Why Business Buyers Won’t Buy Your Business
Learn why business buyers view your business as unattractive and it fails to sell once it’s on the market. We’ve summed up the top seven reasons and included suggestions regarding how to overcome these obstacles.
EBITDA Add Backs and Adjustments
A common method used to calculate business value involves applying a multiple to the company’s EBITDA. And while business owners who intend to sell their business have many options to increase the transaction multiple, one way to unlock value using this calculation is to identify other, non-customary “add-backs” to increase EBITDA.
How To Choose A Business Broker Intermediary
Choosing the right intermediary or business broker to represent a business owner in the sale of their business can make all the difference when it comes to the right price, the right buyer, and the ability to close the deal.
![The Three Business Valuation Approaches [Infographic]](https://b226520.smushcdn.com/226520/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/three-approaches-to-business-valuations.jpg?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
The Three Business Valuation Approaches [Infographic]
At some point during a company’s existence, it’s very likely a business owner will need a business valuation. Regardless of the reason, it is very important to understand how business valuations are conducted.
The Negative Effect of Concentrations on the Value of a Business
When all other factors are equal, the presence of a significant concentration among customers, suppliers, and/or employees results in a lower business value than might otherwise be expected due to the underlying inherent risks associated with any or all of these concentrations.
Does the Stage of My Business Matter When It’s Valued?
Many business owners are uncertain about how to establish a value for their business, regardless of its stage of development. How to value ideas, start-ups and mature businesses differ greatly. Learn more.
What the Great Resignation Means to Your Business
If you intend to grow and sell a valuable business, the Great Resignation that kicked off in mid 2021 means everything. Everything that is if you care about the value of your business.
How to Add Value to Your Business
Business owners who address the three hallmarks of a valuable business are very likely to have more options for exit and attract multiple buyers.
What is Exit Planning?
Learn about the three phases in a business exit plan and why each is important for the business, its employees, the owner and his or her family. This post includes our most popular FAQs on this topic as well. Wondering about the Exit Planning designations for professional advisors? We’ve covered that in this post as well.
Business Broker Fees and Other Business Sale Expenses
When it comes to the sale of a business, there are a number of costs – both expected and unplanned – all business owners should understand before they agree to sell their business. A few of our Featured Advisors have weighed in, offering their expertise and perspective to explain the costs – from business broker fees and legal costs to hidden fees – as they relate to selling a business.
20 Ways Business Brokers Pay For Themselves
Selling a business can be overwhelming. Here, we explore 20 ways that business brokers pay for themselves when selling a business.
4 Things To Do to Prepare to Sell Your Business
What should a business owner do to prepare to sell his or her business some time in the near future?
Aside from right-sizing the business’s overhead costs to line up with its current level of revenue, and looking for opportunities the pandemic may be presenting, there are four things a business owner can do now to prepare to sell. And more importantly, doing these four things will mean that when a Letter of Intent is received from a buyer, the business will be very well-prepared to survive the due diligence stage of the sale.
How Much Does it Cost to Sell a Business?
As an intermediary, I have many conversations with business owners about how much their business is worth. As these conversations progress, owners realize that it’s not how much they make, it’s how much they can keep that truly matters.
What Happens to PPP Loan When Selling a Business
The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a Procedural Notice on October 2, 2020 which offers business owners and lenders guidance on how Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans are to be handled when a business has a change in ownership.
This post summarizes the notice and includes an Infographic to assist business owners. It includes the following topic:
When does a Business Sale Require the SBA’s Approval
Does a Business Sale Require the PPP Lender’s Approval or Notification
Required Steps Pre and Post-Closing for PPP Borrowers
SBA Timeframe to Approve a Sale or Merger when a PPP Loan Transfers
Does the EIDL Grant Impose Additional Steps When Selling a Business
Closing Business Deals in the COVID-19 Era
The COVID 19 Era has begun. In addition to lives lost, there’s an economic toll that has yet to be determined at the time this content is being written. With small businesses on life support, these are scary times for business owners and for the intermediaries helping owners navigate through them. So how has COVID 19 affected business transactions?
ESOP as an Alternative Exit Strategy
When thinking about ways to sell your business, you are likely familiar with the most common strategies proposed by business advisors: selling to a third-party such as a private equity firm or a competitor, or selling to your family. What your business transition advisor may not have discussed with you is instead selling your business to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (an “ESOP”).
Letter of Intent to Purchase a Business Guide
If you’re considering the sale of your business, or possibly the acquisition of another competing business, it’s important to understand the selling/buying process.
