Posts Categorized: Seller Articles

Is Your “Normalized” P&L Statement Normal?

Normalized Financial Statements – Statements that have been adjusted for items not representative of the current status of the business. Normalizing statements could include such adjustments as a non-recurring event, such as attorney fees expended in litigation. Another non-recurring event might be a plant closing or adjustments of abnormal depreciation. Sometimes, owner’s compensation and benefits… Read more »

Do You Have an Exit Plan?

“Exit strategies may allow you to get out before the bottom falls out of your industry. Well-planned exits allow you to get a better price for your business.” From: Selling Your Business by Russ Robb, published by Adams Media Corporation Whether you plan to sell…

The Devil May Be in the Details

When the sale of a business falls apart, everyone involved in the transaction is disappointed – usually. Sometimes the reasons are insurmountable, and other times they are minuscule – even personal. Some intermediaries report a closure rate of 80 percent; others say it is even lower. Still other intermediaries claim to close 80 percent or… Read more »

Family Businesses

A recent study revealed that only about 28 percent of family businesses have developed a succession plan. Here are a few tips for family-owned businesses to ponder when considering selling the business: You may have to consider a lower price if maintaining jobs for family members is important. Make sure that your legal and accounting… Read more »

What Are Buyers Looking for in a Company?

It has often been said that valuing companies is an art, not a science.  When a buyer considers the purchase of a company, three main things are almost always considered when arriving at an offering price. Quality of the Earnings Some accountants and intermediaries are very aggressive when adding back, for example, what might be… Read more »

A Reasonable Price for Private Companies

Putting a price on privately-held companies is more complicated than placing a value or price on a publicly-held one. For one thing, many privately-held businesses do not have audited financial statements; these statements are very expensive and not required.  Public companies also have to reveal a lot more about their financial issues and other information… Read more »

SELLING A BUSINESS: UNDERSTANDING CONFIDENTIALITY

It is important to understand the various aspects of confidentiality when it comes to selling a business.  This can involve understanding what to disclose and when, and the legal obligations that need to be met by business sellers. Knowing what to disclose and when Knowing what to disclose and when can have a significant impact… Read more »

Top Ten Mistakes Made By Sellers (that do not use Colonial Business Brokerage)

Neglecting the day-to-day running of their business with the reasoning that it will sell tomorrow. Starting off with too high a price with the assumption the price can always be reduced. Assuming that confidentiality is a given. Failing to plan ahead to sell / deciding to sell impulsively. Expecting that the buyers will only want… Read more »

Why Sell Your Company?

Selling one’s business can be a traumatic and emotional event.  In fact, “seller’s remorse” is one of the major reasons that deals don’t close.  The business may have been in the family for generations.  The owner may have built it from scratch or bought it and made it very successful.  However, there are times when… Read more »

Who Is the Buyer?

Buyers buy a business for many of the same reasons that sellers sell businesses. It is important that the buyer is as serious as the seller when it comes time to purchase a business. If the buyer is not serious, the sale will never close. Here are just a few of the reasons that buyers… Read more »