Sell a Business for the Best Price
Selling a Pipelines and Pipeline Services Business
A good business is about more than dollars and sense. To make your pipelines and pipeline services business what it is today, you've had to fully invest yourself in its success. But the hard work isn't done yet. Before you can make a graceful exit, you will have to invest yourself in your business sale.
Business-for-sale markets are less dependent on economic conditions than most sellers think they are.
Many business owners don't know that pipelines and pipeline services businesses are still a hot commodity, to the extent that sellers have properly prepared them for the marketplace.
Broker vs. No Broker
When selling a pipelines and pipeline services business, you have two choices: Hire a broker to facilitate the sale or perform the sale unassisted. Is there a cost associated with hiring a broker? Sure - about 10% of the final sale prices. But a good broker will make selling your pipelines and pipeline services business much less painful. You can also expect to receive a higher sales price for your business in a broker-assisted deal.
Setting the Stage
In addition to improving profitability and market share, planning the sale of your business will require you to think about how you will present your company to buyers. Professional business brokers understand buyers and know how to properly communicate a pipelines and pipeline services business to the marketplace. Specifically, brokers can advise you about the preparation of financial statements and other documents buyers expect to see in a premium pipelines and pipeline services business opportunity.
Identifying Serious Buyers
Many prospective buyers will have a strong desire to acquire your pipelines and pipeline services business. The bad news is that they will lack the financial capacity to close the deal. 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. Good business brokers are adept at separating serious buyers from the rest of the pack. It's likely that non-serious buyers will want to know everything about your pipelines and pipeline services business during their initial inquires. Avoid releasing details about your pipelines and pipeline services business until you have established that they have the financial capacity to make a legitimate offer.
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