Before putting your business up for sale, ensure that your business is sale ready. Having your business sale ready will increase your chances of achieving an outcome that meets your objectives and ensures that you achieve a good return on your investment. With more and more businesses coming on market, being sale ready is more important than ever.
What can you do to make sure your business is sale ready?
Businesses that are well managed and profitable will always be sought after.
To ensure that your business is ‘sale ready’, check that the following is in order:
Business documentation is in order
Processes clearly documented
Systems are capable of providing quality information
Technology and software current and in good working order
Staff employment agreements are current
WIP & debtor recovery is strong
Financial performance is strong and has an improving trend
Budget to actual performance is documented and actively managed
Arrangements with business partners, service providers etc are documented and up to date
Your business plan and is well documented and being implemented
One of the key considerations when assessing the readiness of your business for sale is the businesses level of principal reliance. If your business is principal reliant it may be difficult to find someone willing to take over your business.
You will need to reduce the dependence of your business on the principal and any other key staff who will be leaving the business at the time of sale.
In order to rectify this situation it is important to start planning for the sale of your business years in advance. You may decide that an internal transition of ownership is your best exit option. Do you have a future successor in your business? A key staff member is often the best person to consider as a possible successor as you can start transitioning client management and other responsibilities a lot earlier than if you were selling to an external successor.
Another key consideration is ensuring you have strong relationships with your clients, suppliers and business partners. This will lower the risks in your business and make it more attractive to a future purchaser.
Key Value Drivers There are numerous key value drivers you should focus on to optimise the value of your business and ensure that you get the most money for your business when it comes time to sell. In addition to the value drivers already discussed, some of the other key value drivers are:
Loyal customers
Innovative and different
Benchmarking performance
Good systems
Loyal & committed staff
Growth and succession planning
Steps in planning for sale
The following is a guide as to what you need to do before putting your business on the market or approaching potential successors.
Obtain a business appraisal
Discuss your proposed sale with your professional advisers
Obtain tax advice prior to sale
Determine the purchase price
If you would like to discuss the sale of your business, please contact our team on 08 8334 0600 or email enquiries@dalewood.com.au.
Disclaimer: this information is of a general nature and should not be viewed as representing financial advice. Users of this information are encouraged to seek further advice if they are unclear as to the meaning of anything contained in this article. Bstar accepts no responsibility for any loss suffered as a result of any party using or relying on this article.
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