Best Practices for Getting Your Business Ready for Sale

Selling Your Business?

Best Practices for Getting Your Business Ready for Sale

Use this guide to help you in getting your business ready for sale.

There are many reasons why people sell businesses, from cutting your losses to cashing out and growing your wealth. Whatever your reason is, you'll need to understand the art and science of getting your business ready for sale.

Having an up-to-date valuation for your business is essential if you're planning to make a sale.

Getting your business ready for sale requires a diligent, scientific approach. 

Learning how to sell a business includes making sure you're handling everything on the legal front while also maximizing your profits in the sale. 

Not sure you're quite ready? No problem! Keep reading for seven tips that will have you feeling like a pro in no time. 

1. Get a Professional Valuation For Your Business

Having an up-to-date valuation for your business is essential if you're planning to make a sale. 

During a business valuation, a credible third party will break down everything from your marketplace value, cash flow potential, and how much you can expect to make in a sale, to an in-depth look into your strengths and weaknesses. 

Accountants or investment bankers will make your valuation as accurate as possible. 

2. Shore Up Any Red Flags and Make Improvements

The last thing you'd want is to give a prospective buyer any reason to balk at buying your business. Be sure that you audit your business for any red flags before moving forward with the sale. 

This means getting rid of any liens or tax issues, and ensuring that ownership is crystal clear. Settle any outstanding balances and legal issues so that they don't bleed into the sale. 

3. Be Clear on Your Intentions For Selling and What You Hope to Gain

Everyone has different reasons for selling their business. Never move forward with the process unless you're clear on your intentions and goals. 

For instance, you might sell the business to retire, dissolve the business during a dispute, or get an influx of cash flow. When you know your goals on the front end, you'll be able to get the results you're looking for. 

4. Analyze and Clean Up Your Books

Without question, your books need to be in order if you're going to sell your business. 

If you don't have clear financial records, no credible buyer will take the chance of purchasing your company. You'll need to have up-to-date books from the past three years, in addition to tax records. 

Piece together your reports and have copies available to buyers. 

5. Put Together a Financial and Legal Team to Facilitate the Sale

In order to get the best from your business sale, you'll need the backing of financial and legal professionals every step of the way. 

Make sure that they specialize in mergers and acquisitions, and that you use M&A analytics tools for due diligence. In the meantime, ensure that you're staying on top of your business matters so that your company doesn't falter while you wait for the sale. 

Follow These Tips When Getting Your Business Ready For Sale

Getting your business ready for sale requires a diligent, scientific approach. 

Using the strategies listed above will help get the end result you desire.

Looking for more professional help? Reach out to learn more about how to get your business ready for sale on your terms. 

BizNexus -Learn More From Our YouTube Playlist:

PREPARING TO EXIT YOUR COMPANY

Have you checked out our podcast?

THE BIZNEXUS ROUNDUP

Quick & dirty interviews, war stories & tips from the trenches of business acquisition, growth & sale. We aim for value, efficiency & fun, so you'll walk away with something useful to take with you along the journey of buying, growing & selling a business.

Top 10 Entrepreneurs Tips & Ideas for Buying an Existing Business

How to Take a ‘Sprouting Seed’ and Make It Grow

Ideas for buying an existing business for sale

One thing that differentiates entrepreneurs from other people is the ability to see opportunities and take them. Opportunities exist in different forms and buying a business is one of the uncommon ones. There are people that erroneously assume that for a business owner to desire to sell, something must be wrong with a particular business. However, real entrepreneurs do not reason that way.

There are myriad reasons founders may like to sell their businesses. Some may just be bored of the business and are looking for new challenges. Others are particular about getting ideas off the ground and moving into the next idea in their heads. There are businesses that are in the form of ‘sprouting seeds’ with real potentials to grow into great companies. An entrepreneur may decide to buy such an existing business instead of starting a new one from scratch.

Actually, there are several advantages of buying an existing business. The chances of failing with an existing business are slimmer than the chances of failing with a new startup business. This means it is less risky and can be extremely rewarding when handled the right way. Before buying an existing business; however, it is important that a true entrepreneur performs his/her homework. There are so many things to know about an existing business before buying it.

