Arlington Scott, Inc.
Primary Business Consultants
An Independent Affiliate of ABC Advocates Business Consultants, Inc.®
Exit Plans
What is the most successful method of exiting businesses?
Sellers want to sell and buyers want to buy but it is not easy
for them to find each other, especially with the need to maintain
confidentiality. Because of this need for confidentiality we never follow the
real estate marketing plan of putting a large sign in front of your business,
running an ad in the local paper with the picture and address of your business
and placing the information in the local multi-list in hopes that some other
broker will have a buyer for it. In fact, a multi-list for businesses does not
even exist and never will because owners of salable businesses do not want to
potentially loose customers, employees, suppliers and banking relationships
through over exposure.
Because of its accuracy, our Target Marketing was recently
called "laser marketing" by one of our happy clients. Instead of placing your
business with a broker in a large listing of businesses for sale in false
anticipation that someone will find it, we specifically target the buyers with
the most likely characteristics for your business and contact them without
waiting for them to find us. After all, we've been at this for over 25 years,
we know who they are, where they are, and how to find them.
Advertising is only one piece of our successful marketing plan
for your business...we have over fifty more proven marketing steps. Each of
these many steps will result in new prospects provided by the source. One of
the most important characteristics of our professionals is their commitment to
make specific plans which you monitor on a regular basis. You will be using
professionals who know more to do than is even needed to accomplish your goals!
How can I enhance the price of my business?
It is imperative that you secure an independent business
evaluation in order to achieve the highest potential price without leaving
money on the table. The financial institution which will provide the financing
for the purchaser will require one anyway, and it will be tragic to find out at
the last minute you sold it too cheap after you've already negotiated your
price. You will be at a severe disadvantage if you allow the buyer to be the
only one to drive the price with an evaluation supported only by the
information he/she chooses to provide an appraiser.
Most of the better buyers for businesses are coming from
other states and in some instances from other countries. We live in an era of
globalization and all of us are affected by what happens elsewhere,
particularly in our own country. It would be a mistake to ignore other economic
markets, especially if to use them would be to your advantage. Consequently,
you need to use a valuator who has national/international experience in order
to take advantage of higher pricing policies supported by areas which have
different economies. A believable valuator must have significant experience in
all types of businesses with ample computer data to support his/her decisions
and credibility to impress the buyer's advisors.
In order for the evaluation to be credible and substantial
to other parties to the transaction, your valuator should be a totally
independent third-party who has no other business relations with you at all.
Anytime you are involved in a business transaction, you should at least
consider the possibility that your decisions and actions may be challenged in
a court of law. Therefore, you should only choose a valuator who would best
support you in such an extreme occurrence. Arlington Scott works only with the
best independent valuation company and will guide you through this process
seamlessly.
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