Exit Planning Advice By Market

Selling an Arcades and Amusements Business

It's a misconception that no one is buying arcades and amusements businesses these days. Savvy entrepreneurs see arcades and amusements business opportunities as a path to short-term profits and long-term growth. There aren't any guarantees, but if you adhere to fundamental business sale concepts, you can likely get a good price for your business.

It's a fact: Successful business sales take time.

The economy hasn't squashed the market for arcades and amusements businesses. Like always, unprofitable and poorly positioned businesses struggle to find buyers while sellers who have invested time and effort to prepare their sale are being rewarded in the marketplace.

Brokerage Benefits

A good broker can offer several benefits to business sellers. First, business brokers are in tune with the realities of the market and are skilled at helping owners make their businesses attractive to premium buyers. More importantly, brokers have the ability to identify serious buyers and maintain confidentiality throughout the sale process. Typical brokerage rates (a.k.a. success fees) run 10% of the final price - an expense that is usually recouped through a higher sales price and less time on the market.

Selling an Arcades & Amusements Business to an Employee

Although it may seem easier to sell your arcades and amusements business to an employee, this approach also has some pitfalls. There are some perks to selling the business in-house. If you need to sell quickly, the timeframe is condensed in an employee sale because you don't need to track down a buyer. But in many cases, employees expect to get a deal from their employer based on their years of service to the company. Most of the time, employees also expect owners to finance a large portion of the sale. So if you aren't willing to finance the sale or need to get top dollar for your arcades and amusements business, a sale to an employee is probably not a possibility.

Advertising Your Sale

Profitable arcades and amusements business sales listings are intentionally promoted to the right prospects. But confidentiality issues are a hurdle you'll need to address before you put your arcades and amusements business on the market. If sale information leaks out, competitors can use it to steal customers and circulate negative messages about your business throughout the industry. There are multiple ways to promote an arcades and amusements business sale, many of which require the assistance of a professional business broker.

Share this article


Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary