As risk increases, value decreases. We talk with business owners daily who believe a buyer will pay a certain amount for their businesses. However, buyers have a different perception of its value. As Michael Marks depicts in the above tip, many owners fail to sell their businesses at the price… Read More »Increased Risk = Decreased Value
Interest rate increases, inflation, employee shortages, conflict in the former USSR, COVID-19… In many years, any one or two of these could have put a damper on the number of businesses sold. However, business sales continue at a fevered pace. Last year, global M&A transactions totaled $5.8 trillion, 48% above… Read More »Record Breaking # of Business Sales
We meet business owners who worry that a niche will limit their opportunities and sales. However, a niche can often be the key to growth…and can increase your overall business value! Why are niches attractive to Buyers? #1 or #2: It is much easier to be #1 or #2 in… Read More »Buyers Targeting Big Fish in Small Pond!
Employees. Customers. Finding them. Keeping them. It’s on everyone’s mind right now. For the company or person who buys your business, it just may be their top two concerns. According to M&A advisors in the Q3 2021 IBBA and M&A Source Market Pulse Report survey, buyers seeking an acquisition were primarily looking… Read More »Buyer’s Focus: Your Customers & Employees
Friendships are the key to life, however, unless they are a specialist in the area you need, separation is good! Many business owners, like me, have become friends with their business advisors. We enjoy working with each other and treasure those relationships. When it’s time to sell or transition your… Read More »Know Your Friends’ Specialties…and Limitations
The most likely reason a business sale fails is NOT the purchase price or structure/terms. It is time … death by delays. As days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months, Sellers and Buyers experience frustration and fatigue. From vacationing attorneys to disorganized brokers to lien holders and licensing… Read More »What Kills All Deals – TIME!
Sellers and Buyers of businesses tend to have different opinions on adjusted financials that add back discretionary bonuses. They can come to an agreement upon understanding the meaning and timing of bonuses. The most important question to answer is “Are the employees really receiving a ‘discretionary’ bonus?” If employees have… Read More »Bonuses: To Adjust or Not to Adjust
Business owners are burned out, worn out, and past ready to get out. More than 1 in 4 business owners who put their business on the market this spring did so because of burnout according to the first-quarter survey of business brokers and M&A advisors conducted by IBBA and M&A… Read More »Burnout & Unsolicited Offers: Why Business Owners SOLD in 2021 Q1 and Q2!
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… Read More »Why Employees Matter to Sellers AND Buyers?
As part of the Economic Aid Act that passed in December (and modified 2/18/2021), the Small Business Administration will make borrowers’ payments for three months on new SBA 7(a), 504 real estate and micro-loan programs. These incentives were available last summer under a stimulus program that expired in September 2020.… Read More »SBA Covers New Loan Fees Plus 3 Months Payments