BUSINESS OWNER
The Biggest Mistake Owners Make When Selling
Republished with permission from Built to Sell Inc. One of the biggest mistake owners make in selling their company is being lured into a proprietary deal. The Definition Of A Proprietary Deal Acquirers land a proprietary deal (or “prop deal”) when they convince owners to sell their businesses without creating a competitive marketplace. Acquirers running…
Which Is Better, a Financial Buyer or a Strategic Buyer?
Republished with permission from Built to Sell Inc. If you decide to sell your business to an outside acquirer, you’re going to have to decide between a financial and a strategic buyer—understanding the different motivations of these two buyers can be the key to getting a good price for your business. A financial buyer is…
The Build vs Buy Equation
Republished with permission from Built to Sell Inc. If you’re wondering what your business might be worth to an acquirer, there is a simple calculation you can use. Let’s call it “The Build vs. Buy Equation”. At some point, every acquirer does the math and calculates how much it would cost to re-create what you’ve…
Learning From Acquisitions That Fall Apart
Republished with permission from Built to Sell Inc. John McCann sold The Bolt Supply House to Lawson Products (NASDAQ: LAWS) at the end of 2017. McCann’s strategy involved learning from the acquirers who knocked on his door. He invited would-be buyers into The Bolt Supply House and listened to what they had to say. He…
Growing Fast? Here’s What’s Likely To Kill Your Company
Republished with permission from Built to Sell Inc. If your goal is to grow your business fast, you need a positive cash flow cycle or the ability to raise money at a feverish pace. Anything less and you will quickly grow yourself out of business. A positive cash flow cycle simply means you get paid…
Successful Entrepreneurs Can Be The Doer And The Dealmaker
Republished with permission from Built to Sell Inc. Where do you sit on the doer vs. dealmaker continuum? On one hand, you have business owners who are really good operators. They have a plan, know their numbers and work that plan. They look for small improvements every day and hesitate to entertain new strategies because…
How To Lure A Giant Like Facebook Into Buying Your Company
Republished with permission from Built to Sell Inc. A great business is bought, not sold, so, if you look too eager to sell your business, you’ll be negotiating on the back foot and look desperate—a recipe for a bad exit. But, what if you really want to sell? Maybe you’ve got a new idea for…
How To Avoid Disappointment When It’s Time To Cash Out
Republished with permission from Built to Sell Inc. How do you avoid not being disappointed with the money you make from the sale of your company? Perhaps you’ve heard that companies like yours trade using an industry rule of thumb or that companies of your size sell within a specific range, and you want to…