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Getting Your Business Ready For Sale

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Getting Your Business Ready For Sale

Getting your Business Ready to Sell
I am a business broker. I work with business buyer and business sellers in both South Carolina and Florida. I also owned my own business of 20 years and sold it. A business owner interested in selling a business needs to know how to prepare a business for sale.

FACT- Many businesses that try to sell do not actually sell.

Looking at the reasons that a business does not sell can be guidance towards measures a current business owner can make to prepare a business for sale. Selling a business has a lot of moving parts. How can one increase the likelihood of a successful sale? The answer can be in knowing how to prepare your business for sale.
What are some of the top reasons businesses Don’t Sell?
• Price
• Business Performance
• Business has poor records
• Business completely dependent on Business Owner
• other liabilities encumbrances

The value of a business is ultimately defined by what a willing capable buyer (s) is willing to pay for that business.
What could possibly be the best approach to getting your business ready to sell is to look at your business as a Business Buyer rather than a Business Seller. Would you buy your business? If so how much would you pay for your business?
What steps can a business owner do today to prepare a business for sale?
Getting your business ready to sell –
1. Have realistic expectations. Stories circulate about “Google buying this business for 10-20x cash flow”.
Sales like this are not the norm. Businesses with Sales of $5M + sell for a higher multiple of cash flow than businesses with $800k of Sales- Generally. Try to research what other similar businesses my be selling for or have sold for. A qualified Business Broker may assist with this step.
2. Ensure your financials are concise and clean. Are there any outdated entries on any of your financials. Can you readily reconcile any differences between tax records and Income Statements? Furthermore a business that is doing better is more likely to sell than a business with declining sales or margins.
3. Have documented business operational procedures or business practices and procedures. If you already have them, review and update them. Consider if it is time to archive or throw out records from 5- 10-15 years back.
4. Make big and small steps to have less reliance on you as a business owner. Ask the question- “Does your business rely on you ? Delegate if possible. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of the idea that “only I can do that”. I’ve personally experienced a long stretch of illness while owning a business and quickly learned of the many activities that I was doing that could be done by other members of my staff.
5. Clean up your business. Your office, your trucks, grounds, facilities, equipment, tools and employees appearance can all add value. Equipment involved with the sale that is well maintained and in order provides to the “Peace of Mind” a business buyer is seeking. Again envision yourself as business buyer and looking at your trucks and most of the tires are bald, and smoke is coming out of the exhaust and they look like hell. It may only take a few thousand dollars to improve this conditions, but a prospective buyer may mentally devalue the business value by tens of thousands or more. It may create more doubt and uncertainty about other components of business.

Again- not every business that tries to sell actually find a buyer that is a fit. There are steps you as a business owner can make to increase the likelihood of a successful business sale and transition.
Getting your business ready to sell is a very important step in the process of selling your business. Working with a trusted advisor, finding prospective business buyer candidates is highly important as well. Finding the “right” buyer candidate to transition your business to is the end goal that begins with preparing your business for sale.

For More information on Selling a Business or Buying a Business contact Scott Messinger- Business Acquisition and Sales- Gateway Business Advisors www. SellaBusinessFlorida.com

Florida Businesses Sold in Florida 2013 Year End Summary

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Florida Businesses Sold in Florida 2013 Year End Summary

 

SellaBusinessFlorida.com

Florida Business Sales and Business Sold in 2013

 

I am a Florida Business broker based out of Ponte Vedra Beach (near Jacksonville)  working with business owners selling their Florida  businesses, and individuals 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 Professionals involved with business acquisition and sales that are members of this Association.  Business brokers in this association  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 Association.  They can also be viewed on my website here at Florida Businesses For Sale.  To further my knowledge,  I believe understanding the marketplace in which Florida  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 through Business Brokers of Florida  in  2013 – 909

  • Businesses Sold in 2012- 950
  • Businesses Sold in 2011- 859
  • Businesses Sold in 2010- 931

Averages of all businesses sold in 2013:

