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Selling My Business Next Year

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Getting a business ready for sale is both advisable and prudent.  Waking up one day and deciding you want to sell your business tomorrow may not be a good idea.  Deciding that you would like to sell your business as an exit strategy and putting together a plan is likely to maximize your gain from the sale of your business.

You could easily Google Preparing your business for sale and find many many articles/list and sources of information.   I had written a related article in the past as well.  But beyond the list- what of these methods are most important?  Are all of these measures necessary or are they just guidelines?

I had sold my own business of 20 years, I had entertained several offers over the years, I went thru various stages of decisions as to how I would exit my business.  At some point I realized that my exit strategy would be to sell my business if I could find the right situation.  But from my perspective the most important part of my approach was to commit to running my business as if I would own it  perpetually.

Sell A Business

Photo (c) smallbiztrends.com/

So many businesses that try to sell- don’t sell.  A business owner needs to realize this and allow this fact to influence their thought process.  Currently I am a business broker in Florida and work with Florida small business owners with the process of buying and selling a business.

Be Realistic When Deciding On Selling Your Business

Many components and aspects of your business should be looked at from a realistic standpoint, critiqued,  and adjusted as needed when preparing your business for an eventual sale.  Some important areas to address when looking to sell your business include:

  • Either develop, establish, or refine your business operational procedures, practices, and methodologies and have them documented
  • Does your business rely on you the business owner?  If so, make changes to reduce that reliance.
  • Clean financials-  Does your Income statement and Balance Sheet make sense ?

But the question to pose is what of these measures is most important or essential as it relates to preparing for the sale of my business?

In my opinion it is accurate , sensible, reliable Financial records.

The Importance Of Reliable Financial Records

Financial Records

Photo (c) bristoltn.org

Typical financials involved with the sale of you business can include Profit/Loss or Income Statements, Balance Sheets and   Tax Records.  Further into the due diligence process of your business good  Sales Journals, Customer Information, Inventory Info,   all can go a long way to maximizing the value of your business.

Clean financial records are so essential to all parties involved with the acquisition of a business. And all involved includes the Seller, the buyer, and possibly a bank, lender or third party investor.

So when looking to Sell your business-

If you have a great business that is producing great margins, produces a great bottom line, and a very high owner benefit- but the financial records do not support this – what do you have?

If you have a business that you own and run it semi-absentee, great systems, increasing sales, good industry but poor financial records- what do you have?

If you have the nicest looking, shiniest looking store, website, equipment, office or vehicles, but your financial records don’t make sense- what do you have?

Looking to sell your business next year?  Start working on your financial records today.

 

Starting Or Buying A Business-Own or Rent Building?

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Starting a business, or buying a business involves many decisions  ranging from what one should  put on your business card to where to locate your business.  Many small businesses are run from ones own personal residence,  and there are many advantages and disadvantages that can come along with that strategy.

But operating your business from a leased space, rented space, or a space you or your business would buy, can be a very important decision for your business.  The business that I had owned for 20 years, I had owned the building and surrounding property, (I still own and lease back, even after the sale of the business).

Owning A Real Estate For Your Business

Currently my role as a business broker has me working with business owners that both own the building they operate the business from they are selling and business owners that rent their space. Of  almost 1000 businesses sold in the state of Florida in the last year,  thru the Business Brokers of Florida of which I am a member of, less than 8% of them involve real estate.

Is it better to Own or Rent your Businesses Property?  

Most business owners in Florida that sold their business rent their buildings.  There are just way more non- owner occupied properties than owner occupied properties.  Again I owned and currently own and rent out the building I operated my business out of.  My thought process was that I had long term plans for my business and I viewed it as a means of building equity.  I do look at it a little different in today`s economy.

I do know of several business owners here in Florida that bought their building 5-10 years ago, ( they viewed the acquisition as an investment) and while the business may be doing somewhat ok during these difficult lean times, the building is so upside down that it may take 5, 10+ years or more, before the amount owed on the building is equal to or greater than market value.