An often overlooked and important first step during the process of buying or selling a business involves the negotiation of certain terms the buyer and seller will ultimately agree to at the closing table once the due diligence phase of the process is completed.
If either party ignores the importance of the initial terms’ negotiations, they can often end up with a bad deal or no deal at all.
Tips for Expediting the Sale of Your Small Business
As a business broker serving business owners who want to explore their options for exit, I get this question at almost every listing appointment:
“How long will it take to sell my business?”
The research indicates the answer is as follows:
For businesses that sell for under two million dollars, the IBBA’s research indicates it’s going to take 7-9 months…
Essentially you could have a baby in the time it takes to sell a business.
Many owners aren’t excited about this answer, but there are a few things you can do to expedite the sale of your small business. Let’s explore how to sell a business quickly.
Won’t My Business’s Assets Increase the Value of my Business?
As a business intermediary helping owners determine the “Most Probable Sales Price,” or MPSP of their businesses here in the Triangle, I hear a common question:
“That value makes sense, but what about all my stuff? Can I get paid for that too?”
The answer is rarely what the business owner wants to hear, but there’s a sound reason for it, and understanding how businesses are priced can help an owner with decisions on how to allocate resources for assets; especially if they are planning to sell in the near future.
In this article, we’ll explore the market approach for small businesses and what value the assets carry…
Understanding Business Valuations
Quite simply, a business valuation is a process and set of procedures used to determine what a business worth. Sounds unambiguous, right? But it takes more than just plugging numbers into a formula — a credible business valuation requires knowledge, preparation, and a thorough understanding of the business. The result is an objective assessment of the real value of the business. In addition to estimating the selling price of a business, a business valuation can be used for many legal purposes such as divorce litigation, shareholder disputes, and estate or gift taxation.
When to Hire a Business Advisor
Doing deals can be expensive. A lot of entrepreneurs want to save money by not hiring an advisor or they don’t know when they should make the investment on an advisor. It’s important to understand the roles of the broker and other advisors, especially legal counsel, and to know when to bring in a professional. Here are some milestones in a deal, and how to know when to hire a business advisor.
How to Overcome Customer Concentration Objection When Selling a Business
One of the greatest risks any buyer faces is what will happen to the business’ best customers post-sale. Will the top customers celebrate the founder’s great accomplishment or maybe decide it’s a good opportunity to negotiate better pricing or payment terms with the new owner? Or worse yet, will they be spooked by the new owners and find an alternative vendor?
Astute buyers measure this risk quickly. Typically, one of the first questions experienced buyers ask the business broker is about the presence or lack of a customer concentration.
For the business owner considering the sale of his business in the near future, having a clear understanding if a customer concentration exists is vitally important. In fact, the lack of a customer concentration is a great selling point.
What is the Value of My Business and How to Improve It?
Depending on the circumstances and objective of the owner, the value of a business can vary considerably. For instance, upon sale to unrelated party, an owner would expect to receive the maximum purchase price for their business the unrelated party is willing to pay. However, that same sale to a family member or employee may need to be structured so the cash flow of the business can support the purchase price.
For a closely held business, owners generally have little idea about the value of their business, or whether their business is generating an adequate return on investment, and what drives its value.
How to Prepare and Include the Business Owner’s Family in the Exit Planning Process
For the business owner who desires a great outcome, including the business owner’s family in the exit planning process, as well as the decision to sell, is vital.
How Can a Broker’s Opinion of Value Help a Business Owner?
A Broker’s Opinion of Value, or BOV, can help an owner determine what the business would sell for on the open market. This, in relation to an owner’s “pain” level, are often enough to make a decision if they are ready to sell.
3 Things to Know About Preparing Your SBA Business for Sale
Learn about three very important facts you need to know as you prepare your SBA business for sale.
How to Prepare for Due Diligence When Selling a Business
Our Featured Advisors, Attorney Mark Fazio and Business Broker Neal Isaacs, answer a few questions to help business owners learn how to prepare for due diligence when selling a business.
5 Differences Between a Business Broker & Real Estate Broker
Often successful business owners invest in real estate because it can be a tax efficient way to handle the retained earnings of a business. And when it comes to exit planning, business owners with real estate have more exit options. This is a good thing. For...
Top Seven Important Deal Terms When Selling a Business
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. Yes it’s easy to get fixated on the sale price. It’s the number you tell people years after the sale if you want to brag. However, much like losing weight, the sale price of your...