  • Average Sales – $572,000   Average Price Sold For- $286,000   Average Adjusted Net Cash Flow- $114,000  
  • Days on Market  225 (note all DOM (days on market) numbers DO NOT include those taken off the for sale market)
  •   Florida Business Sold in 2013 for $1M or more-30
  •   Florida Business Sold in Florida that included Real Estate- 47 (only about 5%)
  •   Category with most Businesses Sold- Restaurants- 199 sold in 2013  currently there are 3209 Florida Businesses For Sale and of those for sale  717 are Restaurants. (22% of all businesses for sale are Restaurants)
  •   Florida is a highly Service based economy, the other categories with highest number of Sold Businesses in 2013 in Florida  are in the service sector and include Hair Salon, Dry Cleaners, Lawn Service, Pools Service Businesses.
  •   Florida Businesses for sale requiring Down Payment of $50,000 or less – 480
  •   Florida Businesses For Sale with Net Income of $100,000 or more- 1264
  •   Florida Businesses For Sale with Net Income of $300,000 or more- 239

I am a Business Broker based in the Jacksonville Florida area ( main office is in Fort Myers Florida area).  Below is some 2013 information about Business Sold in the Jacksonville Florida area and Businesses For Sale in the Jacksonville Florida area.

  • Jacksonville Florida area Businesses Sold in 2013- 53
  • Averages for the 53 Jacksonville Florida Businesses Sold in 2013:
  • SALES- $558,000      Average Sold Price- $226,000   Average Adjusted Net Income- $142,000    Average Days on Market*- 218 Days  
  •   Total Businesses For Sale in Jacksonville Florida area as of Jan.1 2014. -227
  •   Jacksonville Florida area Businesses For Sale with Net Income of $100k or more- 99
  •   Jacksonville Florida area Businesses For Sale that require Down Payment of $50k or less- 33
  •   Jacksonville Florida area Businesses For Sale that have Net Income of $250k or more- 26
  •   Averages for the 53 Jacksonville Florida Businesses Sold in 2013:

I have been following  Florida Business Sales over the last 4-5 years and the above numbers have been somewhat consistent.  I believe there remains a pent up demand in both the Buyers and Sellers side.  The buyers still are slowed down by financing options and some potential Sellers are still delaying putting their business up for Sale due to uncertainty.  As a former long term business owner, I realize the thought and contemplation that goes into the decision to sell ones business.  The only real certainty is that another year will come and go, time marches on, at this time next year will your activities be included in the 2014 year end summary?

*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

 

What does a Business Buyer look like

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Florida Business Buyer

What does a Business Buyer look like

What does a Business Buyer Look Like?

Are you a Business Seller Looking to Sell Your Business and wondering what does a Business Buyer Looks Like?

Do you represent a Business Seller and are looking for a business buyer for your client- What should you look for in a business Buyer- What Does a Business Buyer Look like?

I am a Florida  Business Broker  working with both business buyers and business Seller.  I am also a Business Buyer.  Prior to being a business broker I started and owned my own business of 20 years and utilized business acquisitions along with organic growth to advance my business.  I had bought multiple businesses as a stategic business buyer.  I am also a business Seller as I actually did sell my own business.  The “Business Buyer”  I sold my business to was represented by a business broker and we experienced a successful business transition.

The person that bought my business is a business buyer -He is not a Business Buyer Prospect.  So much of the work and efforts involved with the process of buying and selling a business is the extensive involvement with Business Buyer Prospects.  Very often “business buyer prospects”  are referred to as Business Buyers. There is a significant difference between a business buyer and a prospective business buyer.  Each deal has 2 sides- a Buyer and Seller.  I like to use the term Business Buyer Prospect for someone contemplating an acquisition.  Most Prospective Business Buyers dont buy a business.  Various business brokers, M&A people, and related professionals have  their own personal experiences as to how many “Business Buyer Prospects” turn into actual “Business Buyers”.

Personally I think that anywhere between 75 %-95% of those that state an interest in buying a business do not buy a business.  So approximately 9 out of 10 (plus/minus)  of these “Business Buyer Prospects” never become “Business Buyers”.

SO What does a Business Buyer Look like?   How do they look different than the 75-95% of the “Business Buyer Prospects” that do not buy a business.

I contend that looks have nothing to do with what does a business buyer looks like.

A Business Buyer Acts a certain Way. A Business Buyer acts different than a Business Buyer Prospect.

What Does a Business Buyer Act Like?

1)     They have a plan-  “When you buy the business in Florida ,and you now live in Chicago-How will you run the Florida business?”

Business Buyer Prospect- “I dont know”

Business Buyer- ” I just sold my house and have a rental in Florida and plan to move there in December”

 

2)     They have funds or funding plans-  “How much money do you have available to buy a business?”

