Journal
Addressing Key Employees
Many years ago I represented the owners of a business that was to be sold to a private equity firm. As should be expected with an experienced buyer, the terms of the transaction were carefully documented in a letter of intent, to be followed by the actual Asset Purchase Agreement and a multitude of various…
Read MoreFinancial Housecleaning
We all know the drudgery of cleaning something significant to get it ready to sell, whether a business, a house or even a car. You want whatever you are selling to look its best for possible buyers and, ironically, better than you ever cared to have it looking for yourself. In many ways, a business…
Read MorePreparing to Leave
There are a handful of questions that nearly every buyer asks when first looking at a business, and one of this is: “What does the owner do?” They want to know whether they can replace the owner, so clearly one of the most important ownership transition planning steps for a small business owner is…
Read More5 Ways To Get Your Business To Run Without You
Some owners focus on growing their profits, while others are obsessed with sales goals. Have you ever considered making it your primary goal to set up your business so that it can thrive and grow without you? A business not dependent on its owner is the ultimate asset to own. It allows you complete control…
Read MoreSmall Business Values – Have They Recovered?
It’s no secret that the value of most businesses tanked during the Great Recession. Many small business owners were not able to survive, losing not only their business but in many cases, a lifetime of savings. Even those businesses that remained post-Recession tended to suffer several years of woeful Profit and Loss statements, making the…
Read MoreBusiness Sale Medians and Multiples
In a recent post I ran through a buyer analysis of a business listed for sale, which we refer to sometimes as a “buyer reality check”. We go through this analysis for every business we represent, before making a recommendation to the owner of an asking price or range for the business. In making our…
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