We just wanted to follow up with you to share “breaking news” on the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security) – H.R 748. $2 trillion relief bill has been just passed by the House of Representative by the voice vote to help the individuals, families, and business owners. Within this Act, there are several Federal government programs designed to help small businesses struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 financial collapse. These programs will ensure that these businesses get cash-in-hand to continue operating and – most importantly – to keep their employees working. Congress has not finished the fine print in the legislation, but we know this version of CARES provides for the following: Starting with the April 2020 payments, the SBA would pay 6 months of principal and interest on all existing SBA Loans under the 7A and 504 Loan Programs. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a new program designed to rapidly get capital into the hands of small … [Read more...]
Letter from V-AID to All Business Owners Dealing with the Impact of COVID-19
Dear Our Valued Clients, Hope you and your family are safe and well. We just wanted to reach out to you during this challenging time as everyone is feeling the effects that COVID-19 is bringing to small businesses and the economy. As we understand that this could be a daunting time for anyone who runs a business, we wanted to write this to you in an effort to guide and help you in any way to endure and get through this crisis. In the course of last 20 years in this business sale industry, we had endured many types of economic crisis and downturns as well as witnessing the remarkable rebound of the market after each crisis. We strongly believe that this time we will also maneuver through this crisis as we are well equipped and more than ready to tackle this crisis with the years of our expertise and experience. Unlike 2007-2008 during the financial crisis where banks simply quit lending money to businesses, this situation is entirely different as a number of banks still remain … [Read more...]
Great Tips for Selling Your Business
It takes preparation and focus to sell most businesses. The reality of the situation is that it can take years to achieve this goal. Partnering with a business broker or M&A Advisor is a smart step towards selling any business, as these pros know the very best tips. In that spirit, let’s take a look at some great tips for selling your business. Getting your business ready to sell means carefully evaluating the foundation. Any significant problem can send buyers “running for the hills,” so be sure that you work out any problems well before placing your business on the market. If you have any litigation or environmental issues, you most definitely want to address those issues before it is time to sell. Nothing will scare away prospective buyers quicker than pending litigation or the specter of a potentially costly environmental clean-up. A second key issue you’ll want to address is determining who exactly has the legal … [Read more...]
It’s Time to Exit. Are you Ready?
Thinking about whether or not you are ready to exit is an important question. It’s something that every business owner will have to address at some point. Importantly, you don’t want to wait until the 11th hour to prepare to sell your business. There are far too many pieces in this particular puzzle to wait until the last minute. You’ll want to begin the process sooner by asking yourself some key questions. Determining Value First, you’ll need to determine the actual value of your business. It is a harsh truth, but what you think your business is worth and what the market feels that it is worth may be two very different things. This point serves to underscore the importance of working with a business broker or M&A advisor early in the process. An experienced broker knows how to go about determining a price that will generate interest and seem fair. Remember that at the end of the day, it will be the … [Read more...]
What You Need to Know About the Golden Age of Business Acquisitions
Business acquisitions are red hot, and all kinds of businesses are being snapped up. Some people are under the impression that only large businesses are being acquired, but this is far from the reality of the situation. It would surprise many to learn that so much of the “action” is, in fact, small businesses buying other small businesses. In his Forbes article, “Take Advantage of the Golden Age of Business Acquisitions,” author Christopher Hurn explores the true state of the “acquisitions game.” His conclusions are quite interesting. In Hurn’s opinion, there has never been a more active time in the realm of business acquisitions. If you own a business and are looking to grow, then you may want to consider acquiring a competitor in order to consolidate the market. As Hurn points out, there are many reasons that you might want to consider acquiring a business in addition to consolidating the market. … [Read more...]
Determining the Right Time to Sell
Determining when it’s finally the right time to sell can be a tricky proposition. If you are thinking about selling your business, one of the best steps you can take is to contact a business broker. A good business broker will have years, or even decades, of proven experience under his or her belt. He or she will be able to guide you through the process of determining what you need to do in order to get your business ready to sell. One major reason you should contact a business broker long before you think you might want to sell is that you never know when the right time to sell may arise. Market forces may change, unexpected events like a large competitor entering your area, or a range of other factors could all lead you to the conclusion that now, and not later, is the time to sell. In a recent The Tokenist article, “When is the Best Time to Sell a Business?”, author Tim Fries covers a variety of factors in determining when is the best time … [Read more...]
Should You Sell Your Family Business?
When the complicating variable of family is added to the equation of selling a business, the situation can get rather messy. Family usually complicates everything and businesses are, of course, no exception. Ken McCracken’s recent article “Family business: to sell or not to sell?” 6 questions to help you make the right decision,” seeks to decode the complexities so often associated with family businesses. Consider the Market The foundation of determining whether or not now is the right time to sell must begin with market forces. Determining how much your business is worth is a key variable in any decision to sell. The best way to determine the worth of your business is to have an outside party, such as a business broker, evaluate your business. What you believe your business to be worth and what the market dictates could be very different. You may discover that your business does not have the value that you hoped … [Read more...]
Why You Should Focus on Proper Exit Planning
If you are like many business owners, you are primarily focusing on building your business. Yet, as we’ve covered here many times before, you should start thinking about what you’ll need to do to sell your business before you even officially launch. Many businesses can take years to sell or even fail to sell all together. For this and many other reasons, it is important to invest some time and energy into thinking about proper exit planning and strategies. Walker Deibel’s recent Forbes article, “How Proper Exit Planning Benefits the Buyer and Seller,” Deibel discusses his interview with Exit Planning: The Definitive Guide, author John H. Brown. Brown and Deibel both agreed that, when properly handled, exit planning can help both the seller and the buyer. Exit planning can make a business more transferable. As Deibel points out, when buyers are evaluating businesses, transferability is a key factor. A buyer must … [Read more...]
The Top Ways to Create an Attention-Grabbing Sales Ad to Sell Your Business
A major part of selling your business is getting the word out. After all, the more people that know your business is for sale, the better off you’ll be. In Bob House’s recent article, “How to Create an Effective Business for Sale Ad and Ensure It Gets the Best Result,” House gives readers an assortment of tips that he believes will help sellers attract higher offers from real buyers. Getting the Word Out As House wisely points out, many buyers wait until the last second to dive in and create a good sales ad. In fact, many buyers fail to grasp the real importance of creating a quality and compelling advertisement. Imagine creating a good sales ad like you would going fishing with a group of friends. The more friends you have on your fishing trip, the greater the odds that someone catches a fish. In much the same way, the more people who know you are selling your business, the greater the chances that you’ll get some … [Read more...]