How to Successfully Acquire A Business In A Seller’s Market
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. As a business broker in North Carolina, I’m focused on seller representation. But I need great buyers to match with my great seller’s opportunities. In our office, we receive a lot of...
Commercial Lease Assignment When Selling Your Business
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. Commercial Lease Assignment Problems As part of selling your business, the lease can be one of the most overlooked barriers to completing the deal. The buyer and seller may have a...
Selling Your Business To a Competitor
Speaker: Holly A. Magister, CPA and Certified Financial Planner® This post is intended to help those who either own a business or advise business owners in the lower-middle market — defined as a business with gross revenue between $5MM and $50MM — and is...
Working Capital Adjustment
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! When a business is sold, sometimes an adjustment to the purchase price is needed to make up any difference between available working capital at the time of closing, and the working capital needed to maintain...
How is a Business Valued
There are many ways to compute the value of a business, and an equal number of differing opinions regarding a particular methodology’s relevance to an entrepreneur who starts and grows a viable business. But what seems to truly matter most to the entrepreneur who has...
SaaS Business Model Magic & Mythology
As consumers, we’ve become increasingly familiar with the notion of paying a monthly fee for various business and lifestyle services. Whereas we once rented movies by the title by driving to Blockbuster, we now have access to virtually unlimited content on Netflix....
EBITDA Margin and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
EBITDA Margin and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are similar measurements used by business owners and others who value businesses for sale. Let’s break down the two terms to help your understand which measurement of profit and cash flow are most relevant for your...
Risks in Your Business Relationships
How could there be risks in your business relationships? For most business owners who’ve started a business from scratch, the notion of regarding as risky the many positive relationships they’ve built over the years with customers, vendors, and even employees is...
Book Value
Book Value is defined as the total value of a company if it were to liquidate its assets and pay back its liabilities, or the value of the company according to the financial statement. Book value (BV) is also sometimes referred to as “shareholder’s equity.” Business...
MVIC (Market Value of Invested Capital)
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. What is Invested Capital? MVIC (Market Value of Invested Capital) is the amount of money raised by issuing securities to shareholders and bondholders, and typically includes total debt and...
Net Equity Value
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! Net equity value is the fair market value of a business’s assets minus its liabilities. This measured value is used to determine a business’s net worth – or the funds that would be left over and available to...
Discount Rate
The discount rate can be defined in several ways. For purposes of this post, the discount rate will be defined as it relates to small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) and the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) valuation method. As it applies to a business investment...
Discount for Lack of Marketability
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. The Discount for Lack of Marketability, or DLOM, is a discount applied to a company’s value when an ownership interest cannot be converted to cash quickly, and free of excessive expenses....
What is a Seller Note?
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. A seller’s note receivable is an alternative form of business capital. This type of debt financing is often used in small business acquisitions, where the seller agrees to accept a...
Business Goodwill
Business goodwill is defined as an intangible asset that increases a business’s value above and beyond its current market value. Business goodwill arises when one company is acquired by another at a premium, above market or book value price. Goodwill can be attributed...
Deal Structure
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! In any business acquisition, a deal structure must be formed to specify the financial terms, conditions, and process for successfully completing the transaction. The deal structure outlines a set of terms that...
Business Value
The term business value is a broad term that refers to any form of business valuation which determines the financial health and potential of a company. While a purchase or selling price is simply an amount that may be asked to be paid for a 100% ownership of a given...
Amortization of Goodwill
Goodwill is defined as an intangible asset that is created as the result of an acquisition of one company by another, at a premium price over its fair market value. The willingness of a buyer to pay a premium for a given business may be due to value built up over time...
EBITDA Valuation
EBITDA Valuation is an industry multiple or ratio method that is used commonly to determine the Enterprise Value of a company operating in the lower-middle or middle market. It differs from the method typically used by small businesses (also referred to as Main...
SDCF – Seller’s Discretionary Cash Flow
Seller’s Discretionary Cash Flow (SDCF), also sometimes referred to as seller’s discretionary income (SDI) or seller’s discretionary earnings (SDE), is a computation often used when valuing a small or medium-sized business. While larger, public companies are often...
Working Capital vs. Change in Working Capital
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. There is a significant difference between “working capital” and “change in working capital.” Working capital is a snapshot of a moment in time which measures the level of assets a business...