To exacerbate that dilemma, ” like spaces” may be rented at a fraction of what monthly mortgage, insurance, and taxes payments may be.  It would be nice to be able to treat this expense as other expenses and when you have a more cost effective means just pursue that route, but buying/selling a building (or a business)  is not a very liquid investment- especially in today`s market.

Some Pros of owning a building may include:

  • more control, no landlord to report to and changes to your building allow you greater flexibility
  • potentially over the long haul you can accumulate equity
  •  If you are buying now, are you buying at a real value price, and its hard to argue that locking in at todays interest rates would not be a good thing.

On the Con side:

  • One must consider the opportunity cost of the money that is devoted to a down payment when buying a building- how much could that money have helped you grow your business?
  • If you need to move your business a  rental/lease agreement may allow you greater flexibility.
  • Owning a building is more responsibility

Operating lean, low overhead, low monthly expenses greatly enhances the likelihood of acceptable profits.  I am pleased I had owned my building I operated my business out of, but would I make the same decision today to buy a building to run my business from?

If I were buying a business here in Florida would I require that I can buy the building along with the business I am buying- today I am not so sure. Leaning  towards the flexibility of renting until  further clarity on where  on economy is truly heading seems to be a reasonable approach.

Florida Business For Sale Florida Businesses Sold Activity 2011

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Florida Business For Sale  Florida Businesses Sold Activity 2011

I am a Florida Business broker working with business owners selling their Florida  businesses, and business owners and individuals looking for acquisitions.  Prospective business buyers I work with are located in Florida, US., and Business buyers in Europe and throughout the world.

As a  member of Business Brokers of Florida, which is the largest state Association of Business Brokers in the United States we have access to significant data regarding businesses being bought and sold .   Thousands of businesses for sale are represented by over 1000 business brokers that are members of this Association.  These business brokers list their respective businesses for sale and prospective business buyers on a centralized listing site and buyers and sellers of businesses are brought together. Several thousand businesses for sale are listed, modified, and advertised thru this website.  Valuable information regarding Florida business for Sales and Florida Businesses Sold help me as a Business Broker Professional  keep track of the ebb and flow of the Florida Business Acquisition Market.  Understanding a business to assist in selling that business requires an understanding of the numbers behind  that business.  And understanding the marketplace in which this business may be sold is furthered by a review of the data surrounding businesses being bought and sold in Florida. The below are a few statistics, totals, and items of note surrounding the business acquisition and sales market in the State of Florida. Other businesses are bought and sold without the assistance of members Business Brokers of Florida, and that info is not included in this analysis.

Businesses Sold in Florida Activity for 2011

Businesses Sold in Florida through Business Brokers of Florida  in  2011  – 859  vs 931  in 2010.  About a 7% drop.

Averages of all businesses sold in 2011:

Average Sales – $541,000   Average Price Sold For- $243,000   Average Adjusted Net- $96,000   Days on Market  224 (note all DOM (days on market) numbers DO NOT include those taken off the for sale market)

Florida businesses sold in 2011  Items of note:

  • Restaurants sold in Florida – Number sold- 199   Avg Sales-$326k  Avg  Sold Avg.Price-$140k     Adj Net-$67k  DOM 211

over 20% of all businesses sold in 2011 were restaurants!  Currently 670 are for sale

  • Dry Cleaners/Laundry Business sold in Florida-39  Avg. Sales-$174k Avg.  Sold Avg. Price-$119k   Avg. Adj Net-$64k

fairly active sector- fairly low business entry point, and fairly easy learning curve.

  • Manufacturing businesses sold in Florida- 15   Avg. Sales $1.3M   Avg.Sold price-$713k Avg. Adj Net-$148k DOM-275

Florida is a very service oriented business community, not a lot of manufacturing activity, relatively.

