Crowne Atlantic Business Brokers

Many business owners start thinking about a sale 6 to 12 months before they want out. Depending on how they run things, that is usually late if the goal is maximum value. An exit plan built in a hurry rarely produces the number the owner had in mind. Give yourself five years instead, and you can sell a cleaner, more transferable company and keep more of the value you built. At Crowne Atlantic Business Brokers, we have closed over 750 transactions since 2004. The pattern does not change. Sellers who spend real time making the company look good get a better sale price. It is the same principle as fixing up a car before you put it on the market. Nobody pays a premium for a project. Here is what buyers look for, and the plan that gets you there without leaving money on the table. Check Out Our Listing a Business for Sale Checklist Here → What Buyers Look For When You Sell Your Business Buyers are not paying more for the story beh...

Clean, transparent financials are one of the biggest single drivers of a successful business sale. We know that sounds boring to say, but it’s true. Business buyers will spend more time looking into a seller’s financials than most sellers would ever believe. Just when a seller thinks they have shown everything, someone comes up with some other items to request. Most of that back and forth comes down to one thing: add backs. Which expenses on your profit and loss statement are really business expenses, and which ones are personal or one-time costs that a new owner would never pay? Getting that answer right is what separates a smooth closing from a deal that dies in due diligence. We wanted to offer some tips on how to make your business financials look their best when selling a business. To start from the beginning, when a buyer or their lender evaluates your company, they are not just looking at revenue and profit. They are trying to answer a simple ques...