Sell a business in a down economy?
Sell a business in a down economy?
If You Are Considering
Selling Your Business,
Don’t Let a Bad Economy Stop You
By: Ted Burbank, CBI, FIBBA
There is a rhythm and pattern ton life and to business. The seasons and cycles of the plant world are generally well recognized. In example, a plant sprouts, grows to maturity, flowers or produces fruit then withers and dies to decay and enrich the soil in support of the next cycle. Businesses have their cycles also, but they need not die in order to benefit the next generation.
The life cycle of a typical business begins with an idea or concept, the start up or grand opening, continuous fine tuning and adjustment until things seem to be running smoothly. At this stage business is good and, albeit financially rewarding, not as exciting as previously. Eventually, essentially all business owners come to the stage where the business begins to interfere with how they wish to live their lives and they begin to have thoughts of selling the business.
Many never act upon these thoughts for countless reasons and as a result less than 25% of small businesses and franchises are ever sold. This is indeed a tragic statistic but it gets worse in a down economy, not because of the economy – but rather because the decision was not made to sell at the time it was supposed to have been during the normal cycle.
A Time to Grow and a Time to Go
Perhaps I can explain it this way. There is a time to grow and if you are not focused on growth – it’s time to go. There is no status quo. Either grow or go. There comes a time in every business’ cycle when a business owner should make the decision to sell and sell to the entity that will take the enterprise to the next level. This time can be recognized as when the demands of the business begin to conflict with an owner’s desired lifestyle. This optimum time or Window of Opportunity to sell at an optimum price does not last very long.
When the decision to sell is postponed in favor of waiting out a bad economy, the window of opportunity will often close and business cycle’s end game begins and the business’ value begins to diminish. This end game is not one designed or controlled by the owner but rather one enabled by the outside forces created by allowing a business to coast.
When that window of opportunity passes we generally find the owner just going through the motions and allowing the business to coast or, more accurately stated, slide. Decisions to invest in the business are postponed or rejected. Eventually, and often, very quickly the slide accelerates with the end game no longer controlled by the owner. Much of the value of the business has been dissipated. At the end, either the business is “Sold” to a competitor (at the value of selected assets) or closed and the assets liquidated.
A Down Economy Intensifies the Usual Seller’s Market
Selling more than 2,000 businesses through good times and bad over the last thirty years has taught us that good businesses can and do command premium prices in down economies and here’s why:
• Layoffs, company closings and down-sizing flood the marketplace with people wanting to buy businesses
• Pricing formulas do not change because of economies
• Most owners of good businesses postpone selling in a poor economy resulting in fewer opportunities for the increased number of buyers
• A business’s value is dependent upon its outlook for future profitability
• You can get tomorrow’s price today for your business if you choose a buyer who recognizes the opportunity your business represents and considers expectations of future profitability when assessing value.
In order to obtain an optimum price for a business, regardless of the economic condition, one must attract the type buyer who will recognize the opportunity the business represents. In real estate, optimum value is determined by the entity that will recognize highest and best use of a property. Business prices typically reflect an acquirer’s perception of future earnings under their ownership. Therefore, the optimum value of a business is determined by the buyer who recognizes the most opportunity the business represents. A business can be considered worthless to one yet be worth millions to another.
Small Business Life Cycle
If you don’t sell when you are at or near the top of your game,
how far down the slope will you be when you do?
If you are in the window of opportunity and decide to put off selling until the economy improves, only to find that the value of your business has dramatically decreased.
How can you tell if it’s time for you to think about selling? We have developed a little quiz just for this purpose.
A One Minute Quiz
for Business Owners Only!
This One Minute Quiz will help you answer the most difficult question a business owner ever has to face. Count your Yes answers to the following questions to determine where you are in your business’s life cycle.
1. Is your business less enjoyable now than before? Y N
2. Does your business challenge and excite you less than earlier? Y N
3. Do you think of selling your business more often now than you did previously? Y N
4. Do you find yourself complaining more lately? Y N
5. Has the business come between you and your loved ones? Y N
6. Has your business begun to level off or decline? Y N
7. Are you concerned you no longer have the stamina your business requires? Y N
8. Do you wonder what you would do if you sold the business? Y N
9. Do you often wonder "What is my business worth?" Y N
10. Would you be hesitant to personally guarantee a sizable loan in order to grow your business? Y N
The Question: Should you begin preparing your succession plan or perhaps decide to sell your business?
Your number of Yes answers
0 -3 Yes
Congratulations! You are happy and probably quite prosperous in your business. Keep it up.
4-6 Yes
Pay attention to your "early warning" signals!" It is best not to make the mistake of staying too long! Go out on top. Sell while you are still having fun. Best to start the planning process early. The actual succession or sale process can take a long time.
7-10 Yes
Don't let time spoil the fruits of your labor. Most great men and women in history have had more than one career. It is time for you to decide that you want a change. Choose what you want to do next, and then act.
In Summary:
Business pricing methods remain unchanged even in a down economy; fewer good companies are on the market as their owners await an improved economy, the number of serious buyers in the marketplace increases in a down economy. There is a narrow window of opportunity between growing one’s business and the time for selling it. Sell while you are still having fun.
