Sunbelt Indiana Business Resource

"Your experts at selling or buying a business!"

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS TRANSACTION!

Sold a Business - Tobacco Express

Tim Koger, Business Broker at Sunbelt Indiana, has sucessfully marketed, and assisted in the transaction negotiations for Tobacco Express in Indianapolis, Indiana. Congratulations to the new owner, Jason Stahl.



Friday, August 13, 2010

Friday, July 30, 2010

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.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Exit planning: Prepare for an out while you’re still in

SunbeltMergers.com

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.

To read the full article... click here.

Friday, June 25, 2010

The SBA Has a Deal for You

It's called a 504 loan. Here's what you need to know about it.
By Marshall Eckblad
WSJ.com: Small Business
June 21, 2010

The government is trying to entice more small businesses to tap one of its loan programs. Before applying for one of these loans, though, there are some fine points borrowers should consider.

The Small Business Administration's 504 loan program lets companies take out fixed-rate financing to buy property, build or expand facilities, or refinance some existing mortgages. The borrower typically needs to put down just 10% of the transaction's total price.

With the weak economy deterring many small businesses from expanding in the past couple of years, demand for these loans plummeted: Last year, the SBA approved $3.8 billion in 504 loans, down 28% from 2008 and 40% from 2007. Hoping to spur expansion among small companies, the SBA is offering inducements like lower rates and no-fee deals.

To read the full article... click here.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

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.

Monday, June 14, 2010

The Hidden Values in Your Business

Surveys have shown that a majority of business owners have no idea what their business is worth, that they have a majority of their net worth tied up in their business, and that they do not have an exit strategy. A business broker professional is a good person to call on to get an idea of what the business might sell for in the marketplace.

Certainly, the financials carry a lot of weight in figuring what a particular business will bring in the marketplace. However, a professional business broker can also tell you about those hidden values your business most likely possesses. It's these hidden values that often capture the interest of buyers and make a business more valuable than what the numbers suggest. Keep them in mind when placing a price on your business, and make sure that a prospective buyer is made aware of them. They might be called the non-financial value of the business.

To learn about the hidden values in more detail... click here.