Niche Exit Planning Tactics
Selling a Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Business
Your wastewater treatment and disposal business is a tangible reminder of the passion and dedication you've invested in your entrepreneurial career. To see your ownership role through to completion, you will need to exhibit similar diligence in selling your company.
Business buyers are a timid lot, even more so now that they are facing an uncertain economic landscape.
Despite the conventional wisdom, we believe current economic conditions are right for selling a wastewater treatment and disposal business. We'll tell you what you need to know to achieve a successful sale outcome
Working with a Professional Accountant
Accountants come into play at several stages of the sale process. From a seller perspective, an accountant can offer personal financial assistance, especially when it comes to handling the disposition of sale proceeds. Brokers often advise their clients to have an accountant perform an audit of the business prior to sale. With seller financing becoming common, professional accountants are playing a more central role in negotiations and buyer qualification.
Finding Prospects
Many sellers don't realize how many prospective buyers there are for their businesses. 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. If you aren't generating interest in the general marketplace, consider approaching companies that sell complementary products or are closely situated in your supply chain.
The Case for Confidentiality
Confidentiality determines risk in the business-for-sale marketplace. A low-key selling strategy is a low risk activity because you can control who does (and doesn't) know that your business is on the market. Eventually, word will leak out. When that happens, it can damage your standing with customers and vendors. Maintaining confidentiality isn't easy, but without it you won't get top dollar for your business. In a worse case scenario, a profitable wastewater treatment and disposal business can be reduced to one that is struggling to survive. Brokers and consultants can mitigate the risk by implementing confidential sale techniques.
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