Business Exit Planning

Selling a Marine Resource Consultants Business

Despite the pessimistic mood of many sellers, your marine resource consultants business can be a high value acquisition target for ambitious entrepreneurs -- even in today's tough economy.

The marine resource consultants business-for-sale marketplace is a nuanced environment, full of pitfalls for sellers who aren't prepared for its demands.

The business-for-sale market is extremely dynamic. Knowledgeable entrepreneurs understand that market timing isn't nearly as important as other factors in a marine resource consultants business sale. You just need to know your buyers and structure the deal accordingly.

Valuation Methods

Professional appraisers can use three methods to determine the value ofa marine resource consultants business: The income method, the asset method and the market method. While the income method uses anticipated revenues as a value basis, the asset method focuses on the company's capital, real estate and intellectual assets. In many sales, the most accurate valuation comes from the market method which determines value based on the recent sales of similar businesses. A good appraiser will often use multiple valuation methods to arrive at a reasonable estimate. Sellers should take note of the fact that all three valuation methods reward businesses that takes steps to increase assets and income.

Working with Appraisers

There is no substitute for a qualified appraisal in the sale of your marine resource consultants business. Armed with a professional appraisal, both you and your broker can enter the negotiation stage with confidence. Even though you may disagree with the appraiser's value estimates, it's important to give your appraiser the information and independence he needs to present an objective opinion. To ensure accuracy, ask your broker to provide references for appraisers with industry experience.

Advertising Your Sale

Successful marine resource consultants business sales incorporate comprehensive advertising plans. But if you think advertising your marine resource consultants business will be the same as running a product promotion, think again. Multiple factors complicate business-for-sale advertising, not the least of which is the fact that you don't want your competition to know that your company is on the market. A highly publicized sale creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by your competitors. Business brokers are skilled at publicizing marine resource consultants business sales while maintaining the confidentiality that is critical to your business.

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