Exit Planning Techniques By Market

Selling a Fuel Oils Wholesale Business

The decision to sell your fuel oils wholesale business isn't something that should be taken lightly, especially these days. If a business exit is on the horizon, you'll want to check out our suggestions for staying ahead of the market.

It takes dedication to sell a fuel oils wholesale business under the best of circumstances. In the current market, you'll need to redouble your efforts and get serious about convincing prospects that your company is a good investment.

At Gaebler, we're seeing fuel oils wholesale business sellers succeed by applying sound sales principles combined with a refusal to be intimidated by a down economy.

Buyer Concessions

Sellers aren't the only ones who can make concessions in a business sale. In many instances, sellers can request buyer concessions. Often, buyer concessions represent financial incentives that the seller receives in exchange for providing a non-cash benefit (e.g. training, financing, etc.. 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.

Working with Accountants

Accountants lay the financial groundwork for a business sale. From a seller perspective, an accountant can offer personal financial assistance, especially when it comes to handling the disposition of sale proceeds. Brokers often advise their clients to have an accountant perform an audit of the business prior to sale. In certain instances, it may be appropriate to ask your accountant to vet the financials of prospective buyers, run credit checks or even structure the terms of a seller-financed deal.

Preparing for What's Next

The decision to sell your fuel oils wholesale business can't be made without adequate consideration of what will happen after the sale. If you aren't sure what's next, you could be in trouble because future plans and selling strategy are inextricably connected. 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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