Business Exits By Industry
Selling a Catering Information Services Business
We hear from a lot of business owners who are timid about listing their catering information services business. Despite the mood of the market, we think there are still opportunities to receive a good price for your catering information services business. Here's what you need to know . . .
The buzz in the marketplace is that now isn't the right time to sell a catering information services business. Consequently, sellers are holding their businesses off the market until they are sure the market will sustain their asking prices.
Qualified buyers are constantly looking for attractive catering information services businesses. And the ones that are commanding the highest price tags are the ones with sellers who are committed to the sale process.
Turning the Tables: Buyer Concessions
Sellers aren't the only ones who can make concessions in a business sale. In many instances, sellers can request buyer concessions. For example, if the buyer needs seller financing, you can leverage a five-year loan to push for a higher sales price. Although you won't see all of the proceeds upfront, you'll earn interest on the balance and realize a higher price than you would in an all cash deal. 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.
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.
Hiring an Attorney
It's obvious that you're going to need to hire an attorney to finalize the sale of your catering information services 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. We recommend hiring an attorney early in the process to gain insights about the legal consequences of various sale outcomes.
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