Sell Your Business Yourself – NOT a Good Idea | Stock Market News

Sell Your Business Yourself – NOT a Good Idea | Stock Market News

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING

The professional business broker is key to the marketing of a business. He or she will prepare a marketing strategy and offer advice about essential marketing tools: everything from a business description to newspaper advertising. Business brokers, through their data bases of buyer prospects, professional associations and other networks, can get the word out about the business far more effectively than any owner could manage on an individual basis.

PRESENTING THE BUSINESS

The professional business broker is experienced in handling the typical objections and negative “readings” many typical buyers will raise. Does the business lack parking space? Is its location less than ideal? The business broker has the skills to balance negatives with positives, or to point out that what appears to be a disadvantage is not always the case. in addition to skill, a business broker also offers the seller convenience. Sellers often fail to visualize the number of buyers calls they would have to field if handling the sale on their own. The business owner working with a broker can continue managing his or her business at the same time the selling process is underway.

NEGOTIATING THE BUSINESS SALE TRANSACTION

The business broker will be the most vital advisor to sellers during any stage of the sale transaction. Steeped in knowledge about negotiating price, terms, and other key aspects of the sale, the broker will guide the seller each step of the way. During the early stages, while the buyer is still considering making an offer, the broker is the ideal person to follow up and keep the deal running smoothly. Sellers working alone could lose bargaining effectiveness by doing the follow-up themselves.

MASTERING THE PAPERWORK

Even though business owners handle mountains of paperwork as a part of doing business, few of them have had training in the specialized contracts and forms required for the sale of a business. The business broker is an expert at sales transaction details. This expertise will help guard against delays, problems, and- that worst of all possible words- the “wrecked” deal.

QUALIFYING BUYERS

The business broker will determine the right buyer for the right business, focusing on those prospects who are financially qualified and who are genuinely (or potentially) interested in the type of business for sale. For locating and qualifying prospective buyers, a business broker uses computerized databases to access comprehensive lists of local, national and international buyers, all to increase the chances of selling a business at appeal value and almost as important, to avoid wasting the seller’s valuable time.

MAINTAINING PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

When a business broker is involved in the sale, bringing to the business only those prospective buyers who qualify, it is also easier to maintain confidentiality during the selling process. Until a purchase-and-sale agreement has been signed, most sellers do not want the word to reach their customers, competitors, employees, or even their bankers. A business broker helps by using nonspecific descriptions of the business, by requiring signatures on strict confidentiality agreements, by screening all prospects, sometimes phasing the release of information to match the growing evidence of buyer sincerity and trustworthiness.
Professional business brokers provide all these vital services, and more for the seller of a business. This is one time where “do-it-yourself” just can’t measure up- in terms of money, time, and the general success of the sale. Being “Penny wise and dollar foolish” can cost you plenty! To learn more abuot selling your business you can visit: http://sellingyourownbusiness.com/

Daren operates http://www.insuremyhouse.com and http://www.insuremylife.org both local insurance agent directories. The sites are organized by state and then zip code. He has also been practicing as a business broker for over 15 years and has developed a selling your own bsiness tool kit for sellers.