Exit Planning Advice By Market

Selling an Aircraft Instruments Business

Don't believe anyone who tells you it's easy to sell an aircraft instruments business. A lot of things need to happen before you can successfully exit your business. Good advice can be hard to come by, so we've put together a few proven suggestions to help you see your sale through to a profitable conclusion.

Business sellers are notorious for second-guessing themselves about the right time to put their companies up for sale.

Many aircraft instruments business owners sell for a price that is well below market value. With the right strategy, your sale doesn't have to end that way.

Post-Sale Details

The way you exit your aircraft instruments business is just as important as the way you sell it. Handing over the keys and saying goodbye to your employees is easier said than done, and requires thoughtful consideration prior to closing. If there are pending details that still need to ironed out, address them ASAP to ensure a smooth closing and transition.

Team-Based Negotiation Strategies

Business sellers are sometimes surprised to find themselves in the position of negotiator-in-chief. When you sell your aircraft instruments business, your business brokers may or may not be willing to conduct negotiations for you. Negotiation is a chess game, best played with the resources and backend support of a negotiation team. A negotiation team comprised of trusted advisors and senior business leaders is essential in helping you devise a winning negotiation strategy. More importantly, a negotiation team can serve as a sounding board -- an objective presence that prohibits your personal emotions from clouding your judgment or sabotaging your efforts to negotiate a successful deal.

Selling Time

Hoping for a quick aircraft instruments business sale? You may be disappointed. The amount of time your business will be on the market depends on how aggressively it is priced and marketed. Before you can list your aircraft instruments business, you'll need to invest as much as a year in preparing it for prospective buyers. Once your business is ready for the marketplace, it could take an additional six months to a year to locate the right buyer.

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