http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles.aspx Business seller articles - Resources - Businesses for Sale en-gb Copyright Acquireo.com 2012 Acquireo Business seller articles Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:08:32 GMT 20 http://www.acquireo.com http://www.acquireo.com/pub/email/headers/logo-small.gif 236 63 http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/selling-a-restaurant-the-process.aspx <P>Selling a restaurant takes a lot of work, and more often than not, the seller has to be very careful to list in such a way as not to alert employees. The best advice for a person looking to sell a restaurant business is to seek the professional help that can make the process a lot easier. In the meantime, here are some great tips for selling that will make life a little simpler for everyone involved in the process. </P> <P> You need to have a strong focus on the basics that will be appealing to the buyer. Make sure the bookkeeping is clean. A set of financials that is organized and understandable is critical to any restaurant sale. It is tough to sell a restaurant that is not profitable. Make sure the inventory levels and costs such as labor, food and beverage, are all in order. Your location is important as well. Examine whether your present lease or terms of the real estate give the buyer enough profit at month’s end. If everything is in order, it makes it easier to negotiate the desired selling price for a restaurant when the time comes. </P> <P> Be objective, is the restaurant and street appeal up to speed? Do you have adequate staffing and parking? Covering all the bases is critical; otherwise, it may appear to the buyer they are being sold a “job”. In short, look at the whole process of selling a restaurant from the buyer’s point of view.</P> <strong> Get the Appraisal Done</strong> <P> The appraisal will help determine a restaurant’s true cash flow and determine what is a fair amount for the selling price for a restaurant. Totaling of the assets should include goodwill and any future business potential. Comparable sales for either singles restaurants or chains with multiple locations can be analyzed for seller or buyer. Everyone has a different perspective of what a property is worth—and it is usually the tax assessor that comes in at the high end of the scale. </P> <strong> Define and Target the Buying Market </strong> <P> You should endeavor to find qualified buyers that are capable of acquiring your restaurant. The technique involves first identifying—and then screening to verify financial strength and business experience. Business buyers are an excellent place to mine for prospects. A second great source for selling a restaurant will be the people that have available funds to invest. The aging population is a great place to put out the feelers. These potential buyers are like diamonds—they may be hard to find, but the effort is well worth it when looking to sell a restaurant business. </P> <P> Employees can be a surprising source, however, a drawback is that many employees may not have the capital necessary, and the owner may have to carry more paper than they are comfortable with. While employees can be a risky bet, competitors and direct supplies are even riskier. It is vastly unlikely that they will end up going through with the deal, or place a fair market price on the table. It is more than likely they will be window-shopping and gathering competitive information on your restaurant. </P> <strong> Discrete Advertising </strong> <P> You will no doubt have privy to a lot of information concerning the many facets of how to sell a restaurant. It will pay big dividends to advertise your business correctly, and making the sale known prematurely can end up poisoning your efforts. There are many places to list your restaurant business for sale, both on the internet. The challenge will be to run an ad that will create interest without tipping off who you are. Confidentiality is important—but you also want to avoid the image of having the business look shop-worn. This can happen if the restaurant has been advertised over a lengthy period. Besides, if you choose to work with an advertising venue whose forte is selling a restaurant guide and listing your business—you will want to be head and shoulders above other restaurants thrown in the mix. </P> <strong> Qualifying the Buyer </strong> <P> It is important to have a system in place that can qualify a buyer when selling a restaurant or multiple unit chain. Many owners prefer not to contact the buyer directly. A reliable second party can gather all the necessary information including financial ability, motivation, and overall interest level before any of the details about your restaurant business are given away. </P> <strong> Closing the Deal </strong> <P> It is not bad advice to seek an attorney out who specializes in restaurants. He or she can eliminate the red tape, which can cause the sale to fall through at the last minute. All the legalities can be addressed—and this will benefit both buyer and seller. </P> <strong> Financing the Sale </strong> <P> There are a lot of choices to look at besides outright selling your restaurant. You may want to consider leasing the business, re-structuring the debt, expansion capital, equipment leasing, and even interested investors that include family members or friends. Whatever the route you choose to take; proper planning will keep you competitive throughout the venture. </P> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:32:07 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/great-reasons-to-sell-your-business.aspx <P>Although I normally recommend to my clients that they fully prepare to sell their business, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to see what you can get. It may be enough to pack up and leave to start a new venture in life. </P> <P> Typically, my advisory clients go through a 2 to 3 year process of cleaning up the company and its finances to look its best for a potential buyer. The reason for this is that most people will ask for 3 years worth of financials when purchasing. </P> <P> Don’t get me wrong about the time needed to prepare. I have also advised clients on a very quick prep and helped them sell when the business was less than a year old. Three years is ideal to have a smoother transaction and sell for top dollar, but not always necessary. </P> <strong> Why sell?</strong> <P> Sometimes things happen and you just have to get out. Other times you are just ready for a change of pace. Your enthusiasm to build and work the business isn’t really there anymore. Seriously ask yourself if you are still at least 75% as enthusiastic about building the business as you were in year one or two when you started. </P> <P> If you are like many people, you have done your best in the business for 3+ years and don’t have the desire to make it any better or you really are ready to move on to the next business you want to build. Maybe it is time to just retire. That’s something you certainly have to ask yourself every year that you are in business. </P> <strong> Here are the best reasons to discretely put your business on the market and attract a buyer:</strong> <ul> <li>You are bored of the business</li> <li>The business is no longer satisfying to deal with every day</li> <li>It’s built up enough to cash out</li> <li>You found something more exciting to be a part of</li> <li>You really do wish to retire</li> </ul> <P> The truly best time to sell a business is when it is making good money and you don’t absolutely NEED to get out. This principle holds true for most things dealing with money: it comes much easier when you don’t desperately need it. Ask your bank when the best time is to go for a loan. I promise they will tell you “whenever it’s not necessary to have it”. </P> <P> If you happen to be in a bad position like a divorce, partner dispute or illness then you probably can’t expect to get top dollar for your company. But, I promise you that you won’t get much at all if you don’t use professional help to sell. Smart buyers will see your desperation very quickly if they are dealing with you one on one because there is no buffer between you and them. You will be fighting a losing battle. </P> <strong> What’s involved in a valuation?</strong> <P> I’m sure you are just as curious as any other business owner as to what your business is worth in today’s market. The worst thing you can do is value a business yourself. </P> <P> The next worst thing is to ask your accountant. Here are the simplest reasons why this is a bad idea; you and your accountant have the same problem. You both will figure out some way to paint the rosiest picture possible and then get mad at the fact that it won’t sell for that price. You love what you have built, and your accountant loves your money. He/she doesn’t want to make you mad, right? </P> <P> On top of this, a key ingredient in the pricing will always be missing. If you don’t have experience in the marketplace for your industry and area regarding business sales, you will never put that factor into your selling price. </P> <P> Buyers will always value lower than sellers, but given the ability to completely name their price, sellers will typically be way off the charts on their value perception. This is not like selling a house. There are no apples to apples comparisons. An identical deli that sold down the road for $300k does not mean yours is worth the same. It could be much higher or lower with revenues and net profit not being the only difference factors. </P> <P> A company with revenues over $10 million and/or many big ticket tangible assets (like manufacturing equipment) should use a business appraiser to give them a true valuation. Any other smaller business is best to use a person in the buy/sell industry like a business advisor or business broker. </P> <P> I should point out that unless you are looking to shoot yourself in the foot on appraising and/or selling a business, DO NOT USE A REAL ESTATE BROKER. This includes a commercial real estate broker. They deal with buyers of buildings and houses, not businesses. </P> <strong> What’s the right professional help? </strong> <P>If you have a business with a building, have a real estate person properly appraise it then get a business broker to help you sell. This way you have true business sale experience on your side and you only pay commission for the business sale, not the building. </P> <P> Yes, a business broker will cost more in terms of a commission, but if you have a viable business, it will get sold and it is worth the money. Especially since the commission can often be built into the price so that you really don’t pay much of it out of your end. </P> <P> When you sign up with a real estate broker, they tie you into an exclusive contract and then advertise your business as cheaply as possible. Why? That’s a simple answer. They don’t sell businesses therefore they don’t have buyers and they don’t want to spend the money to find qualified buyers in places where they are actually looking (hint: the newspaper is a horrible way to sell a good business). </P> <P> Why should they? They make a living selling houses and buildings. They just happened to find a sucker to lock into a deal that they MAY GET LUCKY ON and stumble across a buyer making them money they should have never had. Don’t be that sucker. You are a smart business owner and you should know that you get what you pay for. If you have pride in your business, get help valuing and selling it from professionals. </P> <strong> What should you do? </strong> <P> So here’s the bottom line. Unless you are extremely happy with coming to work every day at your business, consider selling it to a highly motivated (i.e. has the new venture fire), highly qualified (i.e. has the money) buyer and moving on to the next big venture. </P> <P> If you aren’t ready to sell, get a valuation done anyway to see where your company stands in the market right now. You may find it is worth enough to consider selling or you might find out that some work needs to be done to be able to sell in the future. </P> Acquireo.com - George Sierchio Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:18:22 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/value-does-your-business-have-it.aspx <P> If your business has been operating for more than three years and the business is profitable, then it has value.There are many types of business value. Market value, fair value, liquidation value, replacement value, cost value, and reproduction value are but a few types of values. Market value is the type of value referred to in this article. Value is not the same as price. It has been said “Price is the amount you give or receive; value is what you hope to get.” </P> <strong> Customers: </strong> <P> Do you have repeat customers? Do you keep a list of customers? Do you have accounts receivable? There is value in established customers which already know about your business and product. A potential business purchaser will not have the new business expense of advertising and marketing to build a customer base. You have paid the price to carve out your market niche. The knowledge you have about your customers or clients is valuable to a business buyer. You may have “paid the price” to learn this information for yourself. This information has value.