You can take several steps to prepare your business for a sale that can significantly improve the amount of value you extract from a buyer. The factors that affect how potential acquirers will perceive your company apply whether you plan to exit your business in the short, medium, or long term.

If you are considering selling your company, planning your retirement or succession plan, or seeking a growth or exit strategy, you have quite a few options. You can find a buyer and pursue a deal on your own.

Don’t Delay

As a business owner, an exit plan is critical to preparing you and your company ready for retirement or your next act. Unfortunately, many business owners do not realize the importance of exit strategies, so they don’t feel like it’s worth taking the time to craft one. This is often a huge mistake. It doesn’t matter if you do not plan on selling or retiring soon. However, it’s wise to have an exit strategy for several reasons. 

Consider putting your company on the market for several reasons. The reasons can vary based on the stage of your business's lifecycle and what your goals for the future may be. No matter your situation, it is always a good idea to step back and look at the big picture to figure out your options. 

In recent years there has been a significant degree of volatility in the market, but it is generally agreed that we will likely enter a “buyer’s market” soon. Most hear “buyer’s market” about real estate or consumer goods, where the number of homes on the market exceeds demand for housing, so naturally, prices drop. However, in M&A, this is a bit more complex. 

Positive news surrounding middle market M&A continues to swell as well as continue into 2023. A recent survey conducted by Citizens Bank revealed a great deal of optimism for middle-market M&A activity this year. Essentially, businesses have remained resilient even during challenging economic times. In addition, interest in M&A deals continues to be a top priority by both middle-market companies and private equity (PE) firms as both buyer and seller pipelines return to pre-covid levels. To summarize, all indications point to 2023 being a great year to consider selling your business. So if you have been hesitantly holding off, it is time to start the conversation. 

Join us for the complimentary webinar: What You Need To Know About Selling Your Business To A Strategic Buyer.

When you are about to sell a business, you have a few options regarding how to do it, and whose expertise to enlist. Many people confuse M&A advisors with business brokers. While there are some similarities, they are not one and the same. There is actually more than one significant difference between an M&A advisor and a business broker. It is important for any business owner to understand these differences, so that it can be determined which is the best way to go about the sale of a company.