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Selling a Communications Equipment and Supplies Business

Your communications equipment and supplies business has been good to you. The next step is to position your business for the demands of the business-for-sale marketplace.

Waiting for better economic times to sell your company? That's a common anthem in the small business community.

To sell a communications equipment and supplies business in this environment, you need to apply the right combination of preparation, strategy and common sense.

Hiring an Attorney

There is no way around the requirement to hire professional legal assistance when you sell your communications equipment and supplies business. Competent legal counsel ensures that the sale documents are in proper order. Furthermore, a good lawyers provides the counsel necessary to navigate the tax and liability issues that surround a business sale. In some cases, an attorney may also provide assistance in securing long-term leases or vendor contracts to make your communications equipment and supplies business more attractive to buyers. If you don't know an attorney with experience in the business-for-sale market, ask your broker for a referral.

Selling a Communications Equipment & Supplies Business to an Employee

Employee sales have pros and cons. A faithful employee may have the motivation and ability to continue to operate the business. If you need to sell quickly, the timeframe is condensed in an employee sale because you don't need to track down a buyer. But in many cases, employees expect to get a deal from their employer based on their years of service to the company. Most of the time, employees also expect owners to finance a large portion of the sale. So if you aren't willing to finance the sale or need to get top dollar for your communications equipment and supplies business, a sale to an employee is probably not a possibility.

Preparing for What's Next

The decision to sell your communications equipment and supplies business can't be made without adequate consideration of what will happen after the sale. 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. In today's market, many buyers expect seller financing - a concession that might not be a possibility for sellers whose next step requires the entire proceeds at the time of the sale.

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