The Firm Business Brokerage has seen it all when it comes to mistakes people make when selling their own business. This non-exhaustive list is a cautionary tale of things NOT to do!
Top Six Mistakes Sellers Make When Selling a Business 1. Telling People They're Selling
This is detrimental to business! The best way to sell is confidentially which allows business to continue to operate as usual without upsetting the apple cart.
2. Waiting Too Long to Sell
All too often we meet people who say, "I wish I had known about you two years ago when I closed my doors and handed my client list to my competitor/friend/third cousin twice removed!" The Firm closes transactions in an average of about four months, which is considered a short timespan for our industry. If a company needs to sell next year, they should list today.
3. Not Working with a Pro
Our clients come to The Firm Business Brokerage to handle the valuation, package the business, market the business, and (see point #1 again) maintain confidentiality.
4. Hiring a Dentist to do a Heart Surgeon's Job
As business brokers, we are experts in valuing businesses and all the intricate details that are required. Hiring a person whose specialty is NOT selling the actual business can be a costly mistake. (Likewise, for transactions that require the sale of real estate, we partner with one of our many friends in the commercial real estate field -- Realtors are not business brokers and vice versa, but when we work together great deals can happen.)
5. Incorrectly Pricing Their Company
It's an incredibly hard thing to ask a business owner to put a price tag on their years and years of hard work, so we encourage prospective sellers to seek our advice (it's free!) when determining a business valuation.
6. Dealing with Unqualified Buyers
It's hard to determine someone's net worth without delving into their personal financial statement. That's why at The Firm Business Brokerage, we pre-qualify our buyers and ask the hard questions before showing them a business. This saves our seller's time and the buyer's time by keeping them both in their price range and their field of interest. |
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