Articles

I have very fond memories of my first “real” job. After all, this was my initial step into the real world: no longer did I receive cash for a few hours of watching someone’s children; I now had my hands on an official paycheck – complete with my social security number, full address, and withholdings for the government! I was attending ...

Most business owners seek a valuation for their company when there’s an immediate need — they’re ready to sell or raise capital now, or they have a shareholder that is being bought out or gifting equity to family. But valuations can be useful whether a deal is imminent or not. We talked to Cameron Cook, Managing Director of Business Valuations and ...

If I sell the business now, will I get enough money to satisfy my needs? Will I really improve my personal financial position, or should I wait a little bit longer? Define priorities: Do I want an all-cash deal, so that I can wash my hands and be done with the business? (This will generally result in a lower price the buyer will be willing to pay.) Am I willing ...

Two recent discussions are worth considering when thinking of about selling your business. One gentleman wants to sell his business to a couple employees in a couple of years and the other wants to sell in 10 years. TWO YEAR GOAL: A moderately successful business owner and I discussed having a business valuation completed on his business so it could be listed ...

Anyone selling a business should be considering the elements of the sales process. Business brokers are invaluable in each of these considerations: Think It Through – Know What You Want Do you want to retire completely or continue to have a hand or profit in the business? Do you want to move or stay where you live? Surprisingly, some people are not clear on ...

An established business has much to offer a prospective buyer. A proven product or service exists, as well as a customer base. Typically, there are experienced employees and managers in place (and many choose to remain with the company after the sale is complete). There is a cash flow from the first day the buyer takes over the business. The company is already ...

Today we are offering a wish list for a typical seller of a small business. Entrepreneurs who are selling their companies, as well as those looking to purchase, generally agree on what would make the process more seamless overall. What the seller wants: A qualified buyer - This not only means someone with the financial resources to meet a down payment ...

We recently presented a wish list for a typical seller of a small business. Now, it's the buyer's turn. Entrepreneurs - whether they are buyers or sellers - generally agree on several factors that make the business transfer process more seamless overall. A buyer wants: A solid business - Although that phrase may be somewhat subjective, buyers are ...

When you begin to negotiate the sale of the business, you will be much better off if you have developed a personal plan and have prioritized which items in the deal are the most important to you and which items you can compromise on and still accomplish your objectives. Prioritize which items are most important in the sale. In every business sale there is ...

From time to time, I am in the unfortunate position of telling some 50-year old business owner that they "just don’t have any goodwill". "But we have been around forever, or our name is like a household word in the community, or we literally have thousands of customers" might be the seller’s response. I am constantly amazed at how ...

Here are some of the obvious, and not so obvious, steps you can take as you get ready to sell your business: Clean the premises Organize the books and records Deal with any customer/vendor/employee issues prior to the sale Try to increase revenues without sacrificing margin (increasing revenue is important to the buyer as they analyze trends) Diversify the ...

You've spent a lifetime building up your business. Whether you have always planned to move on or are selling your business due to the continuing pressures exerted by the many recent economic downturns, you will be looking to achieve the greatest profit attainable for your efforts. That is why it is so important that the sale be handled correctly. The goodwill ...

The biggest financial transaction in a private business owner's life is likely the sale of his or her business. Although many transfers are predetermined, others result from unplanned events, which is why it is essential for business owners to have an exit strategy. Operate your business as if you are going to sell it. Most owners assume they will operate the ...

Ho-hum, you may be thinking. Or, boring. Maybe even, when can I possibly fit this into my hectic week? As an entrepreneur, you are an extremely busy individual who probably shoots from the hip more often than not. So, do you really need to take the time and effort to put a business plan in writing? Almost every CEO and business consultant in the country would ...

The growth or lack of growth in the economy is a current debate. So, if you are one of the Baby Boomers who weathered the 2008 economic crisis and still in business, let's consider your situation. You are labeled a "Baby Boomer" because you are now between the mid 50's and the late 60's. You were raised to believe that the age of 65 was somehow ...

When you're hoping to sell your business there are a number of things to be concerned about. There are a few ways you can get a step-up on your buyer and anticipate their moves before they have thought them up themselves. If you want to swim with the piranhas you're going to have to nip a few toes; if you want to sell your business, you're going to need ...

Selling a business is a complicated and an intricate procedure. However, business brokers play a fundamental role in getting along the process to make it a successful deal. There are several factors and cautions involved that should to be considered before stepping out to sell your business. Finding the exact potential buyer and to avoid scams you need to hire a ...

The buzz is that if you are a Baby Boomer and you want to sell your business in the next few years, then you are in the majority. You are not the only Baby Boomer and will possibly have your business compete against many more similar businesses in both model and industry. In order to be well-prepared, you will need a proper valuation. Establishing a baseline value of ...

How often do you find yourself looking for that important - yet somehow misplaced - piece of paper? Do you promise yourself that you're going to become better organized, but find the days, weeks and months slipping by with too much work to do and not enough time to start that new filing system or categorize your overflowing email messages? Everyone can benefit ...

Did you know that your small business is subject to the same regulations as a giant commercial entity? If you find this startling news, you're not alone; most entrepreneurs in the United States assume that laws apply only to much larger corporations. All companies – small, medium, large and mammoth – must adhere to the applicable local, regional and ...