Business Exit Planning
Selling a Metal Windows Business
The sale of your metal windows business is the culmination of this stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Although most business owners expect a storybook ending, it will take the careful application of sound selling principles to bring your sale to a successful conclusion.
These days, the small and medium-sized business market is more confusing than ever before. Capital is scarce and many buyers simply can't afford the entry requirements for a metal windows business.
Fortunately for sellers, forward-thinking entrepreneurs continue to be attracted to metal windows businesses that exhibit strong financials and potential for future growth.
Leveraging External Resources
At some point, you're going to need help selling your metal windows business. Brokers can be an important resource for your sale, especially if you are unfamiliar with the business-for-sale marketplace. Additionally, you may want to hire professionals for legal, valuation and other functions before you put your business on the market. The benefit of soliciting outside assistance early is that seemingly small decisions now can have big consequences later. By consulting professionals throughout the sale of your metal windows business, you can avoid painful tax and legal complications both before and after closing.
Closing Strategies
Seller concessions sweeten the deal for buyers and are a necessary fixture in a sluggish economy. Concessions can consist of non-cash as well as cash incentives. When you've reached your limit on price, consider offering non-cash concessions to encourage a commitment from the buyer. In the current economy, seller financing is becoming common in metal windows business sales. If the prospect is inexperienced or lacks credentials in the industry, you can also offer to stay with the business for a specified period of time to help the new owner get on his feet and introduce him to your network of industry contacts.
Pre-Sale Checklist
There is a lot of work that needs to be done before you're ready to sell your metal windows business. Perhaps the most important pre-sale consideration is to right-size your expectations to the realities of the market. Once your expectations are in the ballpark, you can move on to making your business presentable to prospective buyers.
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