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Want to Sell Off Your Small Company? You'll Need to Use These Tips

17 July 2017

Tonya Gomez

Whether you've gotten an idea for a new business or have decided the entrepreneurial life isn't for you, the decision to sell your small company can be a difficult one to arrive at. Once you've chosen that course of action, you need to work on getting the best price possible for the business. Here's how. 

Don't Wait for Emergencies

You may have had the first impulse to sell your business when you saw that the industry is going to experience a downturn or realized your customer base is not what it once was. As soon as you feel that way, it's vital to start making a plan that will allow you to gracefully exit the business. Whatever you do, avoid waiting for an emergency or crisis situation; buyers are not always eager to buy a company that's having significant problems. If they are willing to purchase a company in crisis, they will want to do so at a steep discount. You could end up losing a lot of money in the deal. Therefore, do everything possible to plan the sale of your business before anything awful happens.

Keep Good Records

Any buyer is eager to purchase from a seller that keeps good records. Not only is that a sign that the business has been well managed, but it can also give them a head start so that they can easily assume responsibility for ongoing bills, employee needs, and customer demands. If your records are a mess right now, do what you can to clean them up by working with an administrative assistant, an accountant and other professionals. When your records are more easily understood and laid out in a clear manner, you should find that you have better luck with buyers.

Understand Your Company's Value

In order to set a good price for your company, you need to be able to articulate why someone would want your particular business and explain why it is a good purchase. For example, is the business in an industry that is becoming more popular? Are you growing your customer base quickly? Are you about to roll out a new product? These factors can all contribute to a higher selling price. Know what sets your particular company apart from others and you'll be able to generate more interest.

Selling your small business is easier when you're able to think about the things discussed here. For help finding buyers and setting the right price for your company, you might want to work with a business brokerage like The Enterprise Group in the area.

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