Optimizing Business Exits

Selling a Railroad Car Leasing Business

Is the economy still a little shaky for a business sale? Sure it is. Yet railroad car leasing businesses haven't heard the news and are reporting steady action on the business-for-sale market.

Business-for-sale markets are less dependent on economic conditions than most sellers think they are.

Yet what many sellers don't appreciate is that a down economy can present the perfect opportunity to sell a railroad car leasing business.

Working with Accountants

Accountants come into play at several stages of the sale process. From a seller perspective, an accountant can offer personal financial assistance, especially when it comes to handling the disposition of sale proceeds. Brokers often advise their clients to have an accountant perform an audit of the business prior to sale. With seller financing becoming common, professional accountants are playing a more central role in negotiations and buyer qualification.

Negotiating Your Sale

As a business seller, you have to be at the top of your negotiating game. More often than not, the person with the most knowledge will come out on top in a railroad car leasing business negotiation. But before you can negotiate effectively, you need to have a clear sense of your minimum sale requirements. If you lack clarity about your goals, you're guaranteed to fall short of achieving of them. A negotiating strategy is essential because it not only establishes parameters, but also creates a plan for overcoming buyer objections and impasses.

Setting the Stage

Effective railroad car leasing business preparation focuses on communicating value to prospective buyers. Professional business brokers understand buyers and know how to properly communicate a railroad car leasing business to the marketplace. At a minimum, you'll want to position your business to receive the highest possible sale price, prepare a packet for prospective buyers and perform an initial appraisal before you put your railroad car leasing business on the market.

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