</P> <strong> Location:</strong> <P> Business locations have value. The location is known to current customers and as creatures of habit; customers do not want to find a new location. This is especially true of retail and some professional businesses. Necessary leasehold improvements are already in place with business equipment for continued operations. The market value of used equipment and furniture is usually much less than new cost. But again, it is in place and operating. Necessary utilities are in place for operation of the business. The current location would be in compliance with zoning regulations. It is also likely that your business occupational license is transferable at the same location. Your established operating location has value.</P> <strong> Income:</strong> <P>What does a business purchaser look for when buying a business? In other words, what makes your business valuable to a purchaser? Profit, income, cash flow, owners benefit, sellers’ discretionary cash flows are all ways to describe income to the owner. There are many methods for an owner to take income from a business; salary, auto use, health insurance, net income, etc. For income to have value it must be provable. “Other Income” that cannot be substantiated has no value in a business sale. The value of a business has a direct relationship to the owner’s income generated from that business. Income to the owner of a business is the most important contribution to value of a business. All that you, as the owner, have done to properly manage your business is reflected in the “bottom line.” Your current and past provable owner’s income will have value. </P> <strong> Business Value Planning: </strong> <P>Value planning for the small owner/operator business may maximize a sale price for the owner. Value Planning is a process to be included in the operation of a business before it is offered in the marketplace for sale. There are many reasons to sell a business. Retirement, “Burn-Out,” illness, relocations of family are all good reason for the sale of a business. Decreasing sales or decreasing profits are not good reasons to sell a business. It is important to contact a business professional early in the decision process as a business should be placed on the market before the owner loses interest in the progress of the business. In addition to any tangible assets, such as inventory and equipment, the value is a return of your “hard knocks” investment and your “ know how” of the business management experience that is transferable. An established profitable business has value for both the current owner and a prospective purchaser. </P> Acquireo.com - William Pipes Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:53:09 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/tips-on-selling-a-business.aspx <P>Selling a business takes preparation, planning and commitment by the owner. It is like any other project, set a goal, list the steps to get there and then work the plan. When you sell a business you will need to gather all of the important facts about your business and put them in a presentable form. Another important early decision is how you are going to sell your business. Are you going to do it yourself or with professional help. Most businesses change hands with the help of professional agents who are experts in selling a business. The help of a pro can be invaluable in getting a good fair price and selling the business in a timely manner. With the following ideas and tips an owner can begin to get at how to sell their business. </P> <h3> Information and valuation</h3> <P> In order to sell a business, the owner has to come up with a figure, which represents what he feels the business is worth. This price will become the asking price for the business. A price cannot be arrived at without accurate numbers and information about the business in question. Gathering this information is the first step in a number of them needed to sell your business. </P> <P> The collected information is then used to come up with an asking price for your business. There are many formulas that are used to <a title= "Tips on business evaluation" href="http://pyoo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/evaluating-your-business-for-sale.aspx" >value a business</a>. The industry the business is in will also determine how the sale price is developed. One of the current ways to get to this number is to hire an expert evaluator who has been certified by a recognized business seller’s organization. This certified evaluator is used in court cases, IRS cases and in the sale of a business like yours. Since this is a disinterested third party, both sides in the negotiation can usually use the value that is delivered. This valuation is arrived at by inspection of the company, use of your accountant’s figures and the industry you are in. </P> <P> With the important first step, the game is on and the negotiations can be engaged in with serous intent. Every thing flows from this first step, so it must be as accurate as possible. This first move sets the tone for much of what follows in the sales meetings and conversations. </P> <h3> Get help or sell yourself</h3> <P> Selling your business without help from those that do it for a living, is the hard way to do it unless you have someone who is ready to buy At the very least it would be very useful to get a certified evaluation so you have third party support for your asking price. If you elect to try to sell the business yourself, you will be undertaking a time consuming project that may not fit in with running your business at the same time. But if this is your choice, then a way must be found to find a buyer. Advertising in trade magazines is one of the ways to find a buyer. Posting on acquireo.com when <a title= "List businesses for sale here "href= "http://www.acquireo.com/sell-a-business.aspx"> selling a business </a> is a very effective way to let the public know of the sale. Acquireo has cheap advertising options for <a href="http://www.acquireo.com/sell-a-business.aspx">business owners </a> and <a href= "http://www.acquireo.com/brokerlogics/">brokers </a> and has proven marketing strategies to let the buyers know whenever a new business is up for sale. Locally you should let professionals you deal with and other business friends in on the fact that you are willing to entertain offers for your business. </P> <P> The advantage of hiring a business selling pro is they have a network of buyers who are qualified and are seriously looking for a business to buy. If your business is a match for what his client is looking for you may have a quick and easy sale. Another plus is your business will be listed on their website and promoted throughout their network. You would not have this entry without being a potential customer of theirs. They may have access to financing your buyer may need in order to cash you out. A full service broker provides every service needed to make the sale of your business happen. </P> <h3> Cash out vs. terms for a sale</h3> <P> A “cash out” means the buyer pays an acceptable price in full to purchase your company. This purchase price may be less than one which includes terms, but this can be used as a negotiating tool. Cash in full is less than the price if the seller has to extend terms to complete the sale. If the seller agrees to be a holder of some paper to make the sale, then a higher price may be used as the final purchase price. Terms can be a powerful negotiating tool when getting down to the way the business will be sold. If the buyer wants terms, then you can agree if the purchase price can be raised. </P> <h3> After the sale help from the previous owner</h3> <P> After the sale is completed there may be time that the buyer and the seller agree that the old owner will help with the transition. This may include helping the new owner learn the business and how to handle the important customers. The old owner could take the new owner around and introduce him to the major customers. He can tell him about the strengths and weaknesses of the employees. His ideas for growth should be listened too with apt attention, as the old owner is more knowledgeable about what the company is facing and where it can improve. </P> <P> He could also give a heads up about the competition and clients they should go after. His intimate knowledge of the facts, history and future possibilities should be noted and maybe even used. This is a terrific source that should not be wasted or forgotten about. </P> <P><B> Conclusions </B></P> <P> The many ins and outs for selling your business should be read about and studied. You have worked hard to make your company worthwhile and now that you are going to sell it you should get top dollar for it. A certified sale price is a step that all business sellers should make, for one reason. This value was given for your business by a pro who knows how to evaluate what a business is worth. </P> <P> Selling a business is a tricky proposition and most owners would be wise to put this task in the hands of business broker who sells businesses for a living. They know how to do it and do it in a timely manner. They also can be of great value when in the negotiating stages. They keep this sometimes-tense situation on track and moving forward. They can talk both parties out of unreasonable demands. </P> <P> If terms or financing become the only way to make the deal fly, their experience can be the deciding factor. This deal making knowledge can be the glue that keeps the deal together. The negotiating stage is a critical time in the sale of the business. Having an old hand involved in the talks can be very helpful and could make the final result be positive instead of negative. His clear-eyed view of the deal can help to dissolve hidden objections and misgivings that have not surfaced until now. Most owners would be wise to get out of the way and let their business be sold. </P> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:07:36 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/steps-to-follow-when-closing-the-sale.aspx <P>When the seller and the buyer have been talking for some time with regard to the purchase of a business, there comes a point that a deal needs to be made or the talks should come to an end. </P> <P> This point is after all details of the business have been presented and the buyer has made a counter offer to the sellers asking price. This is followed with a counter offer from the seller or a refusal of the offer. The buyer then might offer to meet the price if the seller will give him terms on the payment of the money. </P> <P> We are now in the stage of the deal known as the close. This is where the wheeling and dealing begins and the close is upon the buyer and the seller. </P> <P> Let us back up now and see how we got to this point and how to make the deal fly. </P> <h3> Getting started</h3> <P> When getting started in the selling of a business, the first step is the exchange of all of the business financials as well as the opening asking price. This is the price that the seller knows he is not likely to get, but the price has to start at some level. Asking many questions and explaining in detail how the asking price was arrived at usually follows this opening gambit. Many details are then discussed and more questions are answered. The selling process is filled with these questions and answer sessions. The more accurate the seller is in their answers the better this part of the sale will go as it will build trust in the buyer. This is an important element for moving the sale to the close. </P> <h3> First middle stage </h3> <P>At this point the buyer may bring in their own evaluator to see if your numbers for the asking price make sense. The may also ask around about the company from suppliers and even talk with some of the key employees. Some buyers may even discreetly talk with competitors if they will talk with a stranger about a company they are in competition with. One of the really good ways to get straight answers is to call clients and ask them if they would recommend the company. This could be an eye opener about a positive relationship or a series of negative answers. In any event, the clients will likely tell you what they like about the company and where they feel it could improve. </P> <P> At this point the information has been painting an accurate picture of the company and how it is accepted in the business world. The prospective buyer has a feel for how the business is likely to do when they are the owner. </P> <h3>The serious price negotiations start</h3> <P> With all of this