Valuations Change. What Should You Do?
Valuation changes over time. Yet this simple enough fact is widely forgotten or even ignored. In Chris Mercer’s insightful article, “A Problem: Fixed Price Buy-Sell Agreements,” Mercer explores the complexities of the fixed price buy-sell agreement. At the core of the problem is the fact that, as Mercer points out, “time passes and value changes.” With the passing of time values invariably...Read More
Day One is the Day to Prepare Your Exit
Pepperjam CTO, Greg Shepard recently published “Planning Your Exit Should Begin When You Launch” in Entrepreneur magazine. In this article, Shepard puts forward a variety of thought-provoking ideas including that entrepreneurs should be thinking about partnering early on with those they believe will ultimately want to buy their business. Thinking Ahead Much of Shepard’s thinking centers...Read More
What Makes the Sale of a Business Fall Through?
There are a myriad of reasons why the sale of a business doesn’t close successfully; these multiple causes can, however, be broken down into four categories: those caused by the seller, those caused by the buyer, those that just happen (“acts of fate”), and those caused by third parties. The following examines the part each of these components can play in contributing to the...Read More
When It’s Time to Sell, Put Your Strengths First
Putting your strengths first will help you sell your business. While this may seem obvious, a surprising number of business owners will either improperly index the strengths of their business or fail to emphasize those strengths adequately. In this article, we will examine five key business strengths that you should focus on when it comes time to sell. Understand Your Buyer You know your...Read More
Evaluating Your Company’s Weaknesses
The time you spend evaluating your company’s weaknesses is, as it turns out, one of the single best investments you can hope to make. No one should understand your company better than you. But to fully understand your company, it is essential that you invest the time to understand your company’s various strengths and weakness. Your company, from the beginning, has been an investment. It’s...Read More
The Top Three Major Legal Mistakes to Avoid During a Sale
The business sale process can be complex, which is part of the reason why it makes sense to have expert help in the form of a business broker. Legal mistakes can be very costly mistakes. A legal mistake can also bring the entire sale process to a sudden and complete halt. Let’s take a closer look at what you can do to avoid these kinds of issues when selling your business. Major Mistake 1...Read More
5 Key Factors in Transferring Your Business to a Family Member
The odds are that you’ve put a great deal of yourself into your business. Inevitably, the day will come when you have no choice but to walk away from your business and begin a new chapter of your life. Quite often, businesses are transferred from one family member to another. In this article, we will examine 5 of the key factors you’ll want to consider when transferring your business to a...Read More
Maintaining Confidentiality Throughout the Sale Process
There are two key ingredients when it comes to selling a business: professionalism and confidentiality. If either of these two ingredients are lacking, then you’ll most likely run into problems. Sadly, many sellers see their deals fall apart due to a breach of confidentiality. You certainly don’t want to be among their ranks. The simple fact is that a breach in confidentiality can...Read More
Embracing Retirement and Selling: 4 Tips for a Smooth Transition
No one works forever. Regardless of how much you love your business, sooner or later you will have to step away. Owning a business can be very demanding. This fact can be doubly true for owner-operators of businesses. The simple fact is that you’ll have to embrace retirement at some point. Most business owners have never sold a business before and may not know what to expect. The good...Read More