Exit Planning Advice By Market
Selling an Arbitration and Mediation Service
Don't believe anyone who tells you it's easy to sell an arbitration and mediation service. A lot of things need to happen before you can successfully exit your business. Good advice can be hard to come by, so we've put together a few proven suggestions to help you see your sale through to a profitable conclusion.
The process of selling an arbitration and mediation service can be one of the most stressful experiences of your entrepreneurial career.
The good news is that ambitious entrepreneurs continue to see arbitration and mediation services as a smart business investment -- and the market is rewarding owners who are willing to invest time and energy in their sale.
Moving On
So you've decided to sell your arbitration and mediation service. That's great -- but have you considered what's next? Are you moving on to another business venture? Are you retiring? many sellers find themselves ill-equipped to handle life after their business and fail to understand that their future plans can influence the sale process. In today's market, many buyers expect seller financing - a concession that might not be a possibility for sellers whose next step requires the entire proceeds at the time of the sale.
Selling to a Family Member
The idea of passing a business along to a family member sounds idyllic to many business owners. in reality, a family-based arbitration and mediation service sale can be more complicated than selling to a stranger. Often, a sale to a family member creates fractures within the family. Unless you have agreed to treat the family member like any other buyer, the risk of hard feelings among other potential heirs or family members is high. The best advice: if a family sale is a possibility, it needs to be handled objectively, with ample input from third-party advisors.
Signs You're in Over Your Head
Many arbitration and mediation service are tempted to save brokerage fees by selling their businesses on their own. Although there are exceptions, solo sales typically take longer and are less productive than brokered sales. If you decide to go solo and your business has been on the market for more than six months without a single buyer inquiry, it's time to hire a professional business broker. Lack of buyer enthusiasm or persistence indicates that something is wrong. The remedy is professional brokerage or a consultation with more experienced sellers.
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