Exit Planning Advice By Market
Selling an Auto Racing Business
Selling an auto racing business doesn't happen overnight. It takes a deliberate process to get top dollar for your company.
The process of selling an auto racing business can be one of the most stressful experiences of your entrepreneurial career.
The economy hasn't squashed the market for auto racing businesses. Like always, unprofitable and poorly positioned businesses struggle to find buyers while sellers who have invested time and effort to prepare their sale are being rewarded in the marketplace.
Pre-Sale Checklist
There is a lot of work that needs to be done before you're ready to sell your auto racing business. The first item on your checklist should be a reality check -- if you plan to sell your business for top dollar in just a few short months, you need to adjust your expectations%However, your first priority should be to set realistic expectations for the selling process and its eventual outcome. Armed with a realistic timeframe and asking price, you can begin to consult with your broker about the best way to approach likely 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. The more people who know that the business is on the market, the riskier the sale becomes. If you keep your employees out of the loop too long, it's inevitable that misinformation will filter throughout your workplace. 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 auto racing 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.
Working with Appraisers
An experienced appraiser is part and parcel of a successful auto racing business sale. Leading industry appraisers equip sellers with a value gauge that can be accessed during negotiations. If you're disappointed with the appraiser's estimate of your company's worth, you have the option of seeking a second opinion. However, it's more often the case that you will need to adjust your expectations of your business's value to buyers.
Share this article
Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs