Smart Exit Planning Strategies for Niche Markets

Selling a Gift Basket Retailer

No one said selling your business in a depressed economy would be easy. Although it's going to take some work, there is a good chance you can still sell your company at or even above fair market value.

The business-for-sale market is just as frustrating for buyers as it is for sellers these days. There are lots of buyers who want to own a gift basket retailer, but have limited capital to get their foot in the door.

In today's market, there is still plenty of room for gift basket retailers that demonstrate solid earning capacity and a robust market position.

Selling a Gift Basket Retailer to an Employee

Employee sales have pros and cons. A faithful employee may have the motivation and ability to continue to operate the business. The time and expense of locating the right buyer will be nonexistent and you won't have to spend weeks showing the buyer every square inch of the company. Yet most employees lack the means to buy their employer's business at or near the asking price. Seller financing is one way to get around the capital deficit of an employee-based gift basket retailer sale, as long as you are willing to vet the employee's credit worthiness the same as any other buyer.

Leveraging Industry Connections

Today's gift basket retailer buyers can be found in a variety of locations. To advertise your sale to the widest possible audience, consider a listing on BizBuySell.com or other top online business-for-sale listing sites. For more targeted lead generation, consider tapping into your network of industry contacts. The downside of industry networks is that it leaves your company vulnerable to exploitation by competitors. Your broker may be able to offer strategies for promoting your sale within your network while maintaining some remnant of a confidential sale.

Emotional Considerations

It's impossible to predict the emotional highs and lows you will experience during the sale of your gift basket retailer. Many sellers experience discouragement during a long sale process. Although it isn't easy, you can mitigate the emotional impact of a gift basket retailer sale by setting realistic expectations before you list your business.

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