data collected and maybe a price from their own certified business broker, the buyer will make a detailed counter offer to the seller. The buyer will also find out at this point if terms are available or will the seller only accept a cash deal. It is also time to find out if the seller keeps the same price if the business is bought on terms or is it going to be raised. These nitty-gritty details are one step closer to making an offer that will set the two prices the seller and the buyer must work from. </P> <h3> Closing the details and coming up with agreement</h3> <P> All of the talking between the buyer and the seller and their agents has brought the parties to where a deal can be put into writing. This agreement will cover the negotiated price, how it will be paid, any inspections that need to be passed and the date for the actual transfer. </P> <P> This is a place where having experienced help in a business broker will be very helpful. They are used to writing up final agreements that will pass muster. Their experience will come into play here, as they understand that the agreement is the written document, which lays out what the parties have decided they can live with. This agreement will detail every thing that both parties have come to terms with including when each step of the purchase will be completed by and any contingencies that need to be met. </P> <P> The secret at this point in the sale is to not let any thing delay the deal. The buyer is ready to buy and the terms have been settled. If a question comes up at this point in time, move heaven and earth to get it answered. Do not let it go unanswered for more than twelve hours or less. Delays can do nothing to help you and may kill the deal. Buyer’s remorse can set in at any time. A delay can open this door to losing the sale. </P> <h3> Make sure the legal details are covered</h3> <P> It would be a good idea to let an attorney look at the agreement to make sure that the terms are enforceable and legal. Maybe let them redraft the final sales agreement so it conforms to any state or federal laws. This may seem to be overkill, but a legal document is protection for both parties to the sale. The worst thing that could happen is after the sale a suit is brought and the document is found to be illegal and unenforceable. This makes good business sense and most people on a purchase of this magnitude will want the paperwork to be absolutely correct. The business broker may have a legal department that can do the drafting of the document as part of their representative service. The bottom line is make sure the agreement as understood is what is put down to paper. </P> <P><B> Conclusions</B></P> <P> From beginning to end the sale of a business is more difficult than most any sale the two parties are subjected too. The business sale is thorny as it has so many shades of gray in its makeup. A business broker is usually brought in to help with many factors including setting a price and bringing in potential buyers. They can help in many other ways be giving you a list of all the information you are going to need to supply so the sale can come to pass. There are many dots to make and tees to cross, in order to be able to have intelligent conversations with potential buyers. Explanations of critical data must sound logical and have a creditable foundation. All of this will be revisited during the closing stages of the deal, but it also will be looked at during other steps of the sales process. </P> <P> A good certified business broker could make all of this flow much better than most sellers or buyers. They are brought in for their knowledge and experience in making deals come to fruition. You would be wise as a seller to find a recommended business broker as the very first step in selling your business. </P> <P> Respect for all parties should be in place at all times even when the talks get a little tense and there are possible misgivings about information being supplied. Cool heads make deals and hot heads lose them. </P> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:01:09 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/selling-a-business-fundamentals.aspx <P>Selling a business is a series of steps that logically follow one another until the sale is complete. If you know the steps, then you have a plan of attack to sell your business. This plan will get you a fair price and help to make the sale go through as quickly as possible. </P> <h3> Setting a price after the decision to sell </h3> <P> The first step in the process of selling a business comes after the decision to sell the business. This decision can happen for many reasons and is an emotional one for many owners. Remember the current owner has put their heart and soul in the business for some time. They may be selling as they are ready to retire and their business represents a large part of the retirement stake. Declining health is often given as a reason for selling the business. A death of one or both of the owners may bring about the need to cash out in order to divide the money the business represents. This may have been the root cause for the decision to sell. The reason for the sale is important for many reasons to the buyer. If the current owner will not be available after the sale, this could be important if the new owner was going to need help in learning the business. If the old owner is leaving the area for retirement, this could also be a factor on whether this business is one you should consider for purchase. If these factors are in line with the buyer’s ongoing need, then the step of looking at the financials of the business is next in line. The business owner should have documented proof of sales and expenses for the last few years so the buyer can see what the business trend is and where the business is heading. These financials should be in the form that your accountant can review and let you know the health of the business. These reports from you own accountant is important, as it will verify the numbers you are using to make a purchase decision. Nothing can happen without this step being in place. The numbers will give a current picture of the business’s profitability. They also will give some idea of where the business is headed. Sustained growth is something each buyer would like to see when evaluating the purchase of a business. </P> <h3> Listing with a broker and the terms </h3> <P>Once this information is in hand, the owner must find a way to let buyer’s know they are going to put up their business for sale. Listing with a business broker is a way to jump start finding potential buyers. Also the listing broker if a certified business broker, may be able to come up with a realistic price that the business should sell for. This is important, as the price of any business is what attracts potential buyers to sit down and discuss the purchase of the business. The owner also needs to come to grips with the fact that they will or will not carry back part of the purchase price. The terms of the sale are the grease that makes the sale come to pass or become an impasse. This decision by the owner should be made early and maybe even come up with two sale prices. The first price is for an all cash deal and the second price is one with part of the sale price being carried by the owner as a short-term loan. Some buyers will willingly accept the sellers price if the terms of the deal are easy and make the sale price one they can live with. If your business provides a good living and the future looks good, then let influential people know that you are willing to sell your company. Tell your banker, your accountant, your lawyer and your insurance person that you are considering selling and you would appreciate any help they may give toward that outcome. They could easily know someone who is looking to buy a successful business. </P> <h3> The negotiations </h3> <P> Once a real buyer candidate is found, then the negotiations will start. This is the time to lay out all of the cards on the table. Full disclosure should be the watchword as keeping things hidden should not be done and in some states it is illegal. Lack of candor can bring all information under suspicion. This is a situation that should be avoided as it could kill a deal that should have happened. </P> <P> These negotiations will cover all the important factors that affect the sell. The purchase price, the terms of payment, the inventory credit, lease agreements, employee retention, legal requirements the business must maintain and will the old owner be available if needed for a specific time after the sale. If the business has very specific legal restrictions that are part of doing business where they are located, then this should be disclosed also. There could be OSHA requirements, city or state requirements and federal requirements for doing business. </P> <P> Basically this is the time to lay out all of the nitty-gritty facts that the new owner will need to comply with. It is the time to explain any problems that are in place and how they will be resolved before the purchase. If there are ongoing leases, legal requirements from settled disputes or any other odd circumstances, this is the disclosure time and should be done with the idea of keeping nothing hidden from the buyer. If a freeway was going to bypass your business, and traffic was important to your success, then this would definitely need to be disclosed. Let the facts see the light of day and the new owner can make a decision on whether they want to still consider the purchase. Full disclosure is the one way to prevent future lawsuits over not letting the buyer know of potential problems. </P> <h3> Hiring a business broker</h3> <P> A good, well-qualified business broker can be an <a title= "Reasons to hire a broker" href="http://pyoo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/role-of-business-brokers-in-selling-your-business.aspx">integral part of any sale of a business</a>. They have access to people who are actively looking for a business to buy. They are grounded on how to come up with a fair price for the business. They will keep both parties honest in their dealings with each other as their creditability is on the line with the buyer. Their reputation is important to future business, so referrals about them from previous clients should be acquired and analyzed. Their experience will keep unintended mistakes from muddying up the deal. They help people buy and sell businesses all of the time. For this reason, they are in a better position to advise a client than probably anyone else the client may know. Sound information is key to making good decisions. This is what the business broker brings to the table due to their knowledge and experience. They also will know of possible answers to gaining financing or other professional help so that the deal can be completed fairly and quickly. You could sell your business without their help, but you will probably take longer and spend a lot of time learning something they already knew. One fact that should not be overlooked is they can bring qualified buyers to the table that are sincerely looking for a business to buy. Talking to people who read your ad in the paper may be an exercise in meeting tire kickers or people who do not have realistic expectations of what is involved in buying a business. A business broker can prevent this waste of time in selling your business. </P> <P><B> Conclusions</B></P> <P> The decision to sell comes about for any number of reasons, like retirement or ill health. The setting of a sale price is critical and most sellers would be wise to bring in a certified business broker. Documentation of the business’s financials will back up the sales price. The negotiations are where the sale takes place. A good business broker can make this happen as they have experience in this phase of the sale. Selling a business is more difficult than selling a house or a car. There are numerous elements that need to be laid on the table so that a deal can be made. </P> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:51:14 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/role-of-business-brokers-in-selling-your-business.aspx <P>There is a role for a business broker in selling your business. Basically they will make it happen quicker and often at a better price than you could have received on your own. </P> <h3> Reasons for a business broker</h3> <P> There are many reasons to use a business broker when selling your business. The most basic reason is they are in the business of selling businesses. They will market your business and help to get prospective buyers to look at your deal. They will help in setting an asking price based on their knowledge and experience. If they have gone through the certification program their price would be considered expert testimony and therefore is given a great deal of creditability. Keeping the owner from underselling their business or over pricing their company is part of