Niche Exit Planning Tactics

Selling a Wine and Distilled Beverages Retail Business

Looking for shortcuts? You won't find them when you sell a wine and distilled beverages retail business. In this industry, a business sale takes time, effort and dedication. We'll tell you how to thrive in the middle of it and get top dollar for your company.

When the economy recovers, we expect to see a sudden influx of wine and distilled beverages retail 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.

Retail Wine Business

If your exit strategy involves selling a wine and distilled beverages retail business now, sellers need to make a strong case for buyers to purchase at or near the asking price.

Buyer Concessions

Sellers aren't the only ones who can make concessions in a business sale. In many instances, sellers can request buyer concessions. Often, buyer concessions represent financial incentives that the seller receives in exchange for providing a non-cash benefit (e.g. training, financing, etc.. 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.

Broker vs. No Broker

When selling a wine and distilled beverages retail business, you have two choices: Hire a broker to facilitate the sale or perform the sale unassisted. Is there a cost associated with hiring a broker? Sure - about 10% of the final sale prices. But a good broker will make selling your wine and distilled beverages retail business much less painful. You can also expect to receive a higher sales price for your business in a broker-assisted deal.

Laying the Groundwork

Effective wine and distilled beverages retail business preparation focuses on communicating value to prospective buyers. Professional business brokers understand buyers and know how to properly communicate a wine and distilled beverages retail 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 wine and distilled beverages retail business opportunity.

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