Exit Planning Techniques By Market

Selling a Flight Instruction Business

The decision to sell your flight instruction 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.

You've invested too much in your flight instruction business to let it be sold for less than its worth. But unless you adequately prepare for the sale, some lucky buyer may walk away with a huge discount.

To achieve your goals, you'll need to know the market as well as key business selling techniques. Since your future goals depend on the outcome of your sale, you'll need to have your head in the game from Day One.

Selling to a Family Member

The idea of passing a business along to a family member sounds idyllic to many business owners. in reality, a family-based flight instruction business sale can be more complicated than selling to a stranger. Often, a sale to a family member creates fractures within the family. Whether you offer the family member special concessions or not, either the buyer or other family members may take offense. If possible, discuss a long-term, generational transition with the entire family and seek the advice of a professional consultant.

Sale Costs

In a flight instruction business sale, pricing is based on a number of factors, including the costs incurred during the sale. Hiring a broker is a mixed bag because although brokers can increase the sale price, they also take a 10% fee. Professional consultations can also represent a significant expense during the course of a flight instruction business sale. Furthermore, your time has value, so you may need to include a personal compensation consideration in your expense estimates.

Preparing Family Members

Many sellers embarked on their flight instruction business sale without adequately considering the impact it will have on their families. In many cases, we find that even though business owners are equipped to handle their ownership exit, their family members are having a hard time letting go of the business, especially if family life has revolved around the demands of the flight instruction business. As a seller, you need to be sensitive to your family's feelings about the sale and make an effort to keep them informed about the process. The decision to sell a flight instruction business has to include ample communication and shared decision-making.

Share this article


Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary