Thinking About Selling a Private Business in the Next Few Years?

If you're even considering selling your midsize company in the next couple years, here's the bottom line:  you should start the process now.

No kidding. 

That does not mean you should officially list your business for sale.  It means you as the business owner should start some of the "behind the scenes" efforts (that is, preparation) that will enable you to maximize the value of your company during a sale and enhance the terms you'll negotiate as early as possible. 

Sound counterintuitive? 

We certainly understand:  you've been growing and leading your company for years, not working to sell it.  You've been building it to last, not flip.   The principals at Growthink have been in your shoes.  We've started and grown businesses ourselves.   And we've sold them too.   We've learned lot of lessons along the way during our collective 100 plus years of start-up and business advisory experience.

But only about one of every three or four businesses successfully reaches a closing after they are listed for sale. 

That's a discouraging statistic, but one that can be overcome.    And consider, too, that various sources note that up to 75% of all business owners are planning to sell their businesses within five to ten years, creating a massive inventory of available businesses competing with you for buyers' attention.  

Why should you care?

What's one of the key differences between those business owners who execute a successful sale of their company on good terms and those who fail to close?  

Simply knowing the process well in advance, focusing on a few essential actions as early as possible, and taking a comprehensive approach that is integrated into your overall business management and planning process.    

Growthink's approach is unique and designed specifically for business owners.    Unlike accountants, lawyers, business brokers and other intermediaries, we believe in a comprehensive approach to optimizing the chances of selling a business for the highest price and on the best terms for the owner.

We recommend you focus on three distinct initiatives months (or years) before you officially offer the company for sale:

1. Enhancing Your Business Plan to Increase Your Value - and Sales Price.  Since 1999, we've helped 2,000 clients build their business plans and strategies.  We'll show you how to achieve a value for your firm that includes its future growth opportunities, not only its past performance.   Consider why the stocks of some public companies in a certain sector command a premium price to others in the sector - it's because investors believe in the future prospects of that company compared to the others.   You should work on developing that premium value for your company through maximizing your business strategy - a process you're probably already doing anyway. 

2. A Complete Process.  These include all the steps involved in selling your business, from beginning to end (and even after the close).  Steps include improving your financial statements and records and thinking about future capital gains, estate and other tax issues as early as possible.

3. Creative Financing and Transactions.  You don't have to sell your business to your first bidder through a straight asset or stock sale.  We'll teach you a variety of structures to choose from, including tax efficient sales to your existing partners, recapitalizing the company so you keep a continued role, and selling to another company in your industry, among others.   All options offer advantages and disadvantages.    You'll learn why and what type of approach might be right for you.

Experience has shown that only a relative few midsize businesses start the sales process early and focus on a comprehensive approach.   Quite frankly, these business owners have a better chance of a successful outcome that those who don't plan. 

We encourage you to learn the basics - whenever you think you'll sell your business. 


Online Seminar - Thursday, January 7th at 1 PM PDT/4 PM EST

Join the expert Growthink team businesses for 45 minutes, and learn key lessons that will benefit you whenever you decide to sell your firm.   The official Growthink "Bottom Line Guide to Selling Your Business" will be provided to seminar attendees.  


Thursday, January 7th at 1 PM PDT/4 PM EST

During the online seminar, we'll also disclose the top mistakes owners make when selling their businesses (the land mines to avoid), as well as government actions that may be coming soon and affect your sales process (yup, think capital gains taxes). 

Sign up here.

Join the expert Growthink team and two entrepreneurs who recently sold their businesses for 45 minutes, and learn key lessons that will benefit you whenever you decide to sell your firm.   The official Growthink "Bottom Line Guide to Selling Your Business" will be provided to seminar attendees.  

Seminar Fee Waived for this Program.   Strictly First Come, First Serve
 
Since our webinar system is limited to 200 registrants, sign up right away to attend via the link below.
 
Sign up here. 

Look forward to your participation,

The Growthink Investment Banking Team