Sell a Business Tips
Selling a Security Guard and Patrol Services Business
Looking for shortcuts? You won't find them when you sell a security guard and patrol services business. In this industry, a business sale takes time, effort and dedication. We'll tell you how to thrive in the middle of it and get top dollar for your company.
The economy isn't the only thing that is uncertain these days. So are security guard and patrol services business buyers, many of whom are waiting to pull the trigger on their next acquisition.
You'll always have an excuse for not putting your business on the market. Selling a security guard and patrol services business isn't easy, but we believe sellers can achieve their goals in any economic environment.
Average Preparation Time
There are no effective shortcuts for selling a security guard and patrol services 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 security guard and patrol services business operation. At a minimum, plan on spending six months preparing your security guard and patrol services business for the marketplace. A more likely scenario is that it will take more than a year to create the conditions necessary to receive the maximum sale price.
Equipment and Inventory Concerns
During due diligence, the buyer will undoubtedly conduct his own appraisal of your security guard and patrol services business's real assets. Most sellers, however, conduct a pre-sale appraisal to gain an accurate gauge of asset value prior to negotiations. A professional appraisal is a necessity because it gives you the information you need to negotiate a sale price. A pre-listing appraisal also gives you the opportunity to document the condition of your security guard and patrol services business's assets and possible even make repairs or upgrades to increase the total value of the operation.
Leveraging Industry Connections
These days, security guard and patrol services business buyers are an extremely diverse group with backgrounds in and outside of the industry. To advertise your sale to the widest possible audience, consider a listing on BizBuySell.com or other top online business-for-sale listing sites. More focused prospects are typically found within industry networks. When leveraging industry relationships for sales prospects, you'll need to be cognizant of the potential for competitors to use knowledge of your sale against you in the marketplace. Use good sense in restricting the flow of information within the industry and focusing your efforts toward trusted industry allies.
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