From the time you decide to buy a particular business till the first few months of running it, you have to get so many things right in order to succeed. It may be a little less risky than starting a business from ground zero, but a single wrong move can lead to failures too. Here, we will discuss some tips that can be helpful in setting you and your ‘sprouting seed’ up for success:

 Understand Why the Business Owner Really Wants To Sell

This may sound a little disconnected from the picture we painted above about why some founders may want to sell their businesses. We will be living in denial if we don’t point out that there are businesses for sale that are actually not in great shape. There are instances where business owners want to sell because their businesses are going down or are facing some legal or licensing issues. Take your time to understand exactly why the business you want to buy has been listed for sale. This will save you from buying a business that is bound to fail.

 Be Sure the Business Is What You Really Want

Before setting out to buy an existing business, it is important that you define what you want in a business. You also need to make sure that a particular business you are interested in meets your requirements before considering it. The most important factors to consider include the location of the business, the size, the industry, and its suitability to your lifestyle and aspirations. It is important that the business you are considering buying meets the majority of these important factors. This will help you to buy a business that you will enjoy running. You should also consider your short-term and long-term goals. 

Consider Working With a Business Broker

No matter how experienced you are in business, it is not advisable to go on the road alone when it comes to buying an existing business. In fact, it is impossible to do that. There are a number of people you will need to complete the transaction. It is not compulsory to have a business broker as part of your team but it is very important. There are so many things a business broker can do for you: a reputable one will help you avoid pitfalls while buying an existing business. A business broker can even help you find a business for sale that meets your requirements. He/she will also stand by you to ensure that the process is completed smoothly.

 Ensure You Have a Strong Acquisition Team

Asides from your business broker, there are several other professionals that you need to complete your due diligence and buy the right business that you can grow to an organization you will be proud of. You need to assemble a strong acquisition team with members you trust. You will need an acquisitions attorney, a professional accountant, as well as an independent business valuation team. You don’t need to leave anything to chance, have the right professionals by your side to make the entire process smooth.  

 Take Business Valuation Seriously

There is a mention of an independent business valuation team in the tip above. The point is only stressed here to give you an idea of how important it is. Even if you are very conversant with financials, there are things that can confuse you when you are looking at the records of an entirely strange business. When you have an independent team that is focused on business valuation looking at a business you intend to buy, you will have a better understanding of the business standings and make a better decision. Hiring an independent valuation team will give everyone the impression that you are serious. Take a step further by stressing to the team you’ve hired what you really need.

 Consider the Reputation of the Business Seriously

Asides from the financials of the business and its true value, you also need to consider the reputation of the business you are buying. How is the image of the business in the eyes of customers and suppliers? Do not assume that once you take ownership, people’s opinions about the business will change. There is no need to gamble with a business that has a shattered image. To know more about the reputation of the business you are trying to buy contact such important stakeholders as customers, suppliers, and banks. Steer clear if the image is severely damaged.

 Consider Current Employees and Organizational Chart

While knowing everything about the financials of a company is very important, the human factors behind the figures are also important. The current employees of a business can be its biggest asset in some instances. There is also the possibility that the employees of a business and the organizational structure is the reason behind its poor performance. Look at the organizational chart, consider the current management practices and the management-employee contracts besides union agreements. Make sure you understand all legal contracts with the employees in time.

 Have a Clear Vision of What You Want For the Business

Identifying a good business with potentials is never enough. If you are truly taking ownership of any particular business organization, you must have a clear vision of how to take it forward. There are instances where entrepreneurs that have prepared their businesses for sale will offer a growth plan in their marketing package; you can consider this a bonus. It is important, however, that you have your own vision of how to transform what you have at hand into what you are hoping to achieve in the future.

 Sort Out Your Funding Options from the Beginning

Unless you are independently wealthy or have a very wealthy financial backer, there will be a need to sort out your funding options when trying to buy an existing business. You won’t get any good business that is in great shape cheap. Any business, irrespective of size, that has real potentials for growth will be considerably expensive and you must figure out how you will meet the price. It will be necessary to do your math and sort out your funding options before agreeing on a fair price for any existing business you truly want to buy.

