Sell a Business for the Best Price
Selling a Print Advertising Business
Business sellers have diverse personal and professional goals for the sale of their companies. But no matter what you expect from the sale of your print advertising business, it's in your best interest to maximize the sales price through the application of proven sales techniques.
When it comes to selling a print advertising business, there are no shortcuts to success.
If your exit strategy involves selling a print advertising business now, sellers need to make a strong case for buyers to purchase at or near the asking price.
Average Preparation Time
There are no effective shortcuts for selling a print advertising business. Since buyers prefer to see evidence of future cash flow, you'll want to to strategically lock in cash flows and increase profits before you list the business. You'll also need to create financial reports, operations manuals, and other documents to create the perception of a turnkey print advertising business operation. Since all of this takes time and effort, a print advertising business can rarely be ready for the marketplace in less than six months. However, to command the highest price, you'll probably need to spend one to two years preparing and positioning your business for buyers.
Preparing Your Employees
As a business owner, you want to keep you employees informed about your plans; as a seller it's in your best interest to keep your employees in the dark for as long as possible. You're concerned about confidentiality, and rightfully so. However, the longer the selling process drags on, the more likely it is that rumors will begin to circulate throughout your workforce. So at some point you will have to resign yourself to the idea of telling some or all of your employees that you have listed the print advertising business on the market. Maintain a positive tone in your conversations and answer your employees questions as completely as you can without jeopardizing the sale.
How to Choose a Business Broker
Good business brokers inevitably produce better business sales. During the selection process, look for brokers with a proven track record of successful print advertising business sales. Take our word for it -- print advertising businesses are unique businesses and you need a broker who understands how to properly market your print advertising business to prospective buyers. The best brokers should also come with a list of references, a demonstrable track record and a proven plan for selling print advertising businesses.
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