Business Exits By Industry
Selling a Computer Store
Is the economy still a little shaky for a business sale? Sure it is. Yet computer stores haven't heard the news and are reporting steady action on the business-for-sale market.
Despite your best intentions, great business sales don't happen overnight.
The business-for-sale market is extremely dynamic. Knowledgeable entrepreneurs understand that market timing isn't nearly as important as other factors in a computer store sale. To improve sale outcomes, you will simply need to tailor your computer store to today's buyers.
Selling a Computer Store to an Employee
Employee sales have pros and cons. A faithful employee may have the motivation and ability to continue to operate the business. If you need to sell quickly, the timeframe is condensed in an employee sale because you don't need to track down a buyer. Yet most employees lack the means to buy their employer's business at or near the asking price. Most of the time, employees also expect owners to finance a large portion of the sale. So if you aren't willing to finance the sale or need to get top dollar for your computer store, a sale to an employee is probably not a possibility.
Broker vs. No Broker
When selling a computer store, you have two choices: Hire a broker to facilitate the sale or perform the sale unassisted. Business brokers typically charge a 10% "success fee" when they sell a business, but they also handle many of the hassles that are associated with selling a computer store. You can also expect to receive a higher sales price for your business in a broker-assisted deal.
Pre-Sale Checklist
The pre-sale checklist for a computer store is long and is full of critical tasks that will likely determine the success (or failure) of your sale. The first item on your checklist should be a reality check -- if you plan to sell your business for top dollar in just a few short months, you need to adjust your expectations%However, your first priority should be to set realistic expectations for the selling process and its eventual outcome. After you have consulted with a business broker to right size your expectations, you'll need to add several items to your checklist, including financial statement preparation, pre-sale appraisals, financial planning, market positioning and other tasks designed to communicate value to prospective buyers.
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