell and move on. Private equity refers to buyout groups that seek to acquire ongoing, profitable businesses […]
Who says there’s an age limit on the question “What do I want to be?” According to a recent study, a large number of small business owners weren’t bit by the entrepreneurship bug until they graduated from college or started down a completely different career path. Nearly one-third of respondents to Ace Hardware’s Entrepreneurship Study […]
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 […]
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 covers the following: A description of […]
“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 […]
More small businesses in Houston were sold in 2009 than in any other city in the U.S. Why? Because buyers are positioning themselves for the future. We have been bragging about Houston’s economy and the engine behind it for a long time. Pick your industry, we’ve touted it. Houston Business Journal last week reported, “Houston-area […]
The 2010 new year brings with it the time when business owners review their strategic plan and business goals. Many of the owners we talk to are wondering if this is the year to consider selling the business. In Texas, there are five specific reasons why it would make sense to sell in 2010. There […]
On Thursday December 10th, Sens. Landrieu and Snowe introduced S. 2869, the Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act. This new bill contains a series of measures that were separately introduced by Sens. Landrieu and Snowe earlier this year. The Senate Small Business Committee will mark up S. 2869 Thursday, December 17th. Highlights […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Due Diligence is when the buyer reviews all aspects of the company to uncover any warts, wrinkles, and….skeletons in the closet. No bones about it, this step is necessary in evaluating what risk is involved for the buyer in making the acquisition. Skeletons found in due diligence, however, should not normally break a deal but […]
Acquiring a business is a team effort and finding the right business broker (intermediary) is just the start of building your squad. Oftentimes, buyers do not know how to go about tackling the whole process of investigating the business they like or how to evaluate the financial data. This question represents a common real-buyer inquiry: […]
An earnout is a type of payment agreement which is sometimes used in a business acquisition. An earnout is a buyer’s commitment to pay the seller a certain amount of the money tied to future performance after a sale. It bridges a valuation gap between what the seller wants out of the business and what […]
Think of the bottom line cash flow of your business as the first introduction to a prospective buyer. If that bottom line is not attractive, buyers will look elsewhere. The right strategy towards achieving a successful sale is to pin your bets on improving cash flow to stand out in the marketplace when it comes time to […]