Business Buyer Prospect- ” If I find the right business- I can get the money” or ” Im not sure yet”,”I’m not worried about that yet”

Business Buyer- “I have x amount available for down payment on a business, so I know what the maximum I can spend and need to find a business that fit this budget”

3)     They understand  certain information will be required from them-

Business Buyer prospect- “why do I need to sign this NDA and give you some financial or background information on me? I just wanted to know what the Sellers Taxes look like”

Business Buyer- ” I have returned the requested NDA and personal financial statement. what is our next step”

 

4)     They ACT,they make necessary steps/moves to move the deal forward

Business Buyer Prospect- ” Yes that business looks to be exactly what I said I was looking for but think I will wait to see if Seller drops price or another opportunity becomes available.”

Business Buyer- “Yes that business looks to be exactly what I said I was looking for- what is the next step so I can get closer to ensuring I dont miss out on this opportunity.

 

What does a business buyer look like? – They are tall, short, fat, skinny, young,old, wearing shorts, wearing dress pants, wearing a dress, have tattoos all over their body.  They are from many different backgrounds,  they are many different religions and races. They look “normal” like you and I.

When I was growing my business though acquisition and I identified an acquisition opportunity I would worry about not securing that opportunity.  I made the decision that the opportunity was good for my company and would be disappointed if I missed out on that business opportunity.  I knew I needed to ACT like a business buyer.   You wont know what a business buyer looks like based on appearance, “business buyer prospects” and “business buyers”  look very much alike.  Are you looking to sell your business?  As a business Seller you will know what a business buyer looks like by the way a business buyer acts. Are you a prospective “business buyer prospect” and are you genuinely looking to buy a business?  I could suggest that you act like a business buyer and you will both stand out from all the others out there looking and also achieve your goal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buying a Business Selling a Business Using the Internet

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SellaBusinessFlorida.com

I just sold a business last month and the buyer saw the business advertised on Craigslist and on one of the large “Businesses For Sale” websites.  I am a business broker that works with business owners with the process of buying and selling a businesses.  My profession of being a business broker is my own business. 

I have also owned another business of 20 years.  I am a business broker that has been trying to figure out this “Internet thing” for quite some time.  I think I am figuring out that I will never figure it out.

It seems that there are a lot of Internet marketing experts and this industry appears to still be somewhat at the early stages of a rapidly growing industry.  As a business broker and business owner, I recognize that utilizing the internet is integral in business success going forward. Maybe I know more about trying to maximize the Internet than some, but the question of asking a business owner (that is not in the Internet marketing business) if they understand Internet marketing is akin to asking someone if they are a golfer. The average golfer may have a handicap of 20-25, Some golfers shoot at professional levels- 0 handicap, some people have never golfed, some have golfed once or a few times, some golf a lot but are still a 30 handicap (the higher the handicap the worse the score).  In golf,  I am about a 12 handicap.  For Internet marketing maybe I am about a 12-20 handicap , I dont know.

What Does Selling A Business Online Involve?

I may know  more than some, but know there are a lot more that know a lot more than me.   My job involves many discussions with business owners regarding the state of their business as it relates to a potential sale of their business or a possibly buying another business. The  questions  I have about utilizing the internet as a business broker are also questions shared by the plumbing contractor, the print shop owner, the restaurant owner, the card shop owner and the small business owners scattered throughout the world.

10 Interent marketing observations from a Business Owner / Business Broker:

  1. The Internet today is so different than it was 10 years ago.  Ten years ago, so many businesses didn’t have websites.  Those that did had these fancy Home pages with lots of “neat stuff”. And the site just sat there.  Now-a-days it is known that a lot of that neat stuff gets in the way of search engines.    A few years ago it seemed if you didn’t show up on Google – you didn’t show up, and then came, Myspace (and went), Facebook, Craigslist, LinkedIn, Twitter,  Google+, Pinterest, etc. .  I am convinced the Internet 10 years from now will greatly different than it is now.  Trying to figure out where it is going is the challenge.
  2. To me , I see the value in Social Media marketing is that it decreases my reliance on Google.  With Social Media customer have another way to find you.  You don’t need to show up on page one of google to be found.  I may be wrong with this line of thinking but this is my perspective. 
  3. It feels like everything I learned yesterday, is almost outdated tomorrow
  4. I see the question asked so often online- Is anybody making any money on Twitter.  Twitter is growing at 1,000,000 new users per minute 🙂 doesn’t it just make business sense that some are making profit on Twitter- I am not yet,  are you? Does Twitter work for your product or service?  Does it help to sell/buy a business?
  5. Is Internet marketing another strong way to reach customers, market and advertise, or is it so much more?  As a business owner we know we need to advertise and market.  In the past and present we use the Yellow pages, direct mail, radio, maybe TV, trade shows, telemarket, direct sales, networking and other methods.  Is it proper to view internet marketing as a very strong means of marketing and advertising or view it as so much more.  I tend to think to view it as so much more.
  6. Is it true that if you can drive “mad traffic” to your website that is so effective that  you could sell ice cubes to an Eskimo?.
  7. Is blogging better than tweeting, is Facebook better than Twitter.  Do I need to post videos to Youtube?  How important is SEO, incoming links, adding more friends, social media buttons/widgets?
  8. Is email marketing dieing, improving, necessary, changing, or being somewhat replaced by social media?
  9. How do I do all that I should be doing on the Internet, without having to bear the cost of “sub contracting” that task out and still run my business.
  10. How will we be accessing the Internet down the road and how does that affect my approach today?  It seems a few short years ago accessing the Internet with ones cell phone was a novelty at best.

