Selling your small business after years of dedicated work can be an exciting and liberating experience. At the same time, it’s also a big decision that requires careful consideration. When you sell your business, you will have to give up many things you love about operating it on a daily basis. But by following these 5 tips for selling your small business, you can make the process much smoother and get a good return on your investment.
Selling your business is an exciting and challenging adventure. If you are contemplating whether you should sell your business or not now is the right time to take action! Read on to know how…
Top 5 – Things to Know Before Selling Your Small Business
You can also read tips for managing small business finances as additional information for your knowledge. Let us see top 5 – things to know before selling your small business below in detail.
Know Your Reasons for Selling
Before you even begin to look for a buyer, it’s important to understand your reasons for selling. Many business owners sell their businesses for financial reasons. They may feel that the businesses are worth more than what they are earning from them, or they may need cash for other investments.
Some may sell because they want to retire, or they may be called away from their business due to health reasons. Whatever your reasons for selling, it will help to clarify them before starting your search for a buyer.
Hire A Good Attorney, CPA and Business Broker
When you are ready to put your business up for sale, you will want to hire a good attorney and CPA to help you through the process. Your attorney will help you draft an asset purchase agreement and make sure all the necessary liabilities and taxes are covered. Also your CPA will be there to help you with your taxes as you sell your business and make the transition to your new life.
Your attorney and CPA will help you navigate the complicated tax rules and regulations so you can get the best deal possible. They will also help you find the best buyers for your business, and help you navigate all the paperwork that goes along with selling a small business. Make sure you hire a reputable attorney and CPA who specialize in small business sales to help you make the process as smooth as possible.
Another key player to consider is hiring a qualified business broker. They often act is intermediary between business owners and attorneys/CPA’s to streamline the process. They also help to get business valuated correctly. If you’re looking to sell a business and get the highest price, then check out A. Neumann & Associates, LLC with representatives all over the East Coast.
Market Research Is Key
Once you’ve decided to sell your business, one of the first things you should do is begin researching possible buyers. It’s important to have a list of potential buyers and their contact information before your business is even on the market, so you can call them as soon as you’re ready to sell.
You may have a small circle of friends and business associates who might be interested in buying your business, but chances are you will also need to reach out to a wider audience. It’s a good idea to hire a business broker to help you with your sale. A broker will help you reach a much wider audience and will be able to advise you on how to best market your business for sale.
If you can, ask the broker if they have any clients who might be interested in your business. This will help you get your business in front of a much wider audience.
Be Selective with Who You Talk To
Once you have a list of potential buyers, it’s important to be careful about who you talk to first. Generally, it’s best to start by talking to your existing lenders and investors. Let them know you are selling your business and ask them what kind of price they would be willing to pay for it. Once you have a good idea of their price range, you can begin talking to potential buyers.
Once you know what your lenders and investors are willing to pay for the business, you will have a better idea of what price you should be asking for. This will make it easier to negotiate with potential buyers, and you will have a better idea of where to fall in terms of price.
The Bottom Line
A successful sale of your business will take time. It’s important to be patient and let the process play out. If you rush or try to low-ball your asking price, you will likely end up with a much lower sale price than if you had just been patient. By keeping these 5 tips in mind, you will make the process of selling your business much smoother, and you will get a good return on your investment.