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| Who should know that your business is for sale? Only selected qualified buyers. Selling a business is a process. Following are "Ten Steps To A Successful Sale Of A Business". |
| "Preparation & Confidentiality
are Essential to a Successful Sale of a Business" |
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| 1. |
A Realistic Self-Assessment – Are you read to sell your business? Are you a committed seller? Do you have a saleable business? |
| 2. | Retaining An Intermediary – As an experienced professional we will be honest and objective in all our dealings with you. We will help develop and implement a marketing plan while you are working on running the operation. Finally, we will help you negotiate the best possible deal and make sure everything possible is done to get the deal closed. |
| 3. | Price Evaluation And Pricing Strategy – There is more to a good deal than price, although a good deal starts with a good pricing strategy. As an intermediary will have the resources to develop the right pricing strategy for your business. It is more than a simple accounting exercise. |
| 4. | Develop And Implement A Marketing Plan – Marketing efforts should produce potential buyers. You would not sell a product or service without some kind of plan. You need a plan to sell your business too. The plan should identify who to approach and how to do it, while generating maximum enthusiasm and price, and maintaining as much confidentiality as possible, while leaving you lots of time to continue to run your business. |
| 5. | Interview Buyers –They need to be screened so that your time is not wasted on people who are not realistic buyers or not a good match for you and your business. We will maintain and protect your confidentiality and intellectual property, and only bring you qualified buyers who are a good match for you and your business. |
| 6. | Negotiate The Offer – Once we obtain an offer, it needs to be negotiated. There is a lot more to consider than price. Price adjustment clauses, payment terms, security, after-tax cash proceeds, restrictive covenants, post-closing obligations, timing – they all need to be negotiated and balanced off to so that the best possible deal is attained. |
| 7. | Due Diligence – The buyer needs to verify what we and the seller have told them about the business. We will co-ordinate this process that is least disruptive to the seller, while earning the trust and respect of the buyer, all without losing momentum toward a closing. Experience and patience are essential at this stage in a deal. |
| 8. | Finalize The Definitive Agreement – All of the business terms, adjusted for anything that arises in due diligence, need to be reduced to a definitive legal agreement which fairly balances the risks and rewards to both sides. This must be done without wrecking the deal itself. Experience, commitment and respect are key at this stage in a deal. |
| 9. | Close The Deal – Finally we must dot all the i's and the t’s must be crossed. This is tedious work which we manage with patience and common sense from both sides, as well as a mutual commitment to making a successful deal happen for everyone, including the business itself. |
| 10. | An Orderly Transition – Finally, a smooth and orderly transition results in a happy buyer, a satisfied seller, and the best possible chance of success. In the end, it demonstrates a job well done by everyone involved. |
