The median revenue of sold businesses is up 6.5%. That’s great news for business owners looking to sell in the coming year. How can you setup your printing company to sell quickly for top dollar in a competitive market?
When clients reach out to us, they are often not even sure if now is the right time to sell a business. They are looking ahead to the future and realizing maybe it’s time to develop a plan for the next stage of life. Though our clients love their companies, employees and customers, they get the sense it’s time to move on to the next chapter.
Many business owners have not had a proper business valuation in years. While they can easily list the value of all other assets, they aren’t clear on what an asking price should be. Like most business owners, they aren’t sure of the true value of the business.
When you engage with our team, we talk through your priorities for selling the business and identify what your plans for the future will look like. After learning about your business & your goals, we’ll help you prepare the business to look attractive so it will be attractive to a buyer.
In the past two years alone, small businesses have been bought and sold in record numbers. You need your business to stand out from the rest. That’s why clever business owners use the following tips to ensure their business is ready for a smooth transition and successful transaction once it’s time to sell.
Organize Financial Paperwork
Every buyer wants proper documentation that is accurate, complete and up to date. Without this, a buyer may offer far less than what your business is worth. Gather up your bank records, and your personal tax return showing your reported income.
Make sure you include a list of clients and any copies of service agreements with these financial statements along with information on lease agreements, supplies, and equipment. All of these will be considered essential pieces of paperwork for a potential buyer to review to gain an overview of the business picture.
Prepare To Sell But Stay Focused On Your Business
Once you make the decision to sell a company, it’s easy to get sidetracked from the daily operations of the business. However, this is when it’s time to diligently focus on the business.
In order for a smooth transition to take place with minimal impact to business profits, a clear organizational structure should be in place. With dependable employees and a solid management team, potential uncertainty about your departure is alleviated. Potential buyers are also willing to pay more for a business that maintains an established revenue and has a sound exit strategy in place.
Work With A Business Broker
Using a business broker to list the sale of your printing company allows you to focus on running the business while it’s for sale. An experienced broker will also sell your business the right way, to the right buyer so that customers continue to receive the quality and service they deserve.
Your broker will help you identify the priorities of your sale and can be invaluable during negotiations. Buyers are unwilling to overpay for a business, but many sellers think their business is worth more than what they are offered. To avoid frustration, we navigate negotiations for you based on your goals and we attract a larger pool of potential buyers through our proven, confidential marketing plan.
Deciding to sell your print shop is not an easy decision, but keep in mind it’s also not a fast process. Like most of our clients, a simple conversation may be all it takes to decide if now is the right time to take steps to prepare your business for getting the right value when the time comes.
If you’re considering selling your printing company in the near future, contact us today to talk to an expert and discover we can help keep the process streamlined and simple.