FF&E
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment (or FF&E) is an accounting term used in the process of valuing, liquidating, or selling a company or building. FF&E refers to any fixture, piece of furniture, or piece of equipment that is moveable and is not permanently...
Enterprise Value
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! Enterprise Value, also sometimes called “EV,” is a measure of a company’s total business value. EV is the theoretical price for a company if it were to be bought, and because EV accounts for a company’s debt and...
Dry Powder Definition
The term “dry powder” is financial slang and refers to a company’s or investor’s highly liquid securities which are kept on hand to finance future obligations, purchase assets, or invest in opportunities. Such capital also may be kept on hand to provide emergency...
What is an Earn Out Payment?
An Earn Out Payment is additional future compensation paid to the owner(s) of a business after it is sold. The terms and conditions that yield an earn out payment are contained in an Earn Out Agreement which is part of the Agreement of Sale. Typically, this payment is...
Data Room
A Data room may be a physical room or a virtual room and are used for a number of reasons – including data storage, document exchanges, financial transactions, file sharing, and legal transactions. Often, data rooms are used for the sale of a business or when raising...
Offering Memorandum Definition
An offering memorandum is a legal document that states the objectives, terms, and risks typically associated with private placements for public companies. However, an offering memorandum may also be used by buyers and sellers of private middle market businesses. This...
Buy-Side and Sell-Side
The investment banking market is made up of two sides – the buy-side, and the sell-side, both of which are responsible for researching and assessing stocks and other investments. The buy-side refers to advising institutions concerned with buying investment services....
Middle Market
Middle market or “mid-market” companies or firms are businesses that typically earn between $5 million and $1 billion in yearly revenue. This group of businesses makes up the middle third of the U.S. economy’s revenue and employs 25% of its labor force, with large and...
Non-Solicitation Agreement
Non-Solicitation Agreements (NSAs) are made by two parties to protect one party from a potential loss of income or assets. This type of agreement is warranted and often made when one party is about to become aware of certain important relationships the other party...
Employment Agreement
An employment agreement is a formal contract between an employer and an employee which defines the conditions of employment. This agreement usually will specify major employment details and include everything from compensation to expectations for specific work to be...
Buy-Sell Agreement Definition
A buy-sell agreement is a legally-binding agreement between two co-owners that governs any situation in which one co-owner dies, chooses to leave the business, is incapacitated, faces divorce, bankruptcy, retirement, or sells his/her share of the company. The...
Quick Business Valuation
As a business owner journeys through entrepreneurship, it’s inevitable for most to seek a quick business valuation on one or more occasions. Such a conversation with a business advisor may be about the need to understand the value of the business for the purpose of...
Exclusivity Agreement Definition
In business, the term exclusivity refers to a party’s sole rights with regard to a certain business activity. This may include business relationships, pricing, products, or sales. Another application of this term in the business world involves relationships between...
Sandbagging Definition
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. The term sandbagging refers to an intentional lowering of expectations. Sandbagging can apply to anything from sports to business, and is the practice of intentionally deceiving others in...
Rule of Thumb Definition
The term ‘rule of thumb’ generally refers to the idea of a principle with a broad application – something that is not intended to be exact or strictly accurate. In the business world, the term ‘rule of thumb’ refers to a guideline that provides simplified advice about...
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are those assets in a business which are not physical in nature. Some examples include: intellectual property, (like patents, trademarks, and copyrights), brand recognition, special knowledge, and business methods. Such non-physical assets add value...
Pro Forma Definition
Meaning ‘for the sake of form’, the term pro forma refers to a document that is often provided as a courtesy and satisfies predetermined minimum requirements in an effort to best predict the future outcome of a transaction within a business. One of the most common...
Selling A Business: How to Prepare for the Exit
Jim Beach, author and serial entrepreneur, interviewed Exit Promise founder Holly Magister on his radio show School for Startups Radio. We want to share some of the insights from that interview here on the blog. This is the third post in this series, and Holly...
ESOP vs. 401K Plan – Definition and Benefits to Business Owners and Employees
The method chosen to transfer ownership of a business for sale is one of the most important factors to consider as a business owner. And the reason for its importance is related to the wide differences in the amount of cash received (net of taxes) by the business owner across the various methods of transfer or sale. An ESOP or Employee Stock Ownership Plan is one method of ownership transfer or sale many business owners consider when they decide it’s time to retire. That said, let’s explore the ESOP as a potential method of transfer or sale from both the business owner’s and employees’ perspectives.
