There is little doubt that valuing a business is often complex. In part, this complexity is due to the fact that business evaluation is subjective. The simple fact is that the value of a business is often left to the mercy of the person conducting the evaluation. Adding yet another ...
Selling your business doesn’t have to feel like online dating, but for many sellers this is exactly what it can feel like. Many sellers are left wondering, “What exactly do buyers want to see in order to buy my company?” Working with a business broker is an excellent wa ...
Not everyone wants to sell when they feel as though they have to sell. Life changes, such as divorce or illness, can trigger the sale of a business. Everything from declining business revenue to partnership problems and more can send business owners scrambling for the exit sign. Ho ...
When it comes to selling a family-owned business there are no shortage of complicating factors, but one in particular pops up quite often. This article contains a true story about a popular family business that was built up from the ground up only to later meet a very sad ending. While t ...
The old saying that “there is no replacement for experience” is a truism that has stood the test of time. The simple fact is that a lack of experience can dismantle your deal.
Consider the following scenario – a business owner nearing retirement owns a multi-location retail ...
If you are unfamiliar with CSR or corporate social responsibility, you are certainly not alone. In the coming years, you’ll be hearing a lot about CSR. In this article, we’ll look at CSR and how, when implemented with sincerity, it can positively impact your company and its o ...
On the surface we in the industry discuss selling businesses. A business owner will come to us to talk about the sale of their business. But when you really analyze what we do it’s often very removed from selling. After over 10 years in this profession I liken what we do to a role of solving p ...
Posted by Laura Barbara, Murphy Business Broker on
I have very fond memories of my first “real” job. After all, this was my initial step into the real world: no longer did I receive cash for a few hours of watching someone’s children; I now had my hands on an official paycheck – complete with my social security number, full a ...
Most business owners seek a valuation for their company when there’s an immediate need — they’re ready to sell or raise capital now, or they have a shareholder that is being bought out or gifting equity to family.
But valuations can be useful whether a deal is imminent or not. We ...
Posted by Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC on
If I sell the business now, will I get enough money to satisfy my needs?
Will I really improve my personal financial position, or should I wait a little bit longer?
Define priorities: Do I want an all-cash deal, so that I can wash my hands and be done with the business? (This will generally resu ...
Posted by Murphy Business Broker – Shelly Stansfield on
Two recent discussions are worth considering when thinking of about selling your business. One gentleman wants to sell his business to a couple employees in a couple of years and the other wants to sell in 10 years.
TWO YEAR GOAL: A moderately successful business owner and I discussed having a ...
Posted by Business Broker Russell Cohen | Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC on
Anyone selling a business should be considering the elements of the sales process. Business brokers are invaluable in each of these considerations:
Think It Through – Know What You Want
Do you want to retire completely or continue to have a hand or profit in the business? Do you want to move ...
Posted by Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC on
An established business has much to offer a prospective buyer. A proven product or service exists, as well as a customer base. Typically, there are experienced employees and managers in place (and many choose to remain with the company after the sale is complete). There is a cash flow from the first ...
Posted by Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC on
Today we are offering a wish list for a typical seller of a small business. Entrepreneurs who are selling their companies, as well as those looking to purchase, generally agree on what would make the process more seamless overall.
What the seller wants:
A qualified buyer - This not onl ...
Posted by Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC on
We recently presented a wish list for a typical seller of a small business. Now, it's the buyer's turn.
Entrepreneurs - whether they are buyers or sellers - generally agree on several factors that make the business transfer process more seamless overall.
A buyer wants:
A solid business ...
Posted by Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC on
When you begin to negotiate the sale of the business, you will be much better off if you have developed a personal plan and have prioritized which items in the deal are the most important to you and which items you can compromise on and still accomplish your objectives.
Prioritize which items are ...
Posted by Dick Halterman Murphy Business – Shenandoah Valley, Virginia on
From time to time, I am in the unfortunate position of telling some 50-year old business owner that they "just don’t have any goodwill". "But we have been around forever, or our name is like a household word in the community, or we literally have thousands of customers"&nbs ...
Posted by Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC on
Here are some of the obvious, and not so obvious, steps you can take as you get ready to sell your business:
Clean the premises
Organize the books and records
Deal with any customer/vendor/employee issues prior to the sale
Try to increase revenues without sacrificing margin (increasing revenue ...
Posted by Business Broker Russell Cohen | Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC on
You've spent a lifetime building up your business. Whether you have always planned to move on or are selling your business due to the continuing pressures exerted by the many recent economic downturns, you will be looking to achieve the greatest profit attainable for your efforts.
That is why i ...
Posted by Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC on
The biggest financial transaction in a private business owner's life is likely the sale of his or her business. Although many transfers are predetermined, others result from unplanned events, which is why it is essential for business owners to have an exit strategy.
Operate your business as if ...