Business Exit Planning
Selling a Marine Cargo and Freight Business
There's a right way and a wrong way to sell a marine cargo and freight business these days. More than ever before, it's important for sellers to know the tactics and techniques that are being used to maximize sales price and achieve desired sale outcomes.
Intimidated by a sluggish economy, business buyers are more cautious than ever.
Fortunately for sellers, forward-thinking entrepreneurs continue to be attracted to marine cargo and freight businesses that exhibit strong financials and potential for future growth.
The Case for Confidentiality
Highly publicized marine cargo and freight business sales are risky marine cargo and freight businesssales. If you are rigorous about maintaining a confidential sale, there is little risk in putting your marine cargo and freight business on the market. But if word leaks out to the wrong people, your competitors can use that information to steal business and damage your credibility. Although it can be difficult, it's important to strike a balance between confidentiality and sale promotion. Brokers and consultants can mitigate the risk by implementing confidential sale techniques.
Economic Considerations
Several economic factors can affect the sale of a marine cargo and freight business. Many would-be sellers are laser-focused on economic indicators, anxiously awaiting the perfect time to list their companies. The truth is that perfect market conditions may never materialize. A much better approach is to focus on the factors that always attract buyers and investors. In our experience, the most important factors in the sale of a marine cargo and freight business have little to do with the economy.
Working with Appraisers
An experienced appraiser is part and parcel of a successful marine cargo and freight business sale. By hiring an appraiser to conduct a thorough appraisal of tangible and non-tangible assets prior to listing, you get a measure of the true worth of your business. Although the appraised value of your business may not be the same as the sales price, you gain valuable insight that can be used to your advantage during negotiations. If you're disappointed with the appraiser's estimate of your company's worth, you have the option of seeking a second opinion. However, it's more often the case that you will need to adjust your expectations of your business's value to buyers.
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