3 Steps To Increase Your Business Selling Price
When a business owner begins to negotiate the sale of his or her business with buyers for the first time, he or she will inevitably face a difference between the buyer’s offer price and the desired selling price. It’s at this point when a lively debate between the parties will occur over the underlying reasons for the business’s asking price being what it is. At this time a seller will be well-served if able to offer justification for an increased business valuation and a higher business selling price.
What Does it Take to Exit Your Business – Is it Good Luck?
Perhaps you are one of those business owners who feels you have plenty of time to think about exiting your business. You consider yourself lucky, and whenever you feel it’s time to leave, you will be able to do so with ease.
Why it may not be so – This is not one of those articles about how long it takes to leave a business, or how hard and expensive it can be. Instead it’s about the false impression many business owners have of life after the business – all wine and roses (PS it’s not).
Liquidated Damages Provisions in the Sale of a Business
When things go wrong with the sale of a business the parties involved look for remedies in the liquidated damages provisions established in the purchase agreement. Such provisions are included when a purchase agreement has been signed in advance of an actual closing when the business is transferred and a purchase price is paid.
Escrow Agent in the Sale of a Business
When a business is about to be sold, the parties to the sale may find it beneficial to establish an escrow agent to handle the transfer of certain assets and cash between the buyer and seller. Many times the parties agree to use the escrow account held by one of the party’s business attorneys. However, in many cases the parties prefer to hire an independent escrow agent to handle the assets and cash that will change hands.
Business Valuation Formulas
The valuation multiple formulas available to compute the value of a business for sale are numerous and can be confusing to many small business owners. In fact, many professionals can be similarly confused by the various multiple formulas currently in use.
Important Agreements When You Sell Your Business
When working through a business sale, an inordinate number of resources on both sides of the table are dedicated to drafting and negotiating the Stock Purchase or Asset Purchase Agreement. This is true especially in the last one-to-two weeks before the closing. In fact, I’ve had clients remark that during their entire tenure as an entrepreneur, they never spent as much time speaking to their advisors as they did during the last week of their business ownership journey!
Selling A Business: Asset Acquisition vs. Stock Acquisition
So you’ve decided to sell your business, but what structure is right for the transaction? Buyers and sellers often prefer different structures due to various factors which change based on the structure and which have different impacts on the parties. Generally there are three (3) categories of factors that drive the eventual structure of a deal: (1) business issues, (2) assignments and consents, and (3) tax issues.
You Are NOT Your Spouse’s Retirement Project | Why CEOs Need to Personally Prepare for Retirement
Transition Planning for the platinum years shouldn’t be overlooked, or underrated. What will you do when you retire? It’s time to start answering these ever-asked questions.
Exit Planners: Help Business Owners Make Companies More Profitable
My business partner, the author Jack Beauregard, and I recently had breakfast with Lorraine McGregor from Vancouver, BC Canada. Lorraine is the author of books on Exit Planning and Entrepreneurship, as well as an experienced business consultant. We were all discussing why so many business owners were delaying (the inevitable) transition planning from their businesses.
Lehman Scale Formula — How it Works and How to Negotiate It
Business Brokers and M&A Intermediaries may use or reference the ‘Lehman Scale’ when discussing their compensation method with a business owner contemplating the sale of their business. The Lehman Scale was originally developed in the late 1960’s and used by the Lehman Brothers when raising business capital for their clients.
Business Valuation Specialists
Business Valuation Experts come in many forms, and for a business owner it can be very difficult understanding the various designations. More importantly, when the business owner is in need of a valuation, understanding exactly what type of expertise is necessary and ultimately who to hire can become a daunting task.
To Sell or Not to Sell Your Business
To sell or not to sell, that is the question many business owners ask themselves at least once during their tenure as business owners. Sometimes, the decision to sell is easy if the owner is ready to retire or has decided to pursue a new career or business opportunity. However, in many cases, business owners struggle with this critical decision. Fortunately there are several steps you can take to make an informed and stress-free decision on whether to sell your business now, later, or not at all. In all cases seek the advice of several third party professionals such as a Business Attorney, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Business Appraiser and/or Broker, and a Financial Advisor as well as consultants in your industry.
Getting Fired by a Customer | Customer Service Policies
Today I fired LinkedIn. This might not jibe with the title you were expecting. To be technically accurate, I “merely” cancelled my “Premium” LinkedIn account and downgraded to a free “Basic” account. But I just stopped a recurring payment to LinkedIn, possibly forever. I consider a non-paying “member” not a customer, but maybe that’s semantics.
