Most business owners are not perfectly clear about what it is business brokers do for them when selling a business and the same applies when buying a business.
Business brokers play a crucial role when buying or selling a business and they are will assist you prepare the business sale. They will supply you with a list of things to complete before advertising your business for sale such as making sure all of your financials are up to date and ready to present to a potential buyer. Not having your financials ready will signal to the buyer that you are unprepared and this will almost certainly scare the buyer away.
Most brokers are also qualified in business valuations. Over pricing your business would see it generate very little leads ultimately leading to a no sale. Under pricing your business would obviously see you lose money, which is something you should try to avoid. Once the broker has determined an estimated selling price it is always recommend that seek a second opinion with your business accountant or lawyer.
While keeping your business sale confidential, your broker will now actively market your business for sale via local newspapers, shop front windows and their customer database. A more effective method these days is to advertise your business via a business for sale website or their own business website. Advertising online will reach a much wider audience and can be targeted directly to a specific market, eliminating time wasters and tyre kickers resulting in a faster sale. Once the broker starts to get interested parties, he will then make sure they qualify to your specific needs before officially introducing them to you and your business. Your broker will use due diligence at this point.
If an offer is made the broker must relay this to the owner, even if the offer is way off the asking price, which is a normal practice to get the ball rolling. Once an agreed price has been met, the broker will make the buyer leave a deposit to lock it in with a settlement period. He will make sure the transition from the old owner to the new owner is a smooth one. At this point when moneys are exchange your agreed agent fees (commissions) will be automatically deducted from the sale price.
Selling a business usually takes a little longer than selling a property because to sell a business you are trying to capture a targeted market. The potential business owner may need a set of skills to own and operate a business limiting your buyers. When buying a property this is not required.
If you are a business buyer looking for your dream business, then a business broker will also offer you many advantages during your search. Using industry knowledge they will source out quality businesses for sale offering you a range of business options according to your industry and budget. As a business buyer you are not required to pay agent fees or commissions as these fees are to be honored by the business owner.
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