Sellers of businesses are just like everyone else in that they can make mistakes. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common mistakes that we see along with some of the repercussions.
1. Not Seeing the Buyer’s Point of View
The first major mistake that sellers make is that they simply fail to look at the situation from the buyer’s perspective. One of the smartest moves any seller can make is to step back and ask themselves two key questions.
“What information would I expect to see if I was thinking about buying this business?
“Would I trust the information being presented to me if I was the buyer?”
While there are many other questions sellers can ask to help reframe their thinking, these two simple questions can orient a seller’s thinking towards a buyer’s perspective. Additionally, investing the time to understand the buyer’s position can help avoid a range of problems and help smooth out the negotiation process. It is also important to understand that buyers of businesses are investing hard earned capital that took years to save after tax. Buyers typically will need to not only put those funds down as a down payment but also sign a personal guarantee for a lease or loan. It is important to understand the risk a buyer is taking and therefore why they will want a level of certainty to move forward with a purchase.
2. Neglecting the Business During the Sales Process
Another seller mistake we see is that the seller neglects the business during the sales process. This can have significant negative long-term consequences. Sellers must understand that they must maintain the day-to-day operