Lucido Global Business Brokers

Lucido Global Business Brokers

Adding Value, Creating Wealth

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Suite of Services
    • Our Team
  • Buying a Business
    • Buying a Business
    • Buying a Business Tutorial
  • Selling a Business
    • Selling a Business
    • Selling a Business Tutorial
  • Visas & Immigration
  • Businesses For Sale
    • Featured Businesses
    • Florida Businesses
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

What Do You Need to Do to Get Your Business Ready to Sell?

By Sam Mohlenhoff Jan 18

In his recent article in Smart Business entitled, “How to get your business, and yourself, ready for sale,” author Adam Burroughs explores the key points of getting your business ready to sell.  Burroughs points to the truism that, at some point, almost every business owner must sell his or her business.  For this reason, it is critical to think about what it takes to get your business ready to sell.  Simply stated, it is best to explore and plan for selling your business long before you actually need to place your business on the market.  Let’s explore some key points for selling your business.

Broadening Your Options

Burroughs interviews Scott McRill at Clark Schaefer Hackett.  McRill notes, “The sooner you think about your exit, the more options you’ll have for yourself and the business when the time comes.”  A savvy business owner will always want to give himself or herself as many options as possible. McRill wisely points out that early planning is key, and a failure to engage in early planning could lead to a lower selling price.  If you want to get the best price for your business, then planning for the eventual sale as far in advance as possible is a good move.

Planning in Advance

According to Burroughs, business owners should start planning to sell their business at least 2 to 3 years before they actually plan to sell.  Part of the reason for this is so that business owners will have enough time to make operational improvements designed to maximize the business’s overall value. 

A Financial Review

At the top of every business owners “preparing to sell” list is to have a third-party review the business’s financial situation.  This is excellent advice for, as frequent readers of this blog know, any serious prospective buyer will look long and hard at your business’s financials.  Getting your business’s financial house in order means that you should turn to an accounting firm for help.  You’ll want to review financial statements for at least the previous 2 to 3 years.

Burroughs points out that when it comes to selling a business, there are many variables that business owners often overlook.  At the top of the list is the management team. 

Your Management Team

Prospective buyers can get very nervous about the stability of the management team once ownership has changed hands.  Often, the new buyer may only sign on the dotted line if the owner agrees to stay on after the sale during a transition period.  Having a competent and proven team in place, one that is dedicated to staying with the company will help you get your business ready to sell.

There are a lot of variables involved in preparing to sell a business.  The sooner that you get experts involved in the process, the better off you will be.  A business broker can serve as a guide – one that can point you in the right direction.  Find a broker with an abundance of experience, and you’ll have an invaluable ally who can help you navigate the process.  It can take a lot of time and effort to sell a business.  Working with a business broker can keep you from reinventing the wheel at every step of the process.

Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc. 

BAZA Production/BigStock.com

Categories: Seller Articles, Selling a Business

Prev
Next

Featured Businesses

Subscribe to our Newsletter

No worries, your information is safe with us. We hate spam too!

From Our Blog

Ownership Transition Survey Results

January 15, 2021

Mass Mutual Life Insurance produced an ownership transition survey back about a decade ago.  The … Read More »

The Importance of Owner Flexibility

December 18, 2020

You shouldn’t expect to sell your company overnight.  For every company that sells quickly, there … Read More »

Getting the Most Out of Confidentiality Agreements

December 12, 2020

When it comes to buying or selling a business, there is no replacement for a solid confidentiality … Read More »

How to Optimize Your Chances of Selling Your Business

December 5, 2020

The simple fact is that selling your business is likely to be the single most important financial … Read More »

Insights from BizBuySell’s 3rd Quarter Insight Report

November 28, 2020

Most business buyers and sellers are wondering what 2021 and beyond will bring.  BizBuySell and … Read More »

Zeroing in on Goodwill

November 24, 2020

Goodwill is a term that might cause a little confusion for some.  But at its heart, it is a … Read More »

Global Business Brokers

Contact Us

Lucido Global Business Brokers
Keller Williams Coral Gables
550 Biltmore Way PH II A-B
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Office (305) 662-7325
Direct (954) 913-5464
rod@globalbusinessbrokers.net

Adding Value, Creating Wealth

  • Ownership Transition Survey Results
  • The Importance of Owner Flexibility
  • Getting the Most Out of Confidentiality Agreements
  • How to Optimize Your Chances of Selling Your Business
  • Insights from BizBuySell’s 3rd Quarter Insight Report

Join Our Team

Copyright © 2021 Lucido Global Business Brokers
MENU
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Suite of Services
    • Our Team
  • Buying a Business
    • Buying a Business
    • Buying a Business Tutorial
  • Selling a Business
    • Selling a Business
    • Selling a Business Tutorial
  • Visas & Immigration
  • Businesses For Sale
    • Featured Businesses
    • Florida Businesses
  • Blog
  • Contact Us