 Pay Attention to the Sales Agreement

Drafting the sales agreement may be the most emotionally charged aspect of buying an existing business, but you need to set your emotions aside and approach it as an entrepreneur. If you have considered all the factors that matter to you most and have decided to buy a particular business for a certain price, you need to make sure that the agreement is well drafted to avoid any surprises. This is one of the reasons you need an acquisitions attorney as part of your team. If there is any aspect of the agreement you don’t understand fully, speak up until you are sure of what you are signing. Do not leave even a single ambiguity as it could lead to issues at closing or even after the acquisition has been concluded.

 As an entrepreneur, you must realize that buying an existing business can offer several benefits. You also need to understand that there are several things involved in it and you need to take all of them seriously. The tips discussed here can be very helpful in taking that ‘sprouting seed’ and making it grow.

Are you finding it hard to decide if buying an existing business is actually worth it? Log in today at BizNexus. Our trusted experts are always available to speak with you and provide suitable answers to your questions and concerns. A fantastic experience awaits you.

BizNexus -Learn More From Our YouTube Playlist:

BUSINESS ACQUISITION

Have you checked out our podcast?

THE BIZNEXUS ROUNDUP

Quick & dirty interviews, war stories & tips from the trenches of business acquisition, growth & sale. We aim for value, efficiency & fun, so you'll walk away with something useful to take with you along the journey of buying, growing & selling a business.

3 Tips on How Not to Sell Your Small Business

3 TIPS ON HOW NOT TO SELL YOUR SMALL BUSINESS

Successful planning will have you laughing all the way to the bank.

If you are going to sell your business, here are three tips on how not to sell your business. Successful planning when selling a business can have you laughing all the way to the bank.

For an entrepreneur thinking about selling their business, it’s important to know the reasons why it’s sellable, and more importantly why it is not. Just recently, SCORE identified 3 main reasons on how not to sell your business:

First reason why not to sell your business

Don’t sell your business if you still love what you’re doing: If you still love your work and feel fulfilled every day, there isn’t a reason to step away from your business. Generally, business owners should look to sell because they want to make a lifestyle or professional change.

Second reason why not to sell your business

Don’t sell when the market is in a downturn: The value of your business is correlated to the market within which it operates – therefore, you should look to sell when business is good, not bad. There’s a caveat to not selling during a downtown-- the downturn must be temporary. If you anticipate growth in the future, hold for the rebound.

Third reason why not to sell your business

Don’t sell to the wrong person: Not all buyers are created equal. If you care about the long-term success of your business after the sale, you should do your due diligence for any potential buyer.

Make sure you’re selling for the right reasons if you really want to exit your business. 

With the recent upward economic trend and low interest rates, many small businesses are now attracting interest from potential buyers.  In fact, BizBuySell Insight Report found that a record number of small businesses were sold in 2018 for the third straight year.

Buying a business is one of the best ways for companies to enter a new market or increase market share. 

The best way to determine your business's actual worth is to hire a third-party accountant or business broker to conduct a business valuation. A business valuation typically starts by assessing the value of your company's current and long-term assets, income statements and receivables, short-term and long-term liabilities, and other metrics that show the financial health of your business.

If you are in the market to sell your business, you need to sell it for the right reasons and at the right time. Otherwise you will be seeing someone else laughing to the bank and it will not be you. 

How to Buy or Acquire an E-Commerce Website for Sale

How to Buy a Digital Business?

E-Commerce Website for Sale

Buy an E-Commerce Website for Sale

Want to own and run your own online digital business? You basically have two options:

1. Establish a new company and start from scratch.

2. Skip the startup cluster consider acquiring an existing e-commerce website business already on a clear upward trajectory, and apply your creative entrepreneurial pivots and experiments while enjoying the benefits of “cash flow” (something startups were expected to think about prior way back in the dark ages of the early 21st century).

In this guide, we are focusing on how to buy an e-commerce website business that’s for sale. We will go through the entire process so that you can make the most out of the purchase and set yourself up for success.

What Type of Business Do You Want and Can You Buy?

If you are planning to buy an e-commerce business, it is important to sit down and think about two things – your lifestyle goals and financial needs. Your goal here is to analyze your current situation and try to stay true to your budget, day to day operational involvement interests, and values, -all keys to successful entrepreneurship over the long-term.

What Are Your Future Objectives?

