Business Exits By Industry
Selling a Computer Engineers Business
Many business leaders say that now isn't the time to try to sell a computer engineers business. At Gaebler, we think it's a great time to sell a computer engineers business. Here's why . . ..
We hear it all the time: "I'm waiting until the economy recovers to list my business."
Despite the conventional wisdom, we believe current economic conditions are right for selling a computer engineers business. Here's how to do it . . .
Selling a Computer Engineers Business to an Employee
Although it may seem easier to sell your computer engineers business to an employee, this approach also has some pitfalls. A key employee may seem like a natural sales prospect. Since the worker already knows the ins and outs of the business, due diligence should be a breeze, not to mention the fact that you won't have to wait months or years for the right buyer to emerge on the open marketplace. But in many cases, employees expect to get a deal from their employer based on their years of service to the company. Seller financing is one way to get around the capital deficit of an employee-based computer engineers business sale, as long as you are willing to vet the employee's credit worthiness the same as any other buyer.
Average Timeframes
From the day they decide to sell their company, the question that plagues many owners is how long it will take to sell their computer engineers business. Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules about the length of time your business will be on the market. Pricing plays a role in sale length, but there are no guarantees that a fairly priced business will sell quickly. Before you can list your computer engineers business, you'll need to invest as much as a year in preparing it for prospective buyers. Even though it's conceivable that an attractive opportunity could sell in weeks, an immediate flood of offers could indicate that the business is underpriced.
Signs You're in Over Your Head
Many computer engineers business are tempted to save brokerage fees by selling their businesses on their own. Although there are exceptions, solo sales typically take longer and are less productive than brokered sales. If you decide to go solo and your business has been on the market for more than six months without a single buyer inquiry, it's time to hire a professional business broker. Lack of buyer enthusiasm or persistence indicates that something is wrong. The remedy is professional brokerage or a consultation with more experienced sellers.
Share this article
Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs