Selling a Business Advice

Selling an Inter-Island Freight Business

The decision to sell your inter-island freight business isn't something that should be taken lightly, especially these days. If a business exit is on the horizon, you'll want to check out our suggestions for staying ahead of the market.

You won't find any magic formulas for selling an inter-island freight business, especially while the market is struggling to overcome the perceptions created by a down economy.

To achieve your goals, you'll need to know the market as well as key business selling techniques. As a business seller, you need to go into the process with the mental goal of presenting your business in the best possible light.

Leveraging Seller Concessions

In the current marketplace, seller concessions can make the difference between a business sale and an inter-island freight business that languishes on the market for months or even years. In a down economy sellers become bankers; an unwillingness to finance at least part of the sale of an inter-island freight business can translate into a dead deal. Capital is scarce, causing new entrepreneurs to rely on sellers to finance at least part of the purchase price. As an alternative, clearly state that seller financing is not an option and consider offering other concessions to see the sale through to its completion.

Economic Considerations

When you sell an inter-island freight business, there are a number of variables you need to consider. Interest rates, spending, inflation, and other variables directly influence how long your inter-island freight business will be on the market as well as its sales price. The truth is that perfect market conditions may never materialize. A much better approach is to focus on the factors that always attract buyers and investors. In our experience, the most important factors in the sale of an inter-island freight business have little to do with the economy.

Benefits of Third-Party Assistance

At some point, you're going to need help selling your inter-island freight business. Brokers can be an important resource for your sale, especially if you are unfamiliar with the business-for-sale marketplace. Additionally, you may want to hire professionals for legal, valuation and other functions before you put your business on the market. The early recruitment of external resources reduces your risk and results in a more predictable final outcome.

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