You should never stop dreaming big, but when it comes to setting the objectives, it is important that they remain realistic. Ask yourself, why are you buying an e-commerce business? This will help you to stay focused with realistic objectives that will shape up your business model.

If you are a beginner, you may be purchasing a company to learn all the tricks of the trade before you engage in starting a business from scratch. In this case, you may want a helpful and experienced e-commerce entrepreneur that wants to sell their e-commerce website who is willing to share essential details about how they made the e-commerce venture that you are consider buying into a profitable business.

You may also think that you have the necessary resources and skills, which is why you want to save time and buy a company that has already positioned itself in the market. This way, you can invest improving resources, and scale the business to the next level.

It is also vital to consider how much time you can dedicate to the business that you are buying. If you plan for this to be your full-time job, that’s great. But if you consider e-commerce business as an additional income, it is important that it won’t take you more than a couple of hours in a day to operate the e-commerce website.

What is Your Passion Aligned with Your Skills?

When choosing the market in which you will purchase an e-commerce business, it is vital to consider two areas – your passions and skills.

We all have our favorite market segments within an industry – some of us are crazy about clothes, others are health freaks that care about staying in shape, or you may be into tech products and gadgets. It would be great if you could buy a business in one of the market niches that you are passionate about. This way operating the e-commerce business won’t be merely a job, but it is aligned with your passion as well.

It is also important to consider your knowledge and skills. If you have graduated from an art university, you may consider selling homemade art or crafts and other related products.

It can also be very helpful if you have tech-related knowledge. Knowing more about website optimization and SEO can help you with search engine page ranking. Being a good writer can be of great importance in preparing unique content to promote brand awareness and increase conversion rates.

The crucial thing is to ensure that you have the right skill set to run the business. If it's necessary, consider hiring someone else but make sure that you can incorporate that expense into your budget.

Think About the Resources You Have

Yes, you need to consider financial capital, which means that you should have enough money to purchase and invest in the business to take it to the next level.

But we are also talking about other resources. You need to ensure you have enough time to run the business, a computer or laptop you will use for administration, etc. You can also use your current social media accounts if you are popular on Facebook or Instagram.

How to Determine the Price for an Ecommerce Business

It varies from one e-commerce website business to another, and ultimately depends on your estimation and business valuation, but the general rule says that an e-commerce website business can be valued anywhere from 10 to 24 times its monthly profit. In other words, if you have a business that secures $3,000 per month, you will need at least $30,000 to purchase it. The price may vary depending on the potential of that e-commerce business’ ability to increase profit.

The main idea is to buy a business that is profitable and can remain profitable as this should be your primary goal when running e-commerce business. The estimated monthly earnings should be high enough to motivate you to work on growing the company.

Here is more about how to evaluate the worth of an ecommerce business

Naturally, business owners wouldn't want to sell their business for less than its worth. There are a number of valuation methodologies you can use to determine the fair value of a business. Let's take a look at what it takes to fairly evaluate an e-commerce business for its worth.

There are a few ways you can determine the value of an e-commerce business.

1. Multiple of Seller Discretionary Earnings. You might evaluate a business's worth by looking at their historical earnings. When favorable factors are agreed on, the businesses expected worth will be higher during the valuation.

2. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis isn't the primary way to evaluate the worth of an e-commerce business, but it is a useful analysis.

3. Online business sales fluctuate more widely than those of traditional businesses, which make this analysis less suitable for e-commerce. These can include a company's size, years in business, yearly revenue, and so on.

4. A company with an active customer base and positive market outlook will be worth more than a company without active customers or a profitable niche.

Evaluating the worth of a company doesn't come easy, however, it's a necessary step you must take before finalizing a sale.

Where to Find an E-commerce Website Business to Purchase

Once you have the required capital, the preferred market niche, and other desired variables, it is time to look online and find an e-commerce business to buy. The good news is that there are numerous marketplaces where you can buy and sell e-commerce websites.

However, we advise you to stick to the reliable ones, such as:

• Shopify Exchange – exclusively designed for Shopify stores, and an excellent place to find a website fast. The great thing about this website is that it is free, and there is no success fees or other charges.

• Flippa – you can choose between thousands of different business, which means you have a vast range of websites to pick from when buying.

