Business Exits By Industry

Selling a Columns Business

No one said selling your business in a depressed economy would be easy. Fortunately, a columns business sale isn't as scary as it seems.

With planning and patience, most columns businesses can be sold for a fair price in the current business-for-sale marketplace.

Yet what many sellers don't appreciate is that a down economy can present the perfect opportunity to sell a columns business.

Advantages of Hiring a Broker

Brokers give columns business sellers distinct advantages in the marketplace. First-rate brokers are extremely skilled at communicating your company's strengths to prospective buyers. More importantly, brokers have the ability to identify serious buyers and maintain confidentiality throughout the sale process. Typical brokerage rates (a.k.a. success fees) run 10% of the final price - an expense that is usually recouped through a higher sales price and less time on the market.

Economic Considerations

When you sell a columns business, there are a number of variables you need to consider. Interest rates, spending, inflation, and other variables directly influence how long your columns business will be on the market as well as its sales price. The truth is that perfect market conditions may never materialize. If you don't believe your columns business would sell for top dollar right now, what can you do to make it more attractive to the marketplace? Increase profitability? Build brand visibility?. When it comes to selling a columns business, successful sales sales often boil down to the business itself - not the economy.

When to End Negotiations

Negotiations have a way of dragging on forever. There are countless details that need to be hammered out before a Letter of Intent can be prepared and the process can move on to the due diligence stage. As the seller, you'll be on the front lines of negotiation and will need to know when it's time to bring negotiations to an end. In a columns business sale, a stalled negotiation can be an indication that the deal is dead. At this point in the process, an awareness of negotiation parameters really pays off. If the buyer is unwilling to accept your minimum demands, it's time to end negotiations and move on to the next prospect.

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