Sell a Business Tips

Selling a Self Defense Program

The business-for-sale marketplace has experienced no shortage of uncertainty over the past several years. But self defense schools haven't been deterred. In fact, we think this economy is a ripe environment for a self defense school sale.

You're optimistic about the economy and so are we. Now the challenge is to convert business buyers who may have a more skeptical outlook.

At Gaebler, we're seeing self defense school sellers succeed by applying sound sales principles combined with a refusal to be intimidated by a down economy.

Sweetening the Deal

Seller concessions sweeten the deal for buyers and are a necessary fixture in a sluggish economy. Concessions can consist of non-cash as well as cash incentives. When you've reached your limit on price, consider offering non-cash concessions to encourage a commitment from the buyer. A limited amount of training and mentoring may seem inconsequential to you, but to a young self defense school owner, they can be critical launching points for their ownership journey.

Sale Costs

In a self defense school sale, pricing is based on a number of factors, including the costs incurred during the sale. Good brokerage takes a 10% success fee off the top of the final sale price. Depending on your circumstances, you may also incur substantial expenses in hiring legal, appraisal and accounting professionals. Furthermore, your time has value, so you may need to include a personal compensation consideration in your expense estimates.

Finding Prospects

Still looking for prospective buyers for your business? You probably already know several parties with an interest in acquiring your company. We frequently see qualified buyers emerge from the seller's network of business and personal acquaintances. In other cases, sellers take a proactive approach to finding likely buyers and contacting them directly. Competitors may seem like natural prospects and they are. The downside is that they won't pay top dollar and will probably absorb your company into their own.

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