their legitimate function to their client. Since they know how to find buyers who are qualified and ready to deal on a business of their liking, they can help to cut down the time a business has to be on the market. Consistently a business broker will move a business quicker and usually at a very fair price. </P> <h3> What does a business broker do</h3> <P> They can help the seller get the information needed by the buyer to make a decision on buying the business. This role is critical as nothing happens until a price is established and the business facts are known. Presenting the facts in a professional form is another common service that a business broker will give a client. This service can be the difference between a seller making a deal and the deal going south. Professional presentation of pertinent facts about a business is necessary in order to attract potential buyers. It is this factual information that helps buyers make intelligent decisions about such a purchase. Since the business broker does this type of work year round, the information is shown in its most positive form. Practice does make perfect in this case. </P> <P> The business broker is also the go-between for passage of information between the buyer and the seller. This enables better communication and cooperation between the buyer and the seller. The role of a disinterested third party is effective in letting the business broker move the dealing along on the sale of the business. The business broker must treat both sides fairly as his next clients are given existing clients as references for his work. It is imperative that the fairness issue is communicated to the next client. Since all aspects of the sale pass through the broker, this neutrality is important and also the advice given to both sides of the deal. </P> <h3> Marketing the business</h3> <P> Without a broker, the seller would have to market the property and would not have access to a pool of potential buyers. The buyer would not have access to the pool of sellers the broker has available. This need by both parties is the reason that most businesses are sold with the help of a business broker. Their expertise in helping to set the selling price cannot be overstated. A busy broker over time helps to sell many types of businesses and this real time experience is invaluable to the process coming to completion. A competent broker will also know the legal requirements for many types of businesses that the brokers in a geographical area. This prevents problems that can be prevented from taking place and decisions being made without all of the facts. </P> <P> If he is not a certified broker as to setting a selling price, he will have referrals to brokers or CPAs that do have this credential. The advantage to the seller is the business will be set at a selling price that can be logically defended when questioned about how the price was set. It is not just a price that the seller picked from thin air of a wish list price. </P> <h3> Broker assisted negotiation </h3> <P> Since the broker will usually know what the buyer is willing to pay and what the seller is willing to accept, the broker can lead both sides to a price that is somewhere in the area that both are willing to live with. Without this outside force, either party may never approach this price. </P> <P> A broker has another ability to deliver that makes their service worth the cost. Maybe the business is a one of a kind business and not one that comes to market every day. Businesses like this are hard to evaluate as to their market value and even more importantly there may be a need to come up with a unique marketing plan to sell the business. A good brokerage firm can do both and solve the problem with a greater chance of success than the owners of the business could do by themselves. They have access to a network of brokers who handle all types of businesses that are for sale. The business may be unique in the geographic area it is located in, but there could well be one in another part of the country that was successfully marketed by a broker in that area. Use of the network is exclusive to the broker community and private individuals will not have access to the information that can be obtained from the network. Information is power, and this kind of help may be the only way the business could be successfully marketed. How other brokers sold a similar business can lead the broker in question to come up with a plan that has a good chance to work. This service to the seller is priceless and could make the difference between no-sale and sold. The seller could have wasted a great deal of time and money on an approach that would not work. Ferreting out potential buyers is the name of the game. The wrong approach could easily come up empty. All of this is sufficient reason to employ and expert when selling a business. </P> <P><B> Conclusions</B></P> <P> The fact that they will actively market your business is plus. The current owner does not have the time or knowledge to find buyers and set a fair price. They will usually set their price too high or too low. If they have a hard time coming up with any buyers, this can bring on frustration and an unneeded reduction of the selling price. It the wrong buyers are seeing the ad for your business, then only a bargain will attract their attention. A buyer who understood your business would readily see the value in a fairly priced offer. This is tricky and the result can be dramatically influenced by hiring a pro to help with the sale. </P> <P> Another reason for the use of a pro is they can talk the language of professional people the buyers bring into the sale negotiation. If the terms that they communicate in are not understood, the buyer’s advisors will not be impressed and may kill the sale. Hiring the professional business broker can prevent lack of intelligent conversation. He will know the terms and their meanings and be able to give the needed answers to move the sale along. This knowledge and expertise is the reason that such a person should be hired to help you make the sale of your business. Their ability to use previous sales and how they were completed is a facet of their knowledge base. There is no way the current owner could bring that to the negotiating table.</P> <P>Find certified <a title="Find a Business Broker near you" href="http://www.acquireo.com/business-broker-directory.aspx">business brokers</a> in your area </P> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:26:13 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/right-time-to-sell-your-biz.aspx <P>The obvious answer is when you have a buyer with cash ready to buy. The serious answer is when you have had a pretty decent three-year run with a rising profit each year. A buyer likes to see increasing profits each year. They also like to see bills paid on time and no delinquent debt. A steady deposit flow in the bank, little employee turnover and increasing table occupancy are all signs of a healthy business. </P> <h3> Health or Intended retirement</h3> <P> These both are legitimate reasons for selling a business. A key partner’s death would be another solid reason. Any time you wish to sell a business, you will be asked why you are selling and walking away from a sure income. The reason must stand scrutiny and in any case the business numbers must back up your asking price. </P> <h3> Selling an existing business vs. starting one</h3> <P> According to industry statistics, the chances of a new restaurant making it and being live and well at the end of a year are one in ten. The odds for success are not very good even for an experienced owner. </P> <P> Buying one with a following that has been around for a while and has healthy numbers would seem to be a better gamble on the part of a new owner. If your business were one of these, then almost anytime would be a time to sell. </P> <P> After the first of the year would seem to be a good time to sell as the owner has gotten the benefit of the holiday business and the next few weeks may be slow as the public recovers from holiday spending. </P> <P> A new start up has the problem of marketing a new entity and making the potential customers ready to try your company out for the first time. This marketing is far different than what an existing business would do. </P> <h3>Hotel and Resort business selling time</h3> <P>If there is a natural time of the year when the tourist business slows down, then that is the time to make a sale final. The old owner would have gotten full value from his ownership and the new owner will have to live through the slow period. </P> <P> Of course the new owner if he has his wits about him would know this and take this into consideration when finalizing the sale. If he is unaware of this natural slow time then he has not done his homework or the broker working for him has fallen down on the job. </P> <P> This slow time may work to the new owner’s advantage if he plans to change the décor or the menu of the restaurant. It is also a natural time for employee turnover as this period is usually one for short layoffs of staff. A full-scale grand opening can be advertised for several weeks, with the mandatory invitation of the press, radio and TV. Any organization, a new owner belongs to should be invited in for a special evening of their own. Birthdays that fall within a week or so of the grand opening could be given special consideration. </P> <h3> If there is special time of the year for your business, use it</h3> <P> If there is a time that your business is really humming, use it to advantage to show off what your business is like. Any new potential owner wants to see activity in a business they are thinking of purchasing. These active weeks or months can be used to show the possible new owner what they can expect if they become the owner. </P> <P> You would need to make it clear that this is a normal occurrence, but not a year around day-to-day example of the business’s operation. But there is nothing wrong with showing the business off at its best </P> <h3> After tax time, time to sell</h3> <P> Speak with your accountant as to a better time to sell your business as far as taxes are considered. All expenses related to the sale of your business can be written off against the sale. It may be better to make the sale final in a year where you have little other income. In other words run the company to the end of the year and then sell it after the first of the year. Make sure you get professional advice that is specific to your situation. </P> <P> It may be possible to make a three way deal out of the sale to cut taxes for the present owner. Maybe a sale could be made to another member of the family with no tax problems and then the sale to the new owner. It is a possible way to get money to an heir. </P> <h3> Cut expenses</h3> <P> It may be worthwhile to lower your inventory as low as possible and also cut out any other expenses without hurting the business. This could include some advertising that is done on a monthly basis or similar expenses. If the sale is going to be final in two months, then cutting out non-essential spending makes sense, as the new owner will probably want to change things to their way of doing things. </P> <P> Any long-term agreements that come up or are up for renewal should be discussed with the new owner before committing to them. Make sure they are transferable to the new owner and that is acceptable to both parties. The last thing you want to happen is a last minute problem that could jeopardize the sale. </P> <P> Any repairs that can be delayed without hurting the business should be put off until after the sale is final. Maybe the new owner will replace rather than repair. New signs or roofs should be discussed with the new owner before taking on the obligation. </P> <P><B> Conclusions for a time to sell</B></P> <P> As you can see there are many situations that make it the right time to sell. Each deal is different and will have critical times that steps should be taken. The owner would be well advised to make a list of these criteria and use this list as a guide for timing the sale. After collecting the information as to the best time to be out of the company, the owner can plan to try to make the sale happen at that time. </P> <P> Sell the company if possible after a profitable run of years. This gives validity to your asking price. Businesses with this income history are sold for a premium compared to a business that is just starting to make money. The money history is one of the most critical factors in the sale of any business. </P> <P> Tax considerations, seasonal timing or a sale prompted by health or retirement reasons are all valid times to sell. If you are lucky enough to get more than one prospect bidding on your company, then you are certainly at the right time to sell. As stated at the beginning of this article the right time does turn out to be when you have a buyer willing to buy. A cash buyer is a thing of beauty and