Business Exit Planning

Selling a Mobile Auto Oil and Lube Business

We hear from a lot of business owners who are timid about listing their mobile auto oil and lube business. Despite the mood of the market, we think there are still opportunities to receive a good price for your mobile auto oil and lube business. Here's what you need to know . . .

When the economy recovers, we expect to see a sudden influx of mobile auto oil and lube businesses in the business-for-sale marketplace. Although these companies have been for sale, their owners have resisted listing them until a better economy materializes.

Undaunted by economic conditions, many mobile auto oil and lube business sellers are achieving their sale goals through deliberate sale strategies.

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. Although this scenario frequently plays out around seller financed deals, it's possible to push for a higher sales price or other form of compensation if you agree to mentor the buyer for a specified period of time. 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.

Working with Appraisers

Next to your broker, a skilled appraiser is the person most capable of adding value to the price of your mobile auto oil and lube business. Leading industry appraisers equip sellers with a value gauge that can be accessed during negotiations. If you're disappointed with the appraiser's estimate of your company's worth, you have the option of seeking a second opinion. However, it's more often the case that you will need to adjust your expectations of your business's value to buyers.

Setting the Stage

Effective mobile auto oil and lube business preparation focuses on communicating value to prospective buyers. Professional business brokers understand buyers and know how to properly communicate a mobile auto oil and lube business to the marketplace. Specifically, brokers can advise you about the preparation of financial statements and other documents buyers expect to see in a premium mobile auto oil and lube business opportunity.

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