How Do You Find A Business Owner Who Is Selling A Business?

Selling A Business

Photo (c) mobivation.com

I am just a business owner who’s profession as a business broker requires significant marketing efforts.  How do you find a business owner that is looking to sell a business? This is a very confidential event. How do you find a business buyer that is looking to buy a   Jacksonville Towing company or a Florida HVAC Contractor,  Tampa Retail Business, or  Computer Repair shop?

My approach is  to try different things.  I Tweet the businesses I have for sale- I get some follow up questions, I blog about my business experiences- it has driven”some traffic” to my site, I am on Facebook- but pretty weak, I am on Linked-In and a few other social/business sites.  I personally feel value in writing a blog as it allows me control to provide SEO optimized current content to my site.  I do email marketing.  I certainly am not in a position to provide well grounded advise on this subject but my major point is- Are you a business owner confused about what you should be doing on the internet? – You are not alone.

 

Is EVERY Business For Sale at “Right Price”

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As a Business Broker based in Florida I spend ample amount of time prospecting/marketing for prospective business sellers and prospective business buyers.  I use various marketing methods to market to both buyers and sellers.  While in the process of  prospecting for business owners considering the exit or sale of their business it is not uncommon to hear “I would be interested in selling my business  if I can get the right price”.

Business For Sale – The Right Price

Recently I engaged in such a discussion- the owner told me he would very much like to sell his business and start a new somewhat unrelated business if the could get the right price for his business.  I then asked what he felt may be the right price and he followed up with “I don’t know”.

The “right price”  may not equal to the business value, or the price a qualified interested buyer is willing to pay.

For an actual transaction to be consummated,  the right price needs to resemble actual business value.  If the “right price”  is actually 2-3 times what estimated value of the business is, it is probably best for all parties involved to spend their time elsewhere.

But is every business for sale?  What if a “sweetheart deal” is presented to  a small business owner in Florida?  If you had a business that is not “For Sale” , and you know it to have an approximate value of $500k  and someone walked in and made you a cash offer of $800k cash is your business now for sale to that party?

Is now the time to Sell My Business?

From my personal experience of business ownership, I think yes most businesses are for sale if the “price is right”.  But not all businesses.  While owning my previous business in the 10th year  I had gotten a significant offer for the business, but I had long terms plans and  aspirations for the business.  At that point in time I had made several acquisitions and made several other offers on other related businesses and was comfortable with valuations, synergy calculations,  and felt I knew what the value of  my business was.

There was a lot of merger and acquisition activity that was occurring in my industry at that point in time and I was presented with a cash offer from a  very strong company, and was at about a 25% premium to what I and my CPA viewed as current value.  So I had a very strong cash offer from a well qualified business- do you take the money and move on.?

Business For Sale – The Value

In my opinion business values are affected by both  macro and micro economics.  What is the state of the economy, what is the state of the merger acqusition economy and what is the state of your industry/your business?  These elements effect what sort of multiple of cash flow your business may be worth.  If the economy is such that valuations were/are  running high do you look to exit your business because valuations, and or those high multiples may not come around again?

In my situation I consulted with my “trusted advisers” around me my CPA, my attorney, my wife.  Yet ultimately the decision was mine.    My CPA did tell me something that strongly influenced that decision.  He had told me “You,ll know when you are ready”.  It was a great price great offer, but I wasn’t ready and ultimately sold my business 10 years later and got fair value for the business. So is every business for sale if the “right price” comes along.  I think that most businesses are for sale if the right price comes along, but not all businesses.