should be treated well. </P> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:27:45 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/prepare-your-biz-for-selling.aspx <p> Selling your business takes planning and careful documentation of information about the business. The financial statements have to be brought current and also all past information say for the last five years should be reviewed for accuracy. A current inventory should be prepared if the business is inventory sensitive. A list of leases, legal obligations, loans to be assumed and other obligations should be made and classified. In short, all money matters of any importance should be noted and documented. </p> <h3> Expert help with the numbers</h3> <p> Any projections of future business should be explained and the facts that led to the conclusions should be detailed. Any problem areas should be listed and how the present owner or the new owner can resolve them. If a lease is about to expire, can it be extended and if so at what expense. If major repairs are required to upgrade the building that comes with the business, these should be noted and the estimated cost of the repairs. Once all of this is done, the owner should decide how he is going to market his business so as to attract prospective buyers. Is he going to go it alone or hire someone to help in finding a buyer? How is the asking price of the business being set and using what criteria. Is a professional business broker going to be brought in to help with all of these questions? The suggestion in this deal is an expert can be worth the expense as they can find buyers, help to set a realistic price for the business and make up a proposal that puts the business in the best possible light. They can provide the marketing that will help to sell a good business in a quick and efficient manner. The longer a business is up for sale, the more questions prospective buyers will come up with. A business that is profitable and selling at a fair price should sell rather quickly. In fact such a business may find itself in the happy situation of a bidding war between buyers. </p> <h3> Owner help and other agreements</h3> <p> The owner should have the answers to whether his employees will stay if the business is sold. He should have a valid reason for wanting to sell the business. </p> <p> Details such as cleaning up the office or the work area while minor in the scheme of things can be major as to first impressions. People are influenced by their first impression and this should be made positive if at all possible. Clean and efficient is the key impression that helps to sell a successful business. A sloppy environment gives the impression of a sloppy operation. Clean and snappy is the impression the seller should present to prospective buyers. </p> <p> Make sure any agreements you have between the business and a third party are transferable to the new owner. Do not get caught unprepared to answer this type of question. The new owner would be foolish not to want to know these details. This information has the power to make or break a pending deal. If the building you are located in is rented to you, make sure your rental agreement can be transferred to the new owner. The secret here is to keep the purchase as simple as possible. Try to keep these details from becoming major discussion points. </p> <p> Do your homework and know the answers to obvious questions like these. If you are asked a question that you are not sure of the answer, do not guess but state you will get the answer as soon as possible. </p> <h3> The presentation of facts</h3> <p> You have gone to the trouble of collecting all of the relevant facts associated with your business. Put them a pleasing presentation form. Have the numbers certified by your accountant. You do not want the buyer’s people to find errors in your information or the math. Make sure the information is presented in a readable form and it can quickly be understood. </p> <p> A business broker can take all of these concerns off your plate. They do this all of the time and probably has staff that ensures the information is presented in a professional manner. Impressions as stated before are important and this is one of the areas of expertise that a business broker brings to the deal. </p> <h3> Setting a price and help doing it</h3> <p> A certified broker can help to set a realistic price for the business. The certification means they have passed a detailed exam on how to come up with a price for the business. They do not just pull the selling price out of the blue, but have valid reasons for it that can be explained to the buyer. This gives the price creditability in the eyes of the buyer and it is from an unbiased third person. This can be important in getting a sale, which is completed near your asking price. </p> <p> They can also be very good in the difficult negotiation stages of the sale. They can keep the buyer and seller appeased and moves the deal forward without the tenseness that can develop during serious deal making. Since they are seen as a somewhat disengaged third party, they can remain cool under the strain of making the deal. Business Brokers are inevitable in selling a business. Check out our article on <a href="http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/role-of-business-brokers-in-selling-your-business.aspx">Role of business brokers in Selling a business</a> for a better idea. </p> <p> Remember they have been here before and they may have a better idea of what will make the sale come together than either the buyer or the seller. Take advantage of this experience and skill they have acquired over time. A quick sale at a good price is what all parties are looking for and a good business broker can make this happen. This is what they do for a living year round and they do not have an emotional interest in the sale of the business like the old owner may have. On the other hand they are interested in making a good deal for all parties, as that is how they make their money and keep their reputation as a good broker. </p> <h3> Prepared answers prevent cooling of buyer</h3> <p> If there are legal considerations that will need to be complied with, make sure you have a legal opinion ready to share when discussing this with the buyer or their agent. This is where a legal opinion from your attorney may come in play. In any event have it ready so that the process is not delayed. Hot buyers and sellers can cool off given enough time to let it happen. Keep the ball moving forward with as little delay as possible. Anticipating the questions and having the answers ready keeps the ball moving forward toward making the sale. Stagnation of the discussion can be deadly to the deal. Be prepared with the solutions to potential questions or obvious inquiries from the buyer. Be pro-active and not reactive to the selling of your business. Think of questions you would have and be prepared to answer them in detail if it is necessary. </p> <p> <strong> Conclusions and terms</strong> </p> <p> Have a ready answer to the question of whether you will help finance the purchase or not. If you are willing, make sure you have given some thought to the terms you would find acceptable. You may be able to get a higher price if your terms are good enough. This is one of the ways to get your asking price with little haggling. The art of all deals is each party must feel good about the final result. Do your part in making this happen. </p> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:27:26 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/initial-prep-for-selling-a-business.aspx <P>When you are ready to sell your business, there are several initial steps that need to be completed right away. These include getting all of your financial information together so that it can be presented it the most favorable light and in an easily understood format. This should include sales records, quarterly or yearly income records after expenses, and asset descriptions with their approximate current worth. </P> <P> If inventory is involved is the business sale; the records should be current, the method of evaluation noted, the purging of old or obsolete inventory and it’s total worth using your method of costing it out. The more accurate the records, the less likely the buyer will want a discount. </P> <P> The overall appearance of the business should be spruced up so it will present a good first impression the first time the potential buyer sees the business. Key employees should be advised as to what is happening and given assurance that they will remain on the job for a specific period. The employee retention item will be part of the sales agreement. </P> <P> Another part of the initial preparation is a list of all assumed debts or bills. This list is for the long-term leases that pass with ownership. It could also include any maintenance agreement that extends for a period of time. </P> <h3> SET YOUR SELLING PRIORITIES </h3> <P>Setting your priorities as to the sales price and how you expect to get the purchase price are mandatory. Everything flows from these numbers and terms that the owner arrives at, maybe with expert’s help. The selling price for your business should actually be two prices, what you will settle for in a cash deal and another price if you have to finance the deal. The initial asking price should be set a little higher than what you will actually accept so as to have negotiation room. </P> <P> If you are willing to take payments for a period of time, you will have to come up with how long you want the payments to continue. Sometimes having a flexible term plan you are willing to tailor to the buyer’s needs make the sale happen. </P> <P> The first question most buyers will ask is why are your selling a profitable business? You better be prepared for this question with a reasonable answer. The next important question is how did you come up with the selling price. Again this demands a logical sounding answer. </P> <p> <center> <small>article continues below</small><br> <script language=JavaScript src=http://adserver.acquireo.com/abm.asp?z=15></script><br><br> </center> </p> <h3>TIME TO SELL</h3> <P> Is this really the best time to sell or do you have no choice due to health or a death in the family. Some times getting another solid year of performance under your belt could make a big difference in the money you will receive for your business. Several consecutive stellar years in a row are impressive and will add to the creditability of your asking price. It will also validate that your business has a following and probably many repeat customers. This is very comforting to a potential buyer and makes them more receptive to your terms or price. </P> <P> Any thing you can do to take the worry out of the picture by positive facts will go along way toward helping you come together with the buyer. Positive growth and an increasing profit curve are like honey to a potential buyer. That is why some times another year of operation could be the touch that is needed to get your price. Our article on <a href="">Right time to sell your biz</a> will help you with more info. </P> <P> If you are not in a position where you have to sell, look at what another year could mean. If you are ready to let loose, that is a different matter. A motivated seller is what all buyers are looking for when in the market for a business. Motivated means willing to negotiate price, terms and even some short term partnership This seller type will do what ever is reasonable to make the deal fly. </P> <h3> CHOOSE THE PROS</h3> <P>Most businesses are sold with the help of a professional for a very good reason. The sale will probably go better as to time and price. The business broker handles many important details. This starts right at the beginning with coming up with a fair and reasonable price for the business. Many business brokers from larger outfits have professionally certified people on staff that can come up with a creditable price for the business that will stand close scrutiny by the buyer team. </P> <P> A good business broker will have a ready list of buyers who are in the market for a business. If your business meets what they are looking for, then you have an immediate potential buyer. This could be very important if your business is one of a kind or would take a specifically trained person to run it correctly. There could be a need to be license in the business before you can open the doors. This is true in many areas in the construction business. </P> <P> The critical area of the final negotiation is where you can use this experienced help to sell your business. A good negotiator is invaluable at this stage of the sale. The broker has done this numerous times and helped to make the deal move to completion. It is easy for a buyer to get cold feet at the last minute. A broker that has been around for a while will be able to handle this situation. </P> <P> Actually a good broker will be involved in