It’s time to sell the business and move on to something new, whether that’s a new company or retirement. No matter why the business will be sold, the important thing to do is make sure it’s done right. Whenever a business owner is ready to sell their company, they may want to take the following steps.
Find Out the Value
The first thing to know about selling your business is the potential value. This is crucial, because a valuation may show that now is not the right time to sell. Depending on how the business is doing, it may be worth waiting a little while and making the business more profitable before selling. Getting a valuation shows the owner what they can receive when they sell, though it may sell for more or less once the right buyer is found.
Start Getting Paperwork in Order
There is a lot of paperwork needed to run a business, and a lot of this will be reviewed by potential buyers. Standard papers, as well as legal documents, should all be carefully organized to make sure they’re easily accessible during the sales process. It’s also a good idea to make sure everything is up to date, and check vendor contracts, employee contracts, and other variables that can change before the business is sold.
Create a Succession Plan
Business owners will want to consider how the transfer will take place once the company is sold. A succession plan includes details for how the new owners will take over the company and whether the seller will stay on and provide advice for a certain amount of time after the sale. There are many options for the succession plan, so the business owner should think about what would make the transition as easy as possible for everyone involved.
Work with Advisors
Certain advisors will be needed throughout the sales process to help prevent potential issues. An accountant can help get financial documents in order before the sale while a lawyer can review any legal paperwork, including sales documents, before the sale is completed. A broker is needed to help the business owner make sure everything is in order and ready to go as well as find potential buyers and start the sales process.
Start Looking for a Buyer
Once everything is ready, the business owner can start working on finding the right buyer for the business. This often means a lot more than just finding someone willing and able to buy the business. It could involve looking into potential buyers to make sure they’re a good fit, checking out all options for potential buyers, and considering alternatives, like passing on the business to a family member or an employee. A broker will be able to help the business owner find the right buyer.
If you’re planning on selling a business, now might be a great time to get started. Before doing anything else, talk to a business broker and learn more about the potential value of the business as well as anything else that needs to be done before the sale. With the right help, it’ll be much easier to find a buyer, and the sales process can proceed a lot faster. Set up a time to talk with a broker now to learn more about how they can help.