By Mike Handelsman
Entrepreneur.com, April 13, 2010
"This is a great article for anyone considering selling their business in this economy. It is possible to sell, but the better prepared you are...the less chance you will leave cash at the table... and that's where we come in." says Ralana D. Shelley, Certified Business Intermediary at Sunbelt Indiana Business Resource.
The business-for-sale market has been slowly recovering for the past few quarters, and the first quarter of 2010 was no different. According to industry data, the number of closed business-for-sale transactions rose slightly last quarter, by 0.3 percent, as compared to the first quarter of 2009.
Although this is a relatively small increase, it's a positive sign, especially given the deep declines in closed deals in the past two years. And evidence of a turnaround is more apparent when comparing Q1 2010 data to the prior quarter, which shows a healthy 6.3 percent increase in transaction volume.
While deal volume is up, there's still downward pressure on the business-for-sale listing prices... the data suggests that it's still a buyer's market out there. This is the result of a few factors, most notalby weaker financials for selling companies, a lack of confidence from buyers that the economy will improve quickly, and a dearth of capital available to those who want to buy a business.
For business owners looking to sell in this market, there are things you can do to improve the odds of closing the deal and to ensure you receive a good price for your business. These tips will get you started.
- Price your business right.
- Remember you're still running a business.
- Be willing to share some of the buyer's burden.
- Offer a roadmap to success.
It's a buyer's market out there, but that's not necessarily a reason to hold off on selling. Business owners who get it right are still closing deals at prices that can satisfy all of the parties involved in the transaction.
* This is a synopsis...to read the full article... click here.
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