Some Key Factors in Pricing a Business

The following questions are useful to understand a business and thereby price that business more prudently:

• What's for sale? What's not for sale? Does it include real estate? Are some of the machines leased instead of owned?
• What assets are not earning money? Perhaps these assets should be sold off.
• What is proprietary? Consider trademarks, copyrights, patents, software, etc?
• What is the competitive advantage? Does the business have a certain niche, superior marketing, desirable location?
• What is the barrier of entry? Is it capital, low labor, tight relationships?
• What about employment agreements/non-competes? Has the seller failed to secure these agreements from key employees?
• How does one grow the business? Maybe it can't be grown.
• How much working capital does one need to run the business?
• What is the depth of management and how dependent is the business on the owner/manager?
• How is the financial reporting undertaken and recorded, and how does management adjust the business accordingly?

These are important questions for sellers and their advisors to consider when setting the price of a business for sale. A qualified business broker is an indispensable took to help answer these questions and determine a most probable selling price for the business in its marketplace.

Benefits of Meeting with a Business Broker in person...

Whether you are ready to list now or are considering in the next fews years, as you move forward with the sale of your business, you will want to consider all of your options. Speaking to a qualified business broker is one of the first steps you are going to want to take. You will be better prepared to move forward whether you list with the broker or not. Arming yourself with all the tools available to you is always a good idea. But, do not think a quick conversation over the phone is going to give you a full picture of the advantages that a business broker can offer to the situation.

A qualified business broker can render an initial opinion of value, and recommend courses of action to market your business. In order to do so, you will want them to have a full picture of your business. An on-site meeting can give your potential broker a better understanding of your business. You want them to see it as more than just the numbers. Your business has a flavor, and should you decide to list, the better understanding the broker has the more likely they are to concentrate on that right-fit buyer, the one most likely to see the value and succeed in your business...

Click here to read my full  article, and respond with a comment. Would love to hear what you have to say...

Ralana D. Abraham
Business Broker, Dir. of Marketing
Sunbelt Indiana

Are you sure you're ready to sell?

You may have decided it's time to sell, but before you begin the M&A process, you need to take a good, hard look at what you plan to put on the block. Just because you're ready doesn't maean buyers will be interested - particularly if this is the first time you've thought about preparing your business for sale.  Prospective buyers won't just scrutinize your business, but they'll also compare it to other opportunities in the marketplace.

Asking tough questions
With the help of your M&A advisors, go over your company with a fine-tooth comb, just as a buyer will during the due diligence stage. Evaluate everything from debt levels to personnel to customer relationships and address any issues that are likely to give potential buyers pause, such as too much business concentration in only a few customers.

To read the full article by the staff at SunbeltMergers.com click here.

Exit Planning:Prepare for an out while you're still in

Running a successful business is time consuming, leaving you little time to plan what may seem like distant succession issues. It's important, however, to outline an exit plan and make succession decisions as early as possible. Evaluating and grooming possible successors or preparing for an outside sale can take years. And it's never too early to make retirement and estate plans.

Take stock
Before determining where you want to be when you're ready to retire, assess where you and your business are financially today. Prepare a detailed financial analysis of your business with the help of a valuation professional. This expert will review historical data to determine its current value.

Click here to read the full article by the staff at SunbeltMergers.com.

Recap of the Year at Sunbelt Indiana

Well everyone, 2011 is coming to a close and we are proud to announce that we have successfully closed over 25 sale transactions this year... the following tombstone sheets show just a sampling of our recent transactions... click on the subject line to review just a few.

• Recent Completed M&A Transactions


• Recent Completed Mainstreet Transactions

To take your business from "for sale" to "sold" contact us at indyinfo@sunbeltindiana.com or 317-573-2100 to speak to a broker about your exit planning strategy.

Check out our own Larry Metzing in the Biz Voice by the Indiana Chamber

Check out the September / October 2011 issue of BizVoice magazine, put out by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Our own Larry Metzing, Senior Partner at Sunbelt Indiana Business Resource is highlighted as an Indiana "dealmaker", along with several other dealmaking Indiana professionals, in The Deal Behind the Deals, Pros offer Stories, Facts and Analysis.

Larry talks about fascinating deals, estimated market valuation, and the importance of taking the busines to market, as opposed to selling to the first buyer that comes along.

Click here to read the article.

How to Hold on to Key Employees (Article 3, Exit planning series)

Courtesy of Business Brokerage Press
During a company merger, the devil is in the details. Identifying key employees and employment issues early on can facilitate a smooth deal. And a communication plan can help prevent, for example, top-producing salespeople from defecting to competitors, decimating the company's customer base, and affecting its value.

It's important to offer employees incentives to stay, but you also need to anticipate potential legal issues. Plan now to put in place protections to prevent employees from disrupting your deal, both before and after its closes.

to read the full article... click here.

Check us out Monday for Article 4 in our Exit Planning Series when we address the subject of Inventory.

Check out our January Buyer Newsletter

Great resource for buying a business...

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view newsletter

October 2010 Buyer newsletter available...

CLICK HERE to view new listings, featured listings and informational resources about buying a business.

Check out... SBA Program Proves a Hit, but Now It Is in Limbo - WSJ.com

By Ruth Simon
August 5, 2010
WSJ.com


Pinnacle Bank made just two loans through the Small Business Administration in 2007 and 2008. So far this year, the Orange City, Fla., bank's total is nine, to borrowers from an auto dealer to a computer-equipment wholesaler to a bakery.

"The SBA program ios the only way we can continue to lend right now," says David Bridgeman, president of Pinnacle, which has two branches and assets of $213 million, including about 600 loans. For many of the $3.4 million in loans Pinnacle made through the SBA in 2010, the bank has to set aside capital against only the 10% slice that isn't guaranteed by the U.S. government.

The 7(a) program, the SBA's largest loan program, is hardly a cure for the credit shortage affecting the many borrowers. The agency is involved in less than 10% of all small business loans, and some banks won't participate because of red tape. Lenders must follow the SBA's rules when making 7(a) loans, which can be used for working capital, fixed assets and other business expenses. The term of the loan can be as long as 25 years.

Last year, Congress temporarily sweetened the 7(a) program by increasing the SBA guarantee to 90% of any given loan from as little as 75% previously. Lawmakers waived fees costing borrowers as much as 3.5% of the loan amount, as well as costs charged in a separate SBA program providing structured financing for fixed assets.

But the sweetened program is now in limbo, drawing from borrowers and lenders, as lawmakers haggle over broader small-business legislation...

to read the full article... click here.

check out... "Getting an SBA Loan: 5 Things You Need to Know"

Getting an SBA Loan: 5 Things You Need to Know

Getting a business loan is tough -- especially these days. But the Small Business Administration can still be a great lending partner. How to cut through the red tape and secure an SBA loan.

Chasing a Small Business Administration loan these days is a little like going to a carnival and expecting to win one of those giant stuffed animals. It might happen, but the odds are probably against you. As Christine Reilly, the president of small business lending for CIT, points out, about a year ago, the federal government tinkered with the formula for getting an SBA loan, and for a brief shining time, even during the Great Recession, SBA loans were semi-easy to come by.

Of course, it's still possible to get an SBA loan -- Reilly is the first to admit it -- and it can be a great way to infuse your company with cash. But how can you navigate the red tape and make sure all the effort pays off? Here are five things you need to know.

• Know the lingo.
• Document everything.
• Got collateral?
• Do your homework. Seriously.
• You are not a risk taker

to read the full article … click here.

When is the right time to exit?

By Pete Sokoloff
Security Systems News

The number one question I get asked in speaking with company owners is, "When is the right time to sell my business?"

There is a great deal of emotion that goes into selling a business. In terms of stress, it has been rated right up there with divorce and the death of a loved one. Though there are numerous logical reasons to sell or not sell a business, at the end of the day all decisions about making an exit are most heavily influenced by the emotions of the owners. This commentary will discuss not only the elements that should be considered, but what constitutes the right and the wrong mindset.

The logic of the right time to sell any company is indisputable. It is when multiple buyers are interested and the highest price can be commanded. This "perfect storm" occurs when the following elements are in place: 1. There is a history of financial improvement in your business over the last few years, both in revenues and earnings. 2. There is strong evidence that revenues and earnings will continue to increase in future years. 3. Market conditions are such that the investment community believes there is good upside ahead for the industry segment your company serves.

When these conditions are met, the owners of the business are in the enviable position of being able to find many interested buyers and a premium price for their company. So, why would a potential seller disregard this logic?

To read the full article … click here.

