Frequently Asked Questions about Buying a Business
1. What are the key motivators for people going into business for themselves?
Before making a decision to purchase a business, a buyer should understand his or her objectives to make sure those objectives can be met by purchasing any or a particular business. Most relevant surveys reveal similar responses and, interestingly, making money is not at the top of the list. Here is a list of the typical answers, in the order of importance:
To control my own future.
To work for myself.
To take advantage of my skills and abilities.
To make money.
2. Should I start my own business or buy an existing one?
An existing business has a historical track record (good or bad) which can be used to evaluate the business. An existing business has usually shown there is demand for its products or services, and it should have, among other things, detailed financial records. Sometimes, a seller will agree to (more…)
Read MoreThe Offer to Buy a Business Depends on the Many Characteristics
In our Merger and Acquisition practice we try to prepare our business sellers for the multitude of different deal structures that they should expect from various buyers. We go through elements like cash at close, seller notes, earn outs, non-competes, escrow accounts, etc. More often than not our first time seller will actually put out his or her hand in a stop gesture and reply, “I only want the full price in cash at close.” This article will discuss some of the selling company characteristics that directly affect both the selling price and the terms.
Selling Company Revenue Composition –
This is a very important factor in determining how much a buyer will pay for your business and how much will be in cash at closing. If 80% of your annual revenue is a result of contractually recurring revenue, you can command both a premium price and a deal heavily weighted in cash at close. On the other hand, if you have little or no contractually recurring revenue and are heavily dependent on net new sales from new clients, your sale price will be far less and you will be expected to receive a significant portion based on a future performance earn out. Companies that can demonstrate (more…)
Read MoreThe Secrets of Selling Your Business
14 Steps to Maximum Value and Profit
Professional M&A experts follow well-defined, orderly steps to sell a business. It is the only way to negotiate the best deal structure and price. As a business owner interested in selling your company, you will probably rely on an intermediary to take these steps for you. Even so, it is wise to understand the process so you can play an active, educated role in the sale of your business. Here are the 14 steps most often followed by professional M&A experts:
Step 1- Value Analysis
Studies have shown that 80 percent of privately held companies are sold for less than fair market value. For that reason, this step is critical to all that follow. A proper valuation of your business should involve the analysis of many factors, such as gross sales and profit percentage, company infrastructures, product or service leadership, current market conditions, growth opportunities, market demand for that particular type of business, and many others.
Step 2 – Sell Now or Later
Two main factors will decide whether you proceed to sell your business. One is (more…)
Read MoreGet Ready For The Next M&A Wave
Six Value Builders
Just twelve months ago, most owners of privately held businesses were feeling pretty upbeat. Many had enjoyed a record-breaking year in 2006, and 2007 was shaping up to be another high-water mark. One year ago (unless you were a sub-prime lender or starter-home track builder!) there was still plenty of money available to support merger and acquisition activity at valuation multiples that were at unprecedented levels.
Today, just twelve months later, many of these same successful business owners across the country are reeling from the combined effects of the expanding credit crunch and economic slowdown. Those who had “been thinking” about selling their companies and creating long-term financial security and more free time for themselves now feel trapped and unable to pursue their goals.
As a middle market investment banker and exit strategy advisor, I have observed many owners of privately held companies are now doing nothing to advance their goal of financial security and/or retirement. Instead, they have retreated to the “safety” of waiting until the next wave of M&A activity—the next valuation peak—when, presumably they will start thinking about (more…)
Read MorePreparing Your Company For Sale
Whether you are considering selling your business now or sometime in the future, the most important thing you can do to ensure a successful and profitable sale is to take steps to properly prepare your business for the sale. There are hundreds of reasons why a company is difficult to sell or offers are not as expected, most of which can be attributed to a lack of planning.
Selling a business is like selling a house. The better and more salable you make it look, the faster it sells and at a more favorable price. Whatever your reason for selling, I strongly suggest that you start preparing your business two years before your desired time of sale. All too often, owners come to us wanting to sell their business “yesterday,” yet they have done nothing to position themselves or the company for a sale. Recently, a company failed to sell because the lease had less than one year remaining and the building’s owner would not renew the lease. The buyer would have incurred several hundred thousand dollars to move the operation, which made the sale unattractive. There was also an owner who made every decision himself and did not want to remain with the company one day after the sale. A new owner would be lost for months without assistance from a key employee or secondary manager.
Pre-sale planning
The goal of pre-sale positioning is to deal with any negative aspects that might hinder or prevent a sale, (more…)
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