Exit Planning Advice By Market

Selling an Anniversary Gifts Business

A lot can go wrong during the sale of an anniversary gifts business these days. With little room for error, your business sale has to feature the flawless execution of concepts that are driving today's business-for-sale marketplace.

Selling an anniversary gifts business isn't as simple as listing a power tool on eBay. These days, the business-for-sale market is a hostile place for inexperienced and uninformed sellers.

Most anniversary gifts businesses are good business opportunities, a fact that is not going unnoticed by today's discerning buyers.

When to End Negotiations

If the devil is in the details, the negotiation stage of an anniversary gifts business sale is the devil's playground. But sooner or later, someone needs to bring negotiations to a close. Unfortunately, that responsibility often falls on the seller. It's not unusual for an anniversary gifts business sale negotiation to reach an impasse over price or other concessions. At this point in the process, an awareness of negotiation parameters really pays off. If the buyer is unwilling to accept your minimum demands, it's time to end negotiations and move on to the next prospect.

Understanding Market Timing

Now may be the best time to sell an anniversary gifts business. With interest rates at all-time lows, it's easy to see why anniversary gifts businesses are an appealing investment opportunity for savvy investors. As the interest rates rise, it will be more difficult for buyers to make the numbers work in their favor. So we see market timing as a concern that can be easily mitigated by applying fundamental sales strategies and adequately preparing your company for buyers.

When the Sale Goes Off-Course

The anniversary gifts business-for-sale marketplace is a mixed bag of brokered sales and solo efforts. Although there are exceptions, solo sales typically take longer and are less productive than brokered sales. As a rule, no business should sit on the market for more than six months without attracting the interest of at least a handful of qualified buyers. Lack of buyer enthusiasm or persistence indicates that something is wrong. The remedy is professional brokerage or a consultation with more experienced sellers.

Share this article


Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary