Costco's Small Business Article on Closing the Deal hits it out of the ballpark!

The following is an excerpt from a recent article in the August 2012 publication of The Costco Connection. This article on selling a business, in our estimation, hits a home run... with bases loaded!

Closing the deal

Eight essential steps for selling your business

By Harvey Meyer
The Costco Connection
August 2012; p22-23

When Tom Schraminski was selling his small healthcare firm, he joshed that he required "intensive psychotherapy" to cope with the aftershocks. Such was the roller coaster of emotions he confronted during and after what is often a life-changing event.

It can be very traumatic," says the Costco member, who now is a vice president for American HealthCare Capital, a Marina del Rey, California-based national mergers and acquisitions firm. It's not unusual for small business owners to encounter emotional swings when putting their "baby" up for sale. After all, many have poured their heart, soul, sweat, tears and identity into their enterprises.

Many small proprietors are skilled at operating their companies, but they're ill prepared for all that happens when it comes time to sell.

To read more of Costco's very insightful article and the eight steps for selling your business... click here. As seasoned brokers, we can tell you they are right on the money.

Do You Know Your Customers?

Courtesy of Business Brokerage Press

It’s always nice, when eating at a nice restaurant, for the owner to come up and ask how everything was. That personal contact goes a long way in keeping customers happy – and returning. It seems that customer service is now handled by making a potential customer or client wait on a telephone for what seems forever, listening to a recording saying that the call will be handled in 10 minutes. Small businesses are usually built around personal customer service. When is the last time you “worked the floor” or handled the phone, or had lunch with a good customer? Customers and clients like to do business with the owner. Even a friendly “hello” or “nice to see you again” goes a long way in customer relations and service.

The importance of knowing your customers and/or clients could actually be extended to suppliers, vendors, and others connected with your business. When is the last time you visited with your banker, accountant, or legal advisor? A friendly call to your biggest supplier(s) can go a long way in building relationships. A call to one of these people thanking them for prompt delivery can pay big dividends if and when a problem really develops.

Owning and operating your own business is not a “backroom” or “hide behind the business plan” business. It is a “front-room” business. Go out and meet the customers – and anyone else who has an interest in your business.

This subject and others are important considerations in owning a business and can affect the sale of a business in a positive or negative manner. If you are thinking of selling your business, or just want to discuss possible exit scenarios down the road, please call to speak to one of our brokers here at Sunbelt Indiana... 317-573-2100. The consultation is free with no obligation!

Article 7: Buying vs. Leasing Equipment

"This article from Forbes.com has great information pro and con if you are trying to decided whether to buy or lease equipment for your business... check it out!" - Ralana D. Shelley, CBI, Sunbelt Indiana

Forbes.com
Nolo 01.24.07

Leasing equipment can be a better option for business owners who have limited capital or who need equipment that must be upraded every few years, while purchasing equipment can be a better option for established businesses or for equipment that has a long, usable life. Each business owner's situation is unique, however, and the decision to buy or lease business equipment must be made on a case-by-case basis.

To have a look at both options... click here and read the full article at Forbes.com.

And check out our next installment on Friday... Article 8: How equipment leases can affect the sale of your business.

Article 6: Equipment - The Very Expensive Desk Lamp

Courtesy of Business Brokerage Press
"Moral of the story: Prepare your business before a buyer sees it"

This is a story based on a true incident - only some of the details have been changed. The buyer and seller were ready to close on a business when the buyer asked to look at the list of fixtures and equipment that were to be included in the sale. After a few minutes reviewing the list, the buyer said that the desk lamp on the owner's desk was not listed. The seller explained that the lamp was a gift from his parents many years ago and therefore it was not included. The buyer got very upset, stating that the lamp was just perfect for the desk and he wanted it. The seller tried to explain that the lamp had lots of sentimental value, but that he would replace it with another desk lamp. This did not satisfy the buyer, and in order to stop the sale from falling apart, the seller agreed to subtract $1,000 from the purchase price to keep the lamp. That made the desk lamp a very expensive one.

To find out how this could have been avoided, and how you can avoid this scenario, read the full article... click here.

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

Running a succesful 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.

To read the full article from Sunbeltmergers.com... click here.

Seller Financing -- How a Broker Can Help

Another important factor relating to the asking price is the amount of cash involved in the sale. There is an old saying that the higher the full-price, the lower the down payment - and vice-versa. The sale of almost any business involves some seller financing. The smaller the down payment, the higher likelihood of a quick sale. No seller wants to take back his or her business because the buyer wasn't successful. On the other hand, a buyer wants to make sure that the business will not only pay for itself, but also provides sufficient income for his or her family's needs.

What it all boils down to is that the seller wants the buyer to be successful and the buyer wants to buy a successful business. With the amount of capital required in today's market to buy a business, sellers should feel optimistic that they are dealing with successful buyers.

Read on to find out more about four important ways a Broker can help in this process...

• A Valuable Service
• Maintaining Confidentiality
• The Future of the Business
• What Buyers Think

to read the full article... click here.

31 businesses sold in 2010!

Congrats to the brokers here at Sunbelt Indiana Business Resource ... Over 1300 businesses sold since 1981, and 31 in 2010. To view a sampling check out out our 2010 tombstone sheets

Middle Market Trasactions: click here
Mainstreet Transactions: click here

Feel free to contact one of our experienced Business Intermediaries if you are in the market to sell your business, or are looking for a going business to invest your time and money.

PEGs and M&A professionals are encouraged - our M&A / Middle Market Intermediaries are very busy these days on some diverse and exciting acquisition searches, and have garnered some high revenue, high EBITDA engagements as well.

For further information, call 317-573-2100, or email indyinfo@sunbeltindiana.com.