Optimizing Business Exits
Selling a Comic Books Bought and Sold Business
Planning and execution can dramatically influence the price you receive for your comic books shop.
Despite your best intentions, great business sales don't happen overnight.
We are all comic book collectors at heart. That's why a used comic books store can be a great business.
Although we understand why sellers are hesitant, we're also seeing enough business sales to know that if you want to sell a comic books shop, you can - even in today's economy. We'll tell you what you need to know to achieve a successful sale outcome
Selecting a Broker
Good business brokers inevitably produce better business sales. During the selection process, look for brokers with a proven track record of successful comic books shop sales. Take our word for it -- comic books stores are unique businesses and you need a broker who understands how to properly market your comic books shop to prospective buyers. The chemistry you have with your broker is a consideration. If you don't connect with a specific broker, move on to someone else - even if the first broker looks great on paper.
Identifying Serious Buyers
Unfortunately, many of the prospects you will encounter aren't serious buyers. As a seller, it's important to separate the tire kickers from the serious buyers as soon as possible. Each tire kicker is an investment of time and energy that could be poured into finding a more qualified prospect. Your business broker can offer insights about how to quickly spot tire kickers. As a rule, they limit the amount of information that is provided in the initial stages of an engagement, waiting to reveal the juiciest details of the business until the prospect has been thoroughly vetted. Smart sellers may require prospects to provide background and financial information fairly early in the process as a way of verifying the financial capacity to close the deal.
Maintaining Objectivity
Objectivity is a rare commodity in a business sale. You have invested yourself in making your comic books shop the success it is today, but in the eyes of prospective buyers, your operation is only worth fair market value. Although it may be a hard pill to swallow, you need to find a way to introduce objectivity into your sale. A business broker can be a valuable resource in right-sizing your expectations and preparing you for market realities.
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