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Selling a Chocolate and Cocoa Retail Business

Many business leaders say that now isn't the time to try to sell a chocolate and cocoa retail business. Don't be deterred by economic uncertainty. There are plenty of reasons why this is the right time to put your chocolate and cocoa retail business on the market.

Are most buyers timid about buying a chocolate and cocoa retail business in today's economic environment? You bet.

Does that mean selling your chocolate and cocoa retail business will be a piece of cake? No -- but you might be surprised to learn that the chocolate and cocoa retail businesses that are selling these days are finding success though simple, common sense selling strategies.

Benefits of Third-Party Assistance

There are a range of professionals available to guide you through the sale of a chocolate and cocoa retail business. Although it's wise to recruit a business broker, brokerage isn't your only concern. Additionally, you may want to hire professionals for legal, valuation and other functions before you put your business on the market. In most cases, your sale strategy will call for the assistance of outside professionals at various stages throughout the process. Early recruitment makes it easier to execute your strategy without unnecessary interruptions.

Preparing for What's Next

So you've decided to sell your chocolate and cocoa retail business. That's great -- but have you considered what's next? Are you moving on to another business venture? Are you retiring? many sellers find themselves ill-equipped to handle life after their business and fail to understand that their future plans can influence the sale process. We frequently encounter business sellers who haven't thought enough about their futures to know whether certain concessions (e.g seller financing) are a real possibility. As a result, they make bad decisions during the sale and experience less-than-optimal outcomes.

Turning the Tables: Buyer Concessions

Sellers aren't the only ones who can make concessions in a business sale. In many instances, sellers can request buyer concessions. Although this scenario frequently plays out around seller financed deals, it's possible to push for a higher sales price or other form of compensation if you agree to mentor the buyer for a specified period of time. Asset exclusions, retained ownership shares and long-term contracts with another of the seller's companies can also be leveraged to extract concessions from buyers.

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