Have you been asking yourself: “Who can sell my business?” If so, you’ve probably researched several different avenues that may provide yo...
Have you been asking yourself: “Who can sell my business?” If so,
you’ve probably researched several different avenues that may provide you with some answers. But, if you truly want to have a successful sale, you probably do not want to manage this entire process yourself. Sure, you can take ads out in local publications to assess the interest that the market may have in your company, but ultimately, you have just as good a chance of finding a buyer if you head to the local hardware store and purchase a “for sale” sign.
Brokers are essential in the listing, showing, and closing of your business transaction. Additionally, who is handling your operation while you are working on the sale of your company? Now certainly is not the time to let the daily operations fall apart, is it? We’re looking to build value at this point, not reduce it!
Assessing the Potential
When you begin asking questions such as “Is it time to sell my business?” or “What is my business worth?”, it’s likely time to sell. However, this undertaking is nearly as frustrating as the early years you endured before finding success. Listing your company alone is a hassle that many wouldn’t wish on their worst enemy.
There are several publications that are dedicated to the listing of businesses that are for sale, but unless you get incredibly lucky, you won’t get many bites. Brokers have dedicated listings that provide an “active” search for buyers. Because they have clients on both ends of the equation, these professionals have everything necessary to put seller and buyer at the same table, assess the worth of the company, and handle all of the necessary documentation and paperwork.
Getting the Ball Rolling
Once your business is on the market, there is still much more work that must be done. You must gather your documentation, be sure that all of your tax information is organization and ready for review, and continue to drive up the value of your company. All of these things can be stressful enough, but when you consider that you will be fielding questions from prospective buyers, having to dig through years of paperwork to answer them, and ensure that you are continuing to maintain your company, it’s easy to see why the “I’m going to
sell my business on my own” bravado can be taxing.
The Safest Route
As we mentioned before, business brokers are incredibly efficient in their area of expertise. Because they manage the purchase and sale of companies on a daily basis, they fully understand the nuances of the process. Agreements must be signed before any information is divulged, and once the Non-Disclosures have been drawn up, signed, and witnessed, the real work begins. Negotiations can be as taxing as running the company itself, and when a broker is overseeing everything, things take a much smoother route. The value of the business has already been considered, and updated if need be, and prospective buyers are contacted. Everyone enters the negotiation phase well-informed, helping to speed up the process and make the sale of the operation seamless.
Stress abounds when owning your own business, but anyone believing the voice in their head telling them “I can
sell my business on my own” will quickly learn that things are never as easy as they seem. Business brokers exist for a reason, and because they handle such transactions regularly, there is nothing that will get by their professional understanding. Finding the right buyer for your business is easy, provided that you do the necessary research and hire the right organization to bring them to the negotiation table.
