Exit Planning Tips

Selling a Heat Treating Business

Don't believe anyone who tells you it's easy to sell a heat treating business. A lot of things need to happen before you can successfully exit your business. But with a few tips, you can keep your shirt and your sanity in the sale of your business.

The economy isn't the only thing that is uncertain these days. So are heat treating business buyers, many of whom are waiting to pull the trigger on their next acquisition.

In today's market, there is still plenty of room for heat treating businesses that demonstrate solid earning capacity and a robust market position.

Seller Financing

Capital is hard to come by these days. Banks and other lending institutions aren't eager to lend to unproven and undercapitalized heat treating business buyers regardless of the business's potential. Rather than abandon their plans entirely, many buyers are pursuing finance concessions from sellers. Although 100% seller financing isn't recommended, sellers are financing up to 70% of the sale price to close deals.

Tips for Working with A Business Broker

Brokerage is a mainstay of the business-for-sale marketplace. Brokerage is particularly common in the heat treating business-for-sale market, where aggressive selling strategies are the norm. Brokerage doesn't replace the seller's requirement to be involved in the sale; it augments the seller's efforts and creates a more seamless sale process. Successfully brokered sales are based on solid relationships between brokers and sellers as well as the strict execution of a common selling strategy.

Advertising Your Sale

Successful heat treating business sales begin with a carefully planned advertising and promotional strategies. However, confidentiality and other concerns can present challenges, even for sales professionals. If sale information leaks out, competitors can use it to steal customers and circulate negative messages about your business throughout the industry. Business brokers are skilled at publicizing heat treating business sales while maintaining the confidentiality that is critical to your business.

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