Exit Planning Advice By Market

Selling an Air Conditioning Contractors' Equipment and Supplies Business

We hear from a lot of business owners who are timid about listing their air conditioning contractors' equipment and supplies business. Despite the mood of the market, we think there are still opportunities to receive a good price for your air conditioning contractors' equipment and supplies business. Here's what you need to know . . .

Market timing is a perennial problem for business sellers.

However, serious buyers also understand the value of a good air conditioning contractors' equipment and supplies business. So for air conditioning contractors' equipment and supplies business sellers, today's market is all about convincing buyers that the numbers make their companies worth the asking price.

Pros & Cons of a Sale 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. However, some employees feel they are entitled to special treatment and pricing, especially if they have played a key role in the company's success. Seller financing is one way to get around the capital deficit of an employee-based air conditioning contractors' equipment and supplies business sale, as long as you are willing to vet the employee's credit worthiness the same as any other buyer.

Adjusting Expectations

If you're smart, you entered your air conditioning contractors' equipment and supplies business with a set of assumptions about what it would achieve. Ultimately, many sellers find that the market is unable to deliver their anticipated outcomes. Despite your best efforts, you need to prepare yourself for the possibility of receiving less than you expected from the sale of your air conditioning contractors' equipment and supplies business. If buyers don't seem to be willing to meet your expectations, consult with your broker to modify your strategy and market approach.

Sale Preparation Timeframes

There are no effective shortcuts for selling an air conditioning contractors' equipment and supplies business. Since buyers prefer to see evidence of future cash flow, you'll want to to strategically lock in cash flows and increase profits before you list the business. Additionally, prospective buyers usually request documentation that allows them to understand the business's daily workflows and operational strategy. At a minimum, plan on spending six months preparing your air conditioning contractors' equipment and supplies business for the marketplace. A more likely scenario is that it will take more than a year to create the conditions necessary to receive the maximum sale price.

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