CATEGORY

JoAnn Lombardi, President & Chairman

Selling a Family Business Isn’t Business as Usual

Selling a family business involves complex emotions that can complicate the decision-making process. Financial need, retirement, competition, and lack of a successor are valid reasons to consider a sale. However, selling can feel like parting with a family legacy, impacting relatives, employees, and the community. This decision is particularly challenging if the business has been passed down through generations. It’s…

Seven Ways to Sell – It Depends on Your Objective

When selling a company, the highest price is often the key objective for owners, whether public or private. Strategic buyers typically offer better prices but may disrupt operations, while financial buyers usually pay less but can enhance profitability. Management buy-outs can be considerate yet less profitable for the seller. Recapitalizations allow owners to extract value while maintaining control, although sellers…

Business Books & Records….Who Cares? Your Buyers Do!

When selling your business, having accurate and complete financial records is crucial to achieving a fair valuation and attracting buyers. Prospective purchasers will want at least three years of profit and loss statements to analyze your company's performance. Ensuring your financials are free from errors and professionally recasted to reflect ongoing operations can significantly enhance your business’s appeal. VR Business…

9 Point Checklist: How to Attract the Right Buyer

When selling a business, attracting the right buyer involves several key strategies. Ensure you have provable financial records and offer a reasonable price and terms that reflect fair market value. Highlight discretionary earnings, provide an assignable lease, and include attractive furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Offer training post-sale, maintain good curb appeal, and establish a covenant not to compete. Lastly, clarifying…

Follow the Necessary Steps to a Successful Business Sale

Many business owners fail to prepare early for selling their businesses, potentially missing out on maximum value. The selling process should start upon purchase, with due diligence covering operations, marketing, and legal issues to identify potential concerns before buyers do. Maintaining a clean balance sheet, having financials audited, and ensuring stable management are essential. Additionally, competitors’ comparisons and favorable publicity…

Selling Your Business?

When selling a business, it’s crucial to adopt the buyer's perspective, focusing on three key factors: cost and terms, continuity, and growth. Buyers analyze the total cash and debt needed for acquisition—lower cash requirements typically make a deal more appealing. They also evaluate the business's ability to function independently after the sale and whether there are potential growth avenues to…