Should You Use a Letter of Intent (LOI)?
Term Sheets or Letters of Intent (LOIs) are commonly used in the buying or selling of businesses. The purpose of LOIs are to state clearly the principal terms that the parties have agreed to as part of the deal and to represent the intent of the parties to pursue the contemplated transaction.
5 Key Questions When Preparing to Sell a Business
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! As a business owner, you have worked long and hard to get your company to a point where it can be sold. You have likely worked long days and endured sleepless nights at some point during your journey. So selling is...
Employee Retention Strategies During the Sale of a Business
In a perfect world, when one business buys another, the staff of the purchased company would be able to transition into a role with the buying company. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. What’s more, the company being purchased may not know what is...
Adjusted EBITDA Definition
One of the many questions asked by entrepreneurs as they plan for the sale of their business is related to the Adjusted EBITDA definition.
Will There Really be a Business Exit Bubble for Baby Boomers?
When an asset has a grossly inflated price, it is by definition an asset bubble. Does this apply to many small businesses in the US? Probably yes, in my opinion. Most small businesses have a balance sheet listing some assets; therefore they are subject to being part of a bubble.
Indemnification Provisions of a Purchase Agreement
Indemnification allocates the risk of various post-closing losses between buyer and seller. For this reason, the indemnification provisions of your purchase agreement will very likely be among the most heavily negotiated provisions in your purchase agreement.
It’s Entrepreneurial Malpractice | NOT Exit Planning
A friend called me recently and asked a question: Do you think you could help a young man, he has a big problem? It turns out that my friend’s friend knew this young man and his father. The father is a well-regarded attorney who has a solo practice – sounds like thousands of other attorneys in the US.
Selling a Business to a Competitor? Pitfalls to Avoid, Precautions to Take
There are many pitfalls to avoid and precautions to be taken when contemplating the sale of your business to a competitor. In particular, selling a business to a competitor can have tricky antitrust implications that require much care prior to closing.
Surviving Due Diligence & Contract Negotiation
You have endured multiple meetings with potential buyers. You’ve written dozens of emails and suffered through several rounds of negotiations to secure the best price and deal structure. At last you have decided on the offer to accept. That’s the worst of it over then? Think again – you have yet to experience the joys of due diligence and sale contract negotiation.
How to Calculate Customer Concentration Risk
If a customer’s total revenue for the year represents 8% or more of all revenue for the same year, you have a customer concentration risk.
5 Ways to Prepare a Business for Sale at a Higher Price
The reasons for selling a business are many and varied; in the end, however, the desired result is the same – money. So how does one go about maximizing profit when selling a business?
The Value of a Business Plan in Selling Your Business
A business plan is critical to the success of any business. And, if the plan is frequently reviewed and updated, it becomes increasingly valuable over time. It provides valuable historical information to help a business owner make decisions on the future direction of the company.
Exiting The Business, But Not Entrepreneurship
For Bill Hinchey, his entrepreneurial journey was one of rapid growth. Just not in the way he initially hoped for. In just 13 years, he saw the sun care product company he started with two partners in a Pennsylvania basement develop into a worldwide leader in the medical device industry.
Going After the Next Opportunity
It’s the late 1980’s and Bill Hinchey just saw his young company, Solar Care Technologies, featured in a complimentary Wall Street Journal piece. Hinchey, along with two other guys he met while working for consumer products giant Proctor and Gamble, had recently set up shop in a business incubator in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley to develop a sunscreen towelette.
A Father’s Wish, an Entrepreneur’s Rise
This is the second part in a series called The Exit Interview featuring life-long entrepreneur Bill Hinchey. Read part two here. So here’s the setting. It’s Pittsburgh in the 1970’s and no longer will just “working hard” make ends meet. Pink slips are coming down in a...
Non-Solicitation Agreement | How to Keep Your Best Employees
If you’ve grown a valuable business, there is no doubt your employees are a big part of your success. You also know that hiring, training, and managing a great team of productive employees is a difficult task. And keeping your best employees is yet another accomplishment! But the painful truth is your competition would be very pleased to hire away your best employees.
Will Transferring Your Business To An Employee Or Family Member Meet Your Exit Objectives?
For many entrepreneurs protecting the livelihoods of loyal employees after selling their business is an important consideration. There is always a fear that a trade sale to a rival will lead to job losses, perhaps even the closure of the entire business, as the new owners seek to boost profits by eliminating duplicated resources.