  • Lawn Service Businesses Sold in Florida-33 Avg. Sales-$190k   Avg. Sold Price- $ 115k  Avg. Adj Net- $73k  DOM-186

lots of lawn service business sold and for sale in Florida but almost exclusively “smaller” with average sales of $190k

  • Insurance related businesses Sold in Florida-15  Avg. Sales- $226k    Avg. Sold Price-$335k  Avg. Adj.Net- $110k  DOM -166

I took note of insurance because they received a very good multiple when compared to most other industries 3+ times adjusted Net. and the average days on market less than 6 months- a fairly fast sell time.

As of December 28,2011…

Businesses Currently For Sale through Business Brokers of Florida – 3392 vs. 3373   in last 30 day period.  about same.

  • Number of Business Currently for Sale in Jacksonville Florida Area (Duval County and St.Johns County) – 209
  • Number of Business Sold in Jacksonville Florida Area in2011- 48
  • Number of Restaurants for Sale in Jacksonville Fl Area-56 (about 25% of all Jacksonville businesses for sale)

Current Business Interest and Activity Observations: as of  December 28,2011

Is there a pent up supply being created.?  Every year business owners get closer to exiting their businesses.  Another year has gone by.  How many business owners planned or intended to sell their business in 2010 or 2011 and have decided to delay that action?

Will this “supply” of businesses for sale affect the price that a business may realize due to a potential increase in supply?  If demand stays consistent and supply increases, prices by market forces tend to move down.  So how does one balance the strategy to wait until company performance improves vs selling into a potentially lower valued market?  I always like to think tomorrow will be better as I am a fairly optimistic person- things will get better, just not sure how many tomorrows its going to take.

 

  • *All above info compiled from data available via the bbfmls website. And addresses information about businesses being bought and sold and reported thru this Professional organization of Business Brokers of Florida.

For more info or questions regarding the Florida Business Acquisition Market or Florida Businesses for sale please contact

Scott M Messinger

Scott@Sellabusinessflorida.com

239.770.2421


 

7 Ways to Exit Your Business-Choose One

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Ways To Exit Your Business

There are several ways one may exit their business.  Business Owners may want to exit a business they have owned for decades just because they just no longer have an interest.  Or a small business owner may “get out of their business” after a short period of time of just owning it a year or 2.  

Most all entrepreneurs and small business owners  think long and hard before they decided to buy a business or start a business.  So often so little thought goes into an exit strategy.  A small business may be the result  ones passion or burning desire to provide a certain service or product.

A small business can also be and usually is one of the largest asset a small business may own.  It can be a passion but it also is an investment. A significant investment.  Most investments one enters into an exit strategy should exist before the investment is made.

Exiting Your Business

Photo (c) advantagebusinessltd.com

You buy a commercial property to rent out with the intention to rent it for 10 years, hope for market appreciation and  plan to sell in 10 years.

You buy a stock.  You buy at $10 a share and plan to sell if stock goes to $15  (unless the company fundamentals change).

You decide to start or buy a business, it gets going and does well- is your plan just to run it forever? Well you cant, because none of us are here forever.

Emphasize On Making Plans For Your Business

If your plan is to start a business grow and run the business until you are 65 and then sell it- you have a plan and are ahead of most.  It is so easy to start and buy a business and spend a lot of time preparing for that acquisition or start up, then get wrapped up in the transition or start-up, then get wrapped up in the day to day, and then one day you get real sick, and you have no one in your business that knows how to run your business, and laying in bed decide that you may need a plan- it may be to late then.

I am currently a business broker  based in Florida and find my role of meeting with small business owners brings awareness to the need for an exit strategy.  I had owned my own small business for 20 years and realized how ensconced with the day to day one can get with their small business.  There are several ways to exit ones business- I primarily work with small business owners looking to sell their Florida business, but observe some of the other exit mechanism and have been personally involved with several of these methods.

