Profitable Niche Market Exit Plans

Selling an Optometrists' Equipment and Supplies Business

The business-for-sale marketplace has experienced no shortage of uncertainty over the past several years. But optometrists' equipment and supplies businesses continue to sell at a brisk pace, regardless of the economy.

You won't find any magic formulas for selling an optometrists' equipment and supplies business, especially while the market is struggling to overcome the perceptions created by a down economy.

Fortunately for sellers, forward-thinking entrepreneurs continue to be attracted to optometrists' equipment and supplies businesses that exhibit strong financials and potential for future growth.

Working with a Professional Accountant

Accountants lay the financial groundwork for a business sale. Before your optometrists' equipment and supplies business goes on the market, you should sit down with your accountant to clarify your financial goals and the tax consequences of a sale. You may also want your accountant to assist in the preparation of professional financials to present to serious buyers. With seller financing becoming common, professional accountants are playing a more central role in negotiations and buyer qualification.

Maintaining Objectivity

Objectivity is a rare commodity in a business sale. Sellers typically overvalue their companies compared to the rest of the marketplace. It is difficult for many owners to accept the cold, hard facts about their company's worth, but objectivity is the name of the game in a successful optometrists' equipment and supplies business sale. A business broker can be a valuable resource in right-sizing your expectations and preparing you for market realities.

Why Confidentiality Matters

In the business-for-sale universe, publicity translates into risk. 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 optometrists' equipment and supplies business can be reduced to one that is struggling to survive. If confidentiality is important to you (and it should be), your best bet is to consult with a professional business broker about maintaining a confidential optometrists' equipment and supplies business sale.

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