Niche Exit Planning Strategies
Selling a Dock Builders and Services Business
Your dock builders and services business is a tangible reminder of the passion and dedication you've invested in your entrepreneurial career. But the hard work isn't done yet. Before you can make a graceful exit, you will have to invest yourself in your business sale.
We're seeing a high volume of shadow inventory in the business-for-sale market.
There are still plenty of dock builders and services business buyers looking for opportunities that present well in the marketplace.
Working with Appraisers
Next to your broker, a skilled appraiser is the person most capable of adding value to the price of your dock builders and services business. Leading industry appraisers equip sellers with a value gauge that can be accessed during negotiations. Even though you may disagree with the appraiser's value estimates, it's important to give your appraiser the information and independence he needs to present an objective opinion. To ensure accuracy, ask your broker to provide references for appraisers with industry experience.
Finding Prospects
Many sellers don't realize how many prospective buyers there are for their businesses. We frequently see qualified buyers emerge from the seller's network of business and personal acquaintances. In other cases, sellers take a proactive approach to finding likely buyers and contacting them directly. Competitors may seem like natural prospects and they are. The downside is that they won't pay top dollar and will probably absorb your company into their own.
Preparing Your Employees
As a business owner, you want to keep you employees informed about your plans; as a seller it's in your best interest to keep your employees in the dark for as long as possible. The more people who know that the business is on the market, the riskier the sale becomes. However, the longer the selling process drags on, the more likely it is that rumors will begin to circulate throughout your workforce. Consider informing your key employees first, followed by the rest of your workforce later in the process. Maintain a positive tone in your conversations and answer your employees questions as completely as you can without jeopardizing the sale.
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