• Empire Flippers – it is interesting to note that every website put up for sale passes through the screening process of the administrators.

• BizNexus - Inventory of online businesses for sale 100% vetted by expert online brokers from all around the world. Sellers are prohibited from posting directly on the site so there is a built-in level of vetting required as every listing on the site is a business that a broker see’s as sellable, and that a broker has initially vetted themselves.

Have you been thinking about starting your own online store? Not sure if the life of an ecommerce entrepreneur is for you? Don't worry, we've got you covered. We've created this video to break down the advantages and disadvantages of starting an ecommerce business.

How to Be Sure You Made the Right Decision

You’ve found e-commerce business that seems like an attractive purchase, but you are not 100% sure that you made the right choice. If you want to be certain in your decision, just follow these steps.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions to the Seller

The chances are that the seller has listed some basic information about the website and themselves, but it is always wise to ask for more details. Start by trusting yourself and conducting online research on the owner and the business.

See if the seller has LinkedIn or other social media profiles, and ensure that they are a real person, and not someone hiding behind a fake identity. Do an online search for the business, too, as it may encounter user reviews and other valuable information.

Here are some other questions to ask the seller:        

1. How long has the business been running – the longer the better and bigger chances for success. Businesses with longer operation period provides a lot more data for making an informed decision.

2. Why they are selling the business –look for an authentic reason. Perhaps they bought another company, or they got a better job. Maybe they are moving to another country. Whatever the reason, you need to make sure that they are telling the truth.

3. Tell me more about yourself – that includes the previous experience in e-commerce business, other business they own, and anything else that may be relevant to your purchase decision.

It is also vital to acquire as much information as possible about how the business is operated. Some e-commerce websites have documents that are official standard operating procedures. That will make you're taking over a lot easier as you have a set of rules to follow. Additionally, ask them if they run the business themselves or hire additional staff.

Ask for Sales Data and Website Visits

You should always demand the seller to send you a profit and loss statement for the previous year. That includes detailed information about revenue, gross profit, cost of goods sold, operating expenses, net income, etc. In other words, you want a comprehensive financial report that would prove the claims that the seller makes about earnings.

Furthermore, you may want to check the website traffic. The best way to do that is to ask for access to Google Analytics. There is no need for the seller to worry about anything as the access can be read-only option for this tool, and this is all what you need...

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• If you notice a bounce rate less than 30%, or higher than 90%, and session duration lower than at least 45 seconds (or less than two opened pages per session), it may be a sign that the traffic sources are untrustworthy.

• You want to ensure that the website has had a constant number of visits over the last several months. If the number has significantly increased lately, make sure to determine the reason for that.

• Make a difference between organic, referral, direct, and paid traffic, as well as the one coming from social media. Any option that seems legit and doesn’t require any investment is acceptable.

Finalizing the Sale

If you think you made the right choice, and want to finalize the deal, it is time to enter the negotiation phase. Since you asked so many questions to the seller, it is only natural to introduce yourself. Tell them a bit more what makes you a reliable and trustworthy buyer.

Once you establish trust, you can talk about your plans with the business. It is something that a seller might want to know, especially if they care about their e-commerce business. Finally, ask them about the price, or give your offer. However, make sure to explain why you’ve chosen to offer that amount of money (estimated monthly earnings, future potential, etc.).

Now, once you agree on the price, you may want to ask an attorney to analyze all legal aspects of the deal. That might not be necessary if you are buying small e-commerce online business and using a marketplace as a mediator. However, make sure that the seller confirms there are no lawsuits currently related to the business.

Finally, determine all the details about the payment. You may want to pay in installments, but the seller needs to agree on that. You should also ensure to agree on a support period during which the seller is obliged to answer any question or concern that you have about the business. Also, make sure to negotiate social media accounts, mailing lists, product images, and other resources that may be a part of the transaction.

Final Take

If everything goes right, you will soon become the owner of an e-commerce website. As you can see, the process is not complicated. However, it will take a bit of time and effort to choose the right company, and make sure everything goes smoothly. Once you finalize the transfer, it is time to design a strategy to skyrocket your e-commerce business and boost your profits.