These are a few methods a small business owner may utilize to exit a business.  Some are good, some not so good.

The Good, the Bad and Ugly Ways to Exit Your Business:

  1. Sell at profit- can include “merger with other companies
  2. Sell at Loss
  3. Close your doors-bankruptcy, long term negative cash flow.
  4. Poor Health, Significant Injury, Death
  5. LBO (Leveraged Buy Out)
  6. Successfully grow it to such a size and take it public
  7. leave to children

Or some combination of the above- one could die and leave the business to the children

But when you look at the above list you recognize that some of the exit strategies you choose on your schedule and others are “chosen for you” and you have less control over the time frame.  Your plans can change and often do, but I suggest you plan to have a plan

Florida Business For Sale Florida Businesses Sold Activity (Nov.22, 2011)

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Florida Business For Sale  Florida Businesses Sold Activity (Oct.12, 2011)

I am a Florida Business broker working with business owners selling their Florida  businesses, and business owners looking for acquisitions.  Prospective business buyers I work with are located in Florida, US., and Business buyers in Europe and throughout the world.

As a  member of Business Brokers of Florida, which is the largest state Association of Business Brokers in the United States we have access to significant data regarding businesses being bought and sold .   Thousands of businesses for sale are represented by over 1000 business brokers that are members of this Association.

These business brokers list their respective businesses for sale and prospective business buyers on a centralized listing site and buyers and sellers of businesses are brought together. Several thousand businesses for sale are listed, modified, and advertised thru this website.  Valuable information regarding Florida business for Sales and Florida Businesses Sold help me as a Business Broker Professional  keep track of the ebb and flow of the Florida Business Acquisition Market.

Understanding a business to assist in selling that business requires an understanding of the numbers behind  that business.  And understanding the marketplace in which this business may be sold is furthered by a review of the data surrounding businesses being bought and sold in Florida. The below are a few statistics, totals, and items of note surrounding the business acquisition and sales market in the State of Florida. Other businesses are bought and sold without the assistance of members Business Brokers of Florida, and that info is not included in this analysis.

Recent Businesses Sold in Florida Activity (as of  Nov 22. 12, 2011)

  • Businesses Sold in Florida through Business Brokers of Florida  in last 30 days  – 42 vs 28 in prior 30 day (Oct.12,2011) documented  period
  • Top  industry of  Businesses Sold in Florida through Business Brokers of Florida in  last 30 days:   Restaurants   (as usual…) other most active- Lawn Service, Contractor, Retail
  • Avg Days it took to sell Florida Businesses Sold in last 30 days  – 235 (about 8 months vs. –  (5 months)- in last documented 30 day period (Oct 2011), doesnt include businesses that were removed from market without selling (One Florida  business sold in 1341 days)

As of Nov 22, 2011…

Businesses Currently For Sale through Business Brokers of Florida – 3373 vs. 3301   in last 30 day period.  up about 2%

  • Number of Business Currently for Sale in Jacksonville Florida Area (Duval County and St.Johns County) – 217
  • Number of Business Sold in Jacksonville Florida Area in last year- 46

Current Business Interest and Activity Obseravtions: as of  Nov 22, 2011

My profession has me involved with speaking to many business owners in Florida and many “prospective business buyers”. Recent discussions continue to enforce consistent facts about todays business acquisition and sales market in Florida:

  • People are actively  looking to buy good businesses.  
  • Business Owners are hesitant to put their business up for sale because the business is down from peak or higher levels. 
  • A business offering Seller financing both attract more buyers and increases the likelihood of the business sale.

*All above info compiled from data available via the bbfmls website. And addresses information about businesses being bought and sold and reported thru this Professional organization of Business Brokers of Florida.

For more info or questions regarding the Florida Business Acquisition Market or Florida Businesses for sale please contact

Scott M Messinger

Scott@Sellabusinessflorida.com

239.770.2421