all stages of the sale from introduction to the final contract. This is part of their matchmaker magic. </P> <P> Most business sales experts recommend that the pro be brought in early and listened to with a serious ear. Yes they are working on commission, but nothing happens if the sale is not made. The cost for this help cannot be looked at as unneeded when they introduce the buyer and help bring the sale along. Their advice on the selling price alone is worth hiring their services. A timely sale is far better than letting a business sat on the market for an extended period of time. It will easily become yesterday’s news and lose its freshness. </P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P> Conclusions about selling a business are many and each has a very important element in making the sale happen. Setting the price is critical since every other aspect of the sale flows from this decision. Hiring the pro to help with this and helping you gather all the information to make the sale possible is highly recommended. Advice from an experienced business broker can easily make the sale come to pass. </P> <P> Another recommendation is provide accurate information throughout the process, as this will develop trust on the buyer’s part. It sets the tone for all aspects of the negotiation. A skeptical buyer is where most start, but by providing answers in a timely manner and as accurate as possible engenders an excellent way to gain a good relationship. This cannot be skipped or it will come back to create obstacles. </P> <P> I guess the best advice here is to treat the buyer with the golden rule philosophy. There is everything to gain by being respectful to the buyer and nothing to be gained by doing the opposite. </P> <P> Finally there are no dumb questions from the buyer. Some may be out of ignorance and some may be a set up. Take them all at face value. </P> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:15:33 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/getting-the-best-deal-for-your-business.aspx <p>You have worked hard to make your business successful and you have succeeded. Now you decide to sell the business. What should you do and how should you do it. The first suggestion is talk with the professionals that have worked with you through the years. Your accountant and lawyer would be a good place to start. If you live in a bigger city check to see if there is a local business broke you could talk with. You will need to immediately gather all pertinent information about your company. These include tax returns, P&L statements and significant bank records. Any long term lease agreements or loan obligations will have to be located for the business presentation.</p> <p>Equipment leases or maintenance agreements are relevant too. If you have a union shop, the agreement with the union should also be part of the business’s full disclosure. All of this and more will be needed first to set a price and then negotiate the sale. Be prepared for an in depth look at every aspect of your business.</p> <p><strong>Get a certified evaluation from a certified business broker</strong></p> <p>To set the price, one of the choices is to use a <a href="http://www.acquireo.com/business-broker-directory.aspx" title="Find certified brokers here">certified evaluation broker</a> who is in the business of valuing any type of business. These specialists in evaluation are used in court cases and IRS cases so their creditability is excellent and their proposed value for your business is very close to the mark. Many deals are based on just their number and the negotiation centers around terms of payment and if the owner will carry some paper. You can find evaluation software or your accountant could come up with a number, but you should consider an expert for this core piece of information about your business. You might want to check out our article on <a href="evaluating-your-business-for-sale.aspx" title="Evaluating your business for sale">Evaluating your business for sale</a>. </p> <p><strong>Check out industry prices</strong></p> <p>Another way to check out your company’s possible value is look at what other companies in your industry are worth in comparison to their sales. Industry associations and the Internet are good places to get this information. If the economy is strong, you may be able to get a better inflation rate than otherwise.</p> <p>In any event find out what multiple of earnings seems to be in favor now or any other valuing method. Industry trends may be factored in to this price. Remember, industry trends are for the entire country and may need to be adjusted by a location factor. In any event the multiplier of profit can be from 10 to 1 times depending on the strength of the company.</p> <p>The type of business also can be a factor. As you can see coming up with a sale price is complicated and maybe better left to an expert. This is where the CBB (certified business broker) comes into the picture. His training and experience will come into play when figuring what your business is worth.</p> <p><strong>Check out offers on the Internet</strong></p> <p>Offers in business sections of papers and trade magazines also will give some idea of a number for your business. There are many business brokers listed on the Internet. Talk to them about what a business like yours is being offered for in different parts of the country. These Internet sources are excellent places to get all kinds of information about selling a business. Reading articles on these sites will alert you to the fact that selling a business is far more difficult than selling a house. There are just more facts to deal with and probably more legal rules to worry about.</p> <p><strong>Cash price vs. terms price</strong></p> <p>Part of the deal to sell your business is setting an asking price for your business. Once this is done, then another decision must be made. Will you accept terms in order to sell the business? Terms mean you will wait for part of the purchase price to be paid at a later date. Many sellers will do this, but they sweeten the deal by asking for more money if terms are part of the purchase. So the seller has two asking prices. One price is a sale for cash and the other price is higher if terms are necessary in order for the deal to be made.</p> <p>Actually this is a fairly easy negotiation as the higher price is not bothersome if the new owner is successful with running the purchased business. Both parties got what they wanted and the higher price is fair to both. Many negotiates have used this gambit for years to make deals. The old owner gets the business sold and the new owner while paying a little more for the business gets an existing business with an excellent chance of making the purchase work out over time. The actual terms of the wait and pay deal can be for one year or more. </p> <p>There are some caveats that the seller should keep in mind. Where will the extra money come from in the future? This money will be needed to make the extended payment or payments. If it is going to come from the business cash flow, does the old owner believe this is possible? If not then this deal is a non-starter and must be turned down unless the old owner would not mind getting the business back through forfeiture.</p> <p><strong>Will you finance part of the purchase price</strong></p> <p>Financing part of the purchase price is common when selling a business. Many people will have a substantial down payment, but they want to keep back some money to run the business and not always be cash flow short. The old owner is an obvious source for this financing deal. They know the business to the bone and if they feel the new owner will be able to run the business, then they will seriously consider the financing deal in order to complete the sale. If you turn down this offer, then it may be a while before you get another serious buyer looking at your business. This decision is all about the feeling you have for the new owner. If they have other assets, then this is a no-brainer. If their credit checked out then this is another reason to do the deal.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p> <p>Since an asking price has to be defended by solid information and company history, the hiring of a Certified Business Broker is a very good first step toward selling your business. This step provides a selling price that can be used with confidence and can be verified. After this price is set, it can be further used as a solid starting point for all other negotiating. Early on the owner needs to make a decision if the deal has to be all cash or terms or financing. With this in mind, this decision will speed up the discussions between the buyer and the seller or broker. If it has to be an all cash deal, the broker will know up front if the potential buyer can meet this requirement. If terms or financing are available, the deal is much easier to put together.</p> <p>A clear presentation folder of all of the pertinent business information should be part of the opening discussion. If all facts are laid on the table, it makes for a better discussion situation as surprises are kept to a minimum.</p> <p>If a broker is involved, let the broker handle the negotiating as they are more experienced at doing it right at either the seller or the buyer. The broker’s purpose in the deal is to expedite it and make it happen if at all possible.</p> <p>All of this put together will help to get the best deal for the seller that can be obtained between this buyer and the seller. If it fails then the next negotiation will have to be played out on its own merits. Each deal has an optimum possibility and it is the job of an involved broker to help both parties come to a fair agreement.</p> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:36:26 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/finding-the-right-buyer.aspx <p>You have a business to sell. How do you go about finding the right buyer for your business? Where to begin the process of digging out a person or company that would be interested in owning a business like the one you are selling? This is the sixty-four dollar question that faces every business owner who is seeking someone to buy his or her business.</p> <p>There are some very logical steps to take after you have made up your mind to sell. Here are some practical ways to begin the search for a potential buyer who is interested in your type of business and has the means to make the purchase. The means to make the purchase includes those who can get financing or you would not be against taking a note for part of the sale price.</p> <p>Remember you are trying to solve a complex puzzle and there are many ways it can be resolved by a creative seller. The following are ways that this has been done successfully by others and may work for you and your business.</p> <p><strong>Bring in the expert to help</strong></p> <p>Many sellers will immediately bring in a certified business broker to help them sell the business. These brokers will not only have a list of potential buyers they can query, but they can help you set the asking price by evaluating your business, telling you all of the information you will need to gather up and how to present the details in the most positive manner. They will advise you on what steps you and they will need to do in order to institute a marketing plan for your business. For all practical effect, they will take over all aspects of selling your business and let you do what you are good at by letting you continue running your business in a profitable way. By taking this job off of your plate, you will have a better chance of selling your business at a good price and in a timely manner. This service will cost a commission on the sale, but it will also give you a much better chance of selling the business. Remember you are selling a business, not a car. A business is one of the most complex sales that a person can be involved with. Better you bring in the experience than try to do it yourself and waste a great deal of time dealing with people who are not really qualified to buy your firm.</p> <p><strong>The asking price</strong></p> <p>Before you can sell anything, you must come up with an asking price that makes sense. If you have hired the expert, part of their service is to help you arrive at a price that is defensible when challenged. They will have reasons that are sound and give their price creditability. This price will be based on your company’s history and the last few years’ financials. Buyers, if they are smart will bring in their own experts to <a href="../business-seller-articles/evaluating-your-business-for-sale.aspx" title="evaluating your business for sale">evaluate the business</a> and they can read the financials for themselves. A well prepared set of numbers that can be verified will go a long way toward making a good impression on the buyer and his team of advisors.