How to Buy a Business | Four Vital Questions to Ask

How To ACQUIRE A Business

Four Important Questions to Ask

It can take a lot of time and effort to develop a business from scratch. This is why people savvy enough to tap into available public and private resources decide to buy an existing business. However, going forward with the purchase is not an easy decision to make. Here are four important questions to ask during the process of buying a business.

Where to Find A Business to Buy?

The initial step is to find a place where you can buy a business. Many people go to brokers seeking help to identify the right business for them. Others check industry publications, newspaper advertisements, or various online business for sale platforms.

Online marketplaces can be a great way to find a business to buy, especially if you’re looking to focus on digital business and e-commerce startups that are increasingly putting themselves up for sale.

Is That Business the Right Fit for Me?

Here are three key questions every entrepreneur like you should ask themselves when vetting an acquisition:

1. What are my skills and interests? – You would be more motivated to succeed with a business in a niche that you are passionate about. Needless to say, you want to make sure you know the industry enough to take over the business effortlessly.

2. What is my budget? – The price tag of the business needs to fit your pro forma budget. Furthermore, the business should generate monthly sales to cover the cost of operations with the potential of making a profit. If you need additional capital, you can consider getting a business loan from a financial institution like your local bank.

3. Do I have time and resources? – There is no point in buying a business if you are going to neglect it. You need to have enough time, effort, and energy to ensure that your business has the right allocated resources to become a profitable investment.

What Will You Get for the Price OF THE BUSINESS?

The chances are you will have some wiggle room when negotiating the purchasing price, but before you do that, ask the business seller exactly what assets will transfer for that price? Yes, you will become the owner of the business & manager of the team in place, but will you also get its inventory, social media accounts, a functioning website, and other relevant items?

Do You Have Accurate Historical Financial Reports?

The general rule of thumb is to stick to buying businesses that generate profits for at least a couple of years. The current business owner needs to be ready to provide financial statements and reports for at least that period. This includes a detailed overview of revenues, expenses, and debts. Also, it would be great if they include a projected financial statement.

Learn More About Business Management

While you should have general knowledge about managing a business, we are talking about the day-to-day operations of the business you are acquiring. For example, you may need permits and licenses to continue operating the business. There may also be operating procedures that you can adopt as that can make you a better manager.

Here are some more general questions related to the business operations:

• If the business that you are buying is digital, the product or service will be sold through a subscription model, or use one-time payments?

• Are there any employees whose salary you are expected to pay?

• Are there any contracts with vendors or other suppliers or providers? How long do they last, and is there an extension option?

Are you an entrepreneur?

An Austrian economist defined entrepreneurship as the “competitive behavior that drives the market process”.Thus it creates value for both market and society. Entrepreneurship is the process of creating something new of value by devoting the necessary time and effort, assuming the accompanying financial, psychological, and social risks, and receiving the resulting rewards of monetary and personal satisfaction and independence.

What problems can small businesses face in terms of entrepreneurship?

America's small business owners' optimism took a modest downturn in June, according to the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, slipping 1.7 points to 103.3. While optimism remains at historically high levels, the June figure reverses the gain posted in May, with six components falling, three improving, and one unchanged.

Fifty-four percent reported capital outlays, down 10 points.

The net percent of owners reporting inventory increases fell two points to a net-zero percent, indicating no further building in inventory stocks in June.

The net percent of owners expecting higher real sales volumes fell six points to a net 17 percent of owners.

Twenty-seven percent of those reporting weaker profits blamed sales (down three points), 12 percent blamed labor costs (up five points), 11 percent cited materials costs, and nine percent cited lower selling prices (down two points).

Final Take On Buying A Business

As you can see, purchasing a business is both challenging and fun! You want to ensure that you pick the right business, which is why you should carefully evaluate all the details related to the purchase. Take as much time as necessary to ensure you are making the right decision as this can be the difference between success and failure down the road.

BizNexus -Learn More From Our YouTube Playlist:

BUSINESS ACQUISITION

Have you checked out our podcast?

THE BIZNEXUS ROUNDUP

Quick & dirty interviews, war stories & tips from the trenches of business acquisition, growth & sale. We aim for value, efficiency & fun, so you'll walk away with something useful to take with you along the journey of buying, growing & selling a business.