Sell a business in a down economy - To learn more about this author, visit Ted Burbank's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Attention Small Business Owners
If You Are Considering
Selling Your Business,
Don’t Let a Bad Economy Stop You
By: Ted Burbank, CBI, FIBBA
There is a rhythm and pattern ton life and to business. The seasons and cycles of the plant world are generally well recognized. In example, a plant sprouts, grows to maturity, flowers or produces fruit then withers and dies to decay and enrich the soil in support of the next cycle. Businesses have their cycles also, but they need not die in order to benefit the next generation.
The life cycle of a typical business begins with an idea or concept, the start up or grand opening, continuous fine tuning and adjustment until things seem to be running smoothly. At this stage business is good and, albeit financially rewarding, not as exciting as previously. Eventually, essentially all business owners come to the stage where the business begins to interfere with how they wish to live their lives and they begin to have thoughts of selling the business.
Many never act upon these thoughts for countless reasons and as a result less than 25% of small businesses and franchises are ever sold. This is indeed a tragic statistic but it gets worse in a down economy, not because of the economy – but rather because the decision was not made to sell at the time it was supposed to have been during the normal cycle.
A Time to Grow and a Time to Go
Perhaps I can explain it this way. There is a time to grow and if you are not focused on growth – it’s time to go. There is no status quo. Either grow or go. There comes a time in every business’ cycle when a business owner should make the decision to sell and sell to the entity that will take the enterprise to the next level. This time can be recognized as when the demands of the business begin to conflict with an owner’s desired lifestyle. This optimum time or Window of Opportunity to sell at an optimum price does not last very long.
When the decision to sell is postponed in favor of waiting out a bad economy, the window of opportunity will often close and business cycle’s end game begins and the business’ value begins to diminish. This end game is not one designed or controlled by the owner but rather one enabled by the outside forces created by allowing a business to coast.
When that window of opportunity passes we generally find the owner just going through the motions and allowing the business to coast or, more accurately stated, slide. Decisions to invest in the business are postponed or rejected. Eventually, and often, very quickly the slide accelerates with the end game no longer controlled by the owner. Much of the value of the business has been dissipated. At the end, either the business is “Sold” to a competitor (at the value of selected assets) or closed and the assets liquidated.
A Down Economy Intensifies the Usual Seller’s Market
Selling more than 2,000 businesses through good times and bad over the last thirty years has taught us that good businesses can and do command premium prices in down economies and here’s why:
• Layoffs, company closings and down-sizing flood the marketplace with people wanting to buy businesses
• Pricing formulas do not change because of economies
• Most owners of good businesses postpone selling in a poor economy resulting in fewer opportunities for the increased number of buyers
• A business’s value is dependent upon its outlook for future profitability
• You can get tomorrow’s price today for your business if you choose a buyer who recognizes the opportunity your business represents and considers expectations of future profitability when assessing value.
In order to obtain an optimum price for a business, regardless of the economic condition, one must attract the type buyer who will recognize the opportunity the business represents. In real estate, optimum value is determined by the entity that will recognize highest and best use of a property. Business prices typically reflect an acquirer’s perception of future earnings under their ownership. Therefore, the optimum value of a business is determined by the buyer who recognizes the most opportunity the business represents. A business can be considered worthless to one yet be worth millions to another.
Small Business Life Cycle
If you don’t sell when you are at or near the top of your game,
how far down the slope will you be when you do?
If you are in the window of opportunity and decide to put off selling until the economy improves, only to find that the value of your business has dramatically decreased.
How can you tell if it’s time for you to think about selling? We have developed a little quiz just for this purpose.
A One Minute Quiz
for Business Owners Only!
This One Minute Quiz will help you answer the most difficult question a business owner ever has to face. Count your Yes answers to the following questions to determine where you are in your business’s life cycle.
1. Is your business less enjoyable now than before? Y N
2. Does your business challenge and excite you less than earlier? Y N
3. Do you think of selling your business more often now than you did previously? Y N
4. Do you find yourself complaining more lately? Y N
5. Has the business come between you and your loved ones? Y N
6. Has your business begun to level off or decline? Y N
7. Are you concerned you no longer have the stamina your business requires? Y N
8. Do you wonder what you would do if you sold the business? Y N
9. Do you often wonder "What is my business worth?" Y N
10. Would you be hesitant to personally guarantee a sizable loan in order to grow your business? Y N
The Question: Should you begin preparing your succession plan or perhaps decide to sell your business?
Your number of Yes answers
0 -3 Yes
Congratulations! You are happy and probably quite prosperous in your business. Keep it up.
4-6 Yes
Pay attention to your "early warning" signals!" It is best not to make the mistake of staying too long! Go out on top. Sell while you are still having fun. Best to start the planning process early. The actual succession or sale process can take a long time.
7-10 Yes
Don't let time spoil the fruits of your labor. Most great men and women in history have had more than one career. It is time for you to decide that you want a change. Choose what you want to do next, and then act.
In Summary:
Business pricing methods remain unchanged even in a down economy; fewer good companies are on the market as their owners await an improved economy, the number of serious buyers in the marketplace increases in a down economy. There is a narrow window of opportunity between growing one’s business and the time for selling it. Sell while you are still having fun.
Sell a business in a down economy - To learn more about this author, visit Ted Burbank's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
|||
Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|||
Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
|||
Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
|||
Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
|||
David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
|||
Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
|||
Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Ted's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
|
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 9 Questions From New Marketers Top Author Mistakes How To Get Media Attention Termination Suit Customer Retention / Attraction |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Business Plans
Top Business Plan Blogs | |
 |
More PR Resources
Press Release Builder | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||