Request a Strategy Call and we will get in touch with you
Exit Planning Insights
M&A Advisor Tip: Confidence in Numbers
June 2, 2021 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
Most of our clients have CPA Compiled or Reviewed financial statements, and some go a step further with Audited statements. Reviewed financial statements are acceptable, and you can do even better with Audited statements a year or two before you sell. With validated financial accuracy, you increase buyer confidence, shorten due diligence, and help get your company sold. We’ve had buyers tell us they’ll bid a quarter to a half to a full turn more …
Exit Planning Pitfalls for Property Managers [#1 of the series]
May 12, 2021 / in Exit Planning / by Exit Strategies
Everyone knows the three most important things in real estate are location, location, and location. For property managers, it’s documentation, documentation, and documentation. Experienced property managers are all accustomed to continually documenting the relationship with tenants. Where they sometimes fall short is in maintaining their formal contractual relationship with property owners. That can become a problem when it’s time to transfer control of the business. As a former corporate lawyer, I feel compelled to give …
Ten Commandments of Successful Business Exits
May 10, 2021 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Louis Cionci
Business owners contemplating a sale may be asking the question: What are the most important principles to achieve a successful business exit? Listed below are ten practical directives to help you make better exit planning decisions and achieve a successful sale. I. I shall plan ahead. II. I shall not depend on miracles III. I shall prepare my business IV. I shall not wait for perfect timing V. I shall help buyers buy VI. I …
Market Pulse Survey – Why business owners are selling
May 4, 2021 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
The following chart shows the reasons business owners decided to sell their businesses in 2020. As in the past, owner retirements led the way. These are the results from the Market Pulse Survey conducted in the 4th quarter of 2020. Each quarter, the M&A Source and IBBA (International Business Brokers Association), in partnership with Pepperdine University’s Private Capital Markets Project, publish the results of a survey of North American lower middle market M&A advisors and …
Spring cleaning is good for business
May 4, 2021 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
It’s time for spring cleaning, at home and at work. I only wish my clients did a regular Spring cleaning. It would make due diligence and the whole business sale process a lot smoother. Here’s what I mean: Clean financials: I harp on this a lot. Messy numbers and casual accounting practices create headaches when it comes time to sell. Audited financials, on the other hand, can actually increase a buyer’s offer. Hopefully, you have …
Avoid the Mistake of Selling on Your Own
April 16, 2021 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
One of our former clients, Joe, reflecting on the sale of his company said, “only those of us that have toiled at it know what it really takes to succeed in this business.” How true. Until we risk our own capital and spend years building a team, perfecting products and processes and managing through multiple business cycles, we can’t fully appreciate what it takes to succeed in a given business. Similarly, its hard for business owners, …
8 Situations in Which Setting an Asking Price for Your Business Makes Sense
March 15, 2021 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
As M&A advisors, our objective in most sale processes involving a privately held lower middle market business is to help our client obtain the best price and terms available in the marketplace. In many of our sale engagements, we go to market without an asking price and use a broad or targeted auction format to elicit the best price and terms from multiple suitors. When buyers feel competitive pressure, they are more likely to make …
M&A ADVISOR TIP: What happens to employees after I sell?
March 4, 2021 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
Business owners often come to us concerned about employee jobs and retention issues after a sale. They worry that selling their business will lead to job losses if certain positions become redundant. However, buyers today are often just as focused on retention issues. Your experienced talent can be a key driver of enterprise value, and buyers want to make sure these people stick around. Your management team is the highest priority retention target, and deal …
March 2021 – Now may be the time to sell your business
March 4, 2021 / in Exit Planning, News, Sell a Business / by Roy Martinez
It typically takes 6-12 months (or more) to sell a business. So… if you want to sell your business in 2021, you really need to start now. Selling a business has many steps: 1. Assess the business to establish probable selling price and validate your decision to sell 2. Create a plan 3. Build a business sale team – intermediary (Exit Strategies), attorney, CPA, others 4. Develop market materials – NDA, Executive Summary, CIM (confidential …
Tax changes could accelerate business sales in 2021
January 22, 2021 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
To complete deals in 2021, ahead of possible tax changes, owners and deal teams need to act fast. With the Democrats in the White House and having the tie-breaking vote in the senate, it is likely that taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals will increase during this administration. When and how much are unknown. With COVID recovery as the administration’s immediate priority, many think we will have until 2022. Biden has proposed raising long-term capital …