New Stimulus Package for Businesses

John Kielich, Managing Director, Kolb+Co. M&A Advisers
LeAnne Foster, Business Analyst, Kolb+Co. M&A Advisers

No, you did not miss an eight million dollar first-time-business-buyer tax incentive or a sales tax break. However, there currently is a window of opportunity for businesses in regard to Federal Capital Gains Tax. The current Federal Capital Gains Tax rate of 15 percent is due to sunset at the end of 2010. How high it goes starting in 2011 is anyone's guess at this time, but as discussed and illustrated in this article, even an increase to 25 percent should provide a business owner the needed "stimulus" to strongly consider a sale or partial sale in 2010.

To read the full article... click here.

How do Business Broker and M&A Commissions Work?

Here is a great article answering the age old question, what and how does the Broker get paid.

By: Ney Grant
AllBusiness.com

Business Brokerage
There is no law or regulation that sets pricing, but business brokers typically charge a 10% commission (also called a "success fee") on the value of the business and 6% on any associated real estate. The exceptions are gas stations, grocery stores and hotels which can be less. We have heard of some brokers charging 12% and others readily dropping a few points in order to get a deal, but most hold firm at 10%. If another broker is involved in finding a buyer, the fee is split between the listing-side broker and the sell-side broker.

M&A Commissions
It is standard practice to provide a discount above a $1 million selling price, and many M&A firms will say they use the Lehman Scale although in reality they probably use the Double Lehman Scale. The Double Lehman Scale pays a commission of 10% on the first million, 8% on the second million, 6% on the third million on down to 4% for the remainder.

As a general rule, business brokers don’t charge an upfront fee, while M&A advisors do. It makes sense too. A business broker is operating essentially alone much like a real estate agent, while an M&A firm applies a team of writers, analysts and dealmakers on your project and also must pay for a marketing campaign.

This was a synopsis... to read the full article... click here.

Hard Times?

Now may actually be a good time to sell a business.

Given the state of the financial markets and general economy, now may seem like an unlikely time to sell a company. But selling in the current market can actually be less challenging than you think -- and may even provide benefits you haven't considered.

Determining whether to sell is always a difficult and complex decision, involving many considerations specific to your plans and business. For example, how urgent is your exit plan and how much do you hope to realize from the sale? Although the current economic environment may factor into your decision, it shouldn’t be your primary consideration.

To read the full article... click here.

Capital Gains Tax Rate change, what it can mean for businesses selling this year...

New Stimulus Package for Businesses...
By: John Kielich, Managing Director, Kolb + Co.
LeAnne Foster, Business Analyst, Kolb + Co.

No, you did not miss an eight million dollar first-time-business-buyer tax incentive or a sales tax break. However, there currently is a window of opportunity for businesses in regard to Federal Capital Gains Tax. The current Federal Capital Gains Tax rate of 15 percent is due to sunset at the end of 2010. How high it goes starting in 2011 is anyone's guess at this time, but as discussed and illustrated below, even an increase to 25 percent should provide a business owner the needed stimulus to strongly consider a sale or partial sale in 2010.

To read the rest of this article, and see an example spelled out in dollars... click here.

Personal Goodwill: Who Owns It?

Personal Goodwill has always been a fascinating subject, impacting the sale of many small to medium-sized businesses – and possibly even larger companies. How is personal goodwill developed? An individual starts a business and, during the process, builds one or more of the following:
• A positive personal reputation
• A personal relationship with many of the largest customers and/or suppliers
• Company products, publications, etc., as the sole author, designer, or inventor

The creation of personal goodwill occurs far beyond just customers and suppliers. Over the years, personal goodwill has been established through relationships with tax advisors, doctors, dentists, attorneys, and other personal service providers. While these relationships are wonderful benefits, they are, unfortunately, non-transferable. There is an old saying: In businesses built around personal goodwill, the goodwill goes home at night.

It can be difficult to sell a business, regardless of size, where personal goodwill plays an integral role in the business’ success. The larger the business, the less likely that one person holds the key to its profitability. In small to medium-sized businesses, personal goodwill can be a crucial ingredient...

to read the full article... click here.

4 Keys to Selling In a Buyer's Market

Don't leave money on the table that could have been in your pocket.

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.

1. Price your business right.
2. Remember you're still running a business.
3. Be willing to share some of the buyer's burden.
4. 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.

SOLD!