</p> <p>Two other points while discussing the asking price, it would be wise to come up with a cash price and a terms price. This will likely come up in the negotiations and having a ready answer will move the discussion forward. </p> <p><strong>Suppliers, industry publications and investors</strong></p> <p>A seller would be smart to tell the professionals that the business deals with that the business is up for sale. You never know whom they know and could introduce you to. Advertising in trade publications is another way to find potential buyers for your business. If any of these pay off have them deal with the agent you have hired to sell your business. They would be far better at making the deal than you would be.</p> <p>If the business is big enough, you could consider advertising <a href="http://www.acquireo.com/sell-a-business.aspx" title="Sell your business">for sale by owner business online</a> about the sale and also in larger city newspapers near your business. There are companies that are looking to buy profitable businesses as an investment and usually want to keep the current management.</p> <p>Your own employees may be able to get together and buy the business. There are sources that will finance such a purchase by an employee group.</p> <p><strong>A single buyer</strong></p> <p>A person that is looking to buy a business to run themselves is what most people think of when they think of selling their business. This person wants to own a business that is already up, running and making money. They may just want to buy the company so they will have a job. They could have been downsized and are looking to be their own boss. Whatever the reason they are looking, this person is an excellent candidate to purchase the business. This kind of person has some ready cash to put up and may be a person to consider selling with terms if it is needed to make the deal. </p> <p>They may need some hand holding after the purchase if they are not familiar with your business and what it entails. This would require you to stay around for an agreed upon amount of time so they could learn the ropes. This kind of a buyer is hard to find and would be well worth the effort to keep happy so the deal can be put to bed. It may not be as clean as you had hoped for, but it will result in your business being sold. Helping the new owner for a few weeks or months is not an unusual deal in the selling of a business. So be prepared for this request with a solid offer of purchase.</p> <p>If you have hired a pro to help sell your business, let them do the dealing with this buyer and his agents. Your pro will make it happen and will come up with a contract that you can both live with over time.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p> <p>In simple terms the right buyer is one that has the money and is willing to buy at or near your price. This is the ideal situation. How far you will have to stray away from the ideal will depend on the business for sale, the potential buyer and the real value of the business for sale. If the business is a plum as far as making money, then the deal should be fairly easy to put together once you find a buyer. If the business has some problems, then it may take a lot more time and negotiating skill to make the sale come to pass.</p> <p>A smart seller will hire a pro and get out of their way and let them do their job. If the seller has done his homework and found a good broker, then the business will be sold if it is at all possible. The difficulty of doing the deal depends on the business, the economy and industry’s prospects. Some businesses are always in demand by buyers and some are one of a kind that will take a concerted effort to sell. Let the pro tell you what kind of business you own and its selling prospects.</p> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:30:58 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/evaluating-your-business-for-sale.aspx <p><strong>Value of Business</strong></p> <p>What is the value of your business? Ask three expert evaluators to come up with a value and there is a good chance they will come up with three numbers that are not close to one another. What is an owner to do when faced with this dilemma? </p> <p>How did the experts determine the value and why did their final number vary from one another. The reason is simple enough. There are subjective elements to every business evaluation. Each of these experts put a value on the subjective elements that goes along with their personal experience with the business that is being evaluated. This will account for their differences in value. Most business people if they really did get three appraisals would take the highest one and be done with it.</p> <p><strong>What is needed to make an evaluation</strong></p> <p>What do the evaluators need in order to come up with a business evaluation? They need access to all of the financial records of the company. They need an inventory list and value based on whatever method is used to get this number. It is usually first in first out prices or last in last out prices. Both are valid means to value an inventory. Projected sales figures and profit can be used to add some value for the future to a present day value. They will also speak to employees, suppliers and competitors to see how they think the company is doing. They will look at what similar businesses have sold for in the last couple of years and at the state of the present economy. These evaluations will always be based on old information and with an ingredient of future prospects. It is this amalgamation of the old and the possible that causes the range of values from different experts.</p> <p>Every evaluation needs to be heavily weighted to with future numbers or the price will be set to low. It has to take into consideration the prospects for the company and its future business.</p> <p>With all of these numbers, the professional will use different methods to come up with a price After this is done, the numbers are looked at and a judgment is made as to what one seems to be the most correct. Again this is a subjective decision.</p> <p><strong>Comparisons of prior sales in the industry</strong></p> <p>What have other businesses in the same industry sold for and how do they compare with the business that the evaluation is being done on. This information is very helpful and should make the evaluation a little more realistic. These sales comps will set the tone for how other businesses were rated as to their sales and the selling price It should help in setting an asking price that represents the current value of the company.</p> <p><strong>Where will the company be in three years</strong></p> <p>Looking at the growth curve of the business and assuming a similar rate of growth in the future, one could come up with where the company will be in three years. If the growth has been stable for a number of years, there is every reason to think it will continue at a similar rate if no drastic changes are made and the customer base continues to grow. With this in mind, the price of the business should take this future outlook into account.</p> <p>When this is explained to the buyer, then it must be validated with facts and figures that his advisors can peruse. A well-documented presentation will go along way in alleviating doubts and questions about how you came up with your numbers and the asking price.</p> <p><strong>Intangible factors to be considered</strong></p> <p>There are some factors that enter into the evaluation of a business that cannot be reduced to shear numbers and accounting sheets. If the business being evaluated has a significant standing in the industry then this is worth something in the price. If they get a large percentage of the available business that is a plus factor for the business. If its reputation is impeccable then that is another factor that is difficult to put into accounting terms. All of these intangibles when added together make the company more valuable than it would seem to be from just the financials. This is why it is important to investigate and questions others about the company. If the business is the result of one strong individual who will not be there when it is sold, then that could present a problem that could be difficult to overcome. Be very careful about this kind of business.</p> <p>Intangible assets such as these are hard to put a number on unlike the hard assets of the company. Equipment can be valued at a depreciated value, which could then be used to set a foundation for the final price.</p> <p><strong>Is there going to be an ongoing need for your business</strong></p> <p>This one question when answered will help with the question of should you buy the business. A plumbing company will always be needed in our civilization. As will an electrical company. A drywall company will probably always be able to find work. Is the business you are thinking of buying a company like one of these or could its business be done away with without any harm. If the business will always be in demand that is a very strong reason to consider its purchase. </p> <p>Are there high tech innovations that are going to change the business and you have the expertise to make the change. If this were the case, then you would have a leg up on other businesses like yours. These are considerations with profound affects upon whether you should become the owner of not. If you are able to bring the business into the modern age and take advantage of the new technology then you could make the business grow far beyond what it is today. This is the kind of opportunity that every buyer is looking for and few find.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong> It is highly suggested that a seller bring in a certified business broker to help with the evaluation, the presentation materials and the finding of prospective buyers for the business. Since this is their business then this is something they usually can do far better than a seller can do it. The broker can help a great deal in the negotiations and the final stages of the sale. They have a vested interest in seeing the business sale go through. The most important thing that they can help with is developing the asking price. After helping to set the price they can come up with justification that will stand the eagle eye of the buyers financial experts. This creditable price is the basis for all other negotiations.</p> <p>The expert business broker can smooth things along and keep the ball rolling in the move to make the sale. Their knowledge and experience can stop delays from happening and their damaging effects. When negotiations stall, then the sale is in jeopardy. This should be avoided if at all possible.</p> <p>Bringing in the pro solves so many problems and can lead to a successful sale that is completed quickly and at a decent price. Their value cannot be overstated in a business sale.</p> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:11:37 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/3-quick-ideas-when-you-sell-a-business.aspx <p>3 Quick Ideas When You Sell A Business</p> <p>There are tons of ideas you can put into effect when you sell a business. Here are some more:</p> <p><strong>1. Start preparing to sell well before you place your business on the market.</strong></p> <p>In the employment business, some say the best time to start looking for your next job is as soon as you begin your current one. Let's use that analogy for selling your business. Begin looking at how you can improve its salability right now, even if you don't have plans to sell. Why even consider adding extra work onto your already full plate? Because you know that your circumstances and plans can change, and this helps you be ready faster and obtain a better price in any selling market environment should you find yourself wanting or needing to sell.</p> <p> <center> <small>article continues below</small><br> <script language=JavaScript src=http://adserver.acquireo.com/abm.asp?z=15></script><br><br> </center> </p> <p><strong>2. Be clear whether you want the new owner to make changes to what you have built.</strong></p> <p>For example, from time to time, buyers come into the market and buy the parent company of a number of operations and, bringing their ideas of how to improve the businesses, immediately begin to meddle with the fine tuning that makes these companies hum and gives them their value. A change in hours, return policies, treatment of preferred customers, employee benefits, vendors, and all of a sudden, customers evaporate like water on hot asphalt while employees freshen up and shop their resumés. One by one, the businesses close, long-time employees are let go, and the new owners have to make a public apology for ruining a town institution. Then the former owner is interviewed, regrets having sold in the first place, and the whole thing is rather messy. If you want some continuity in how your business is run, plan on it ahead of time.</p> <p><strong>3. Apply window dressing to the books.</strong></p> <p>Can you show a steady healthy growth in the various accounting metrics that apply to your business while eliminating potential red flags such as growing accounts receivables or cost of goods sold as a percentage of sales? Do what you can to cure financial defects first, then move onto the more cosmetic areas.</p> <p>By always being ready to sell, you keep that option open to you. And I'm sure you like having more options in life.</p> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:32:15 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/confidentiality-is-key.aspx <p>A key consideration in selling your business is confidentiality. First, you must decide whether or not it is necessary to keep your decision to sell confidential. If so, you must determine how to communicate this decision, or if to communicate it at all. Your business has different publics – customers, employees, competitors, suppliers, and creditors – each of which can react favorably, unfavorably, or indifferently in learning you are offering your business for sale. This in turn can reduce employee performance, sales, competitive strength, and lines of credit.</p> <p>Your customers may feel uncertain about continuing with your company and take their business elsewhere, lowering your sales and profits, which reduces the final sale price of your business.</p> <p>Like customers, your employees may also feel uncertain about the company’s future. As they focus on employment elsewhere by shopping for new jobs, their performance drops, and buyers incorporate this by negotiating down your final sale price.</p> <p> <center> <small>article continues below</small><br> <script language=JavaScript src=http://adserver.acquireo.com/abm.asp?z=15></script><br><br> </center> </p> <p>Your competitors will have a field day in learning you are selling your business, portraying your company as one whose future is uncertain, while raiding your cherished list of customers and roster of employees by offering themselves as a company with a certain future. And remember that they might get this information from your customers or your employees.</p> <p>If your suppliers learn of your selling plans and assume your business has financial difficulties, they may tighten their credit terms or demand cash on delivery, affecting your cost of goods, your profits, and your sale price.</p> <p>These are possibilities for you to take into consideration. More likely, your customers will remain loyal, employees will keep their resumes dusty and outdated, and competitors and suppliers will neither react nor pay any attention. But it is your duty as the seller to utilize confidentiality in the most profitable way. After having decided to sell, you may want to test reactions by limiting or controlling the information about your decision to small groups at first. Once you know how people will react, it is up to you, as the seller, to use your best judgment when contemplating confidentiality. In most cases, you will find it is very important.</p> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:31:23 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/selling-your-business-strategy.aspx <p>Are you thinking about selling your business?</p> <p>There are many strategies that can help you make it happen:</p> <p><strong>Financial records and tax filings current.</strong></p> <p>You may be doing the right thing with your company but you'll scare off buyers with tax-reporting extensions or excessively delayed financial returns. Any difficulties staying current in the past consider resolving the issues by switching the tools used for your accounting or consider moving to a different accounting firm.</p> <p><strong>Accuracy is important.</strong></p> <p>Business buyers who are serious will demand a high level of accurate comfort, especially when it comes to the accuracy of cash-flow statements, accounts-receivable lists, and the value of furniture and fixtures, tools, equipment, other assets and inventory. When s elling your business, uour efforts will really pay off to invest in audited financial statements by certified accountants /firms.</p> <p> <center> <small>article continues below</small><br> <script language=JavaScript src=http://adserver.acquireo.com/abm.asp?z=15></script><br><br> </center> </p> <p><strong>Timing to sell your business</strong></p> <p>Everyone may be looking to sell a business during a hot market. It would be best for your interest and more important to pay attention to the current and recent developments within your business and industry. The fact is: Don't think about selling your business during a significant downturn (If you don't have any other options and your willingness to accept a rock-bottom price is also important).</p> <p><strong>Kiss your business - keep it simple sweet heart.</strong></p> <p>When selling your company or business, anything unusual may be a red flag. Sell your business to a person you know or to a stranger would eliminate complications before you try to sell.</p> <p><strong>Accept reality when you try to sell a business.</strong></p> <p>If the business is in a highly competitive market, normally, your bidder will insist on a non-compete agreement (and perhaps include a clause in the sales contract that states that you will not hire or try to hire key employees for any new businesses at all). If you're not prepared to make such deals, selling your business may be difficult and time consuming.</p> <p><strong>Right price for your Business.</strong></p> <p>How much is the right price for your business? A good rule of thumb is that only on very rare occasions do businesses sell for a price that’s as high as one times revenues. If you're trying to sell your business for more than that, be prepared for your financials to be examined under a close scrutiny.</p> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:30:20 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com/businesses-for-sale-resources/business-seller-articles/how-to-sell-your-business.aspx <p> In creating an ad for any medium, you just write it and put it there. Right? Well – somewhat. </p> <p> If you are private seller placing one listing or a business broker with an account that gives you unlimited listings, you will find the following suggestions helpful. They are written specifically for maximizing your listing's effectiveness and explains how to sell your business on Acquireo. </p> <p> <strong>General guidelines:</strong> </p> <p> <strong>Keywords:</strong> very important when you're placing your listing in a state and category with lots of other listings. This often occurs with restaurants and retail stores. How do you know what keywords to use? Search the state and category you plan to place your listing into. Be sure to use keywords that are directly related to your business. Try to think about and use keywords that someone might use to find your listings. </p> <p>   </p> <center> <small>article continues below</small> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver.acquireo.com/abm.asp?z=15"> </script><br /> <br /> </center> <p>   </p> <p> <strong>Search tools:</strong> create your ad with Acquireo's <a href="http://www.acquireo.com/Search/SearchAdvanced.aspx" title="advanced business for sale search">advanced business for sale search</a> tools in mind. These include keywords, location, zip code radius, and price range. </p> <p> <strong>Search results:</strong> Are you familiar with the newspaper phrase "above the fold"? It describes the portion of the newspaper you see displayed on the news rack or in the vending machine, and is designed to get your attention so you buy the paper to read more. In the case of Acquireo, you are selling the reader on viewing your full-page listing after they see you in search results. How do you do that? All search results display the first 260 characters or so of your business description, along with headline, sub-headline for featured listings, asking price, and annual net income. When you write your business description, put the eye-opening, new, exciting, improved, faster, better, higher parts in your first 260 characters. Leave the dull but important details further down in your description. </p> <p> <strong>Follow up on leads:</strong> When you receive a lead through Acquireo's confidential reply form and you see a phone number, pick up your phone and call. Don't email. Human contact is so important, especially in an increasingly online world. You might be able to get information in a friendly chat that you wouldn't in a ping-pong series of email exchanges. And at no time do you need to reveal confidential information prematurely. </p> <p> <strong>The elements of your ad:</strong> </p> <p> <strong>Headline:</strong> The most important part of your listing. Copywriters, those who write words for advertising and promotional purposes, spend a large portion of their time in writing the headline rather than the body of any ad. Sometimes, as in billboards, the headline is all there is. In writing the headline for your Acquireo listing, you want to balance the need for keywords with the most important benefit you can offer a reader of your ad. Strip away unnecessary words: buyers are searching for specific businesses for sale in certain areas and industry categories. If your headline reads: "Atlanta Restaurant for sale," they probably know that if they searched for Atlanta, Georgia restaurants and it has the appeal of used chewing gum stuck under the lunch counter. Give them something new and sweet to bite into. </p> <p> <strong>Sub-headline:</strong> This very important element applies to you if you have a featured listing or a High Gear <a href="http://www.acquireo.com/brokerlogics/" title="Brokerlogics">Brokerlogics</a><sup><small>TM</small></sup> subscription account. The same idea in writing the headline applies here, except you can expand on the headline with exciting details or by adding keywords. Your Atlanta restaurant headline now reads: "Hot Southern Fish Fry." What you can put in your sub-headline? (What's that? You don't need a sub-headline or a featured listing? Maybe not, but why limit yourself when you're working smart to sell this business?) "700 daily @ $25 ticket, political crowd loves specials." Where do you get ideas on how to write your sub-headline? Your daily newspaper. </p> <p> <strong>The body:</strong> You have three description areas to write: about the business, its facilities, and support for the buyer. Since you have a full-page listing, if you have lots to say, you can always let it spill over into the other sections. </p> <ol> <li>Gather your information in bulleted form.</li> <li>Sort these in order of importance.</li> <li>Write out each item to sell it as part of your entire ad. This is not grammar school and complete sentences don't count.</li> <li>Extract and copy the most important items in condensed form and put it at the beginning of your business description. This is your 160-character "above-the-fold" placement described above in search results.</li> <li>Include calls to action (call, email, reply to this ad) at the bottom of the business description, and see if you can weave it into the middle as well.</li> </ol> <p> <strong>Tip for brokers:</strong><br /> How to sell your business - Brokerlogics<sup><small>TM</small></sup> - Acquireo's Business Broker Services division. Specialize in selling businesses in certain categories? Mention that you have more than just one listing. You know that a buyer inquiry on specific inventory often leads to discussing other inventory. By pointing this out, you increase the number of "suspects" who convert into prospects and eventually into closed sales. If the shoe fits, let them wear it. If not, don't chase them out of the store: let them try on other pairs. </p> <p> You have learned the essence of writing any ad specific to the media you are placing it into. In this case, for Acquireo. Now that you know how easy it is to write a powerful ads, use these simple, easy-to-follow guidelines to create your ad. </p> <p> Have you opened your account yet? Get that part done so you can concentrate on your ad. It takes about 120 seconds. </p> <p> Sign up now: </p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Private sellers:</strong><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.acquireo.com/sell-a-business.aspx" title="List your business"><img src="../../TemplateImages/list-business.gif" border="0" /></a> </td> <td><strong>Business Brokers:</strong><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.acquireo.com/brokerlogics/" title="Business broker services"><img src="../../TemplateImages/brokerlogics.gif" border="0" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Acquireo.com - Acquireo Team Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:52:08 GMT Business seller articles http://www.acquireo.com Businesses for Sale - buy - sell - find a business today! acquireo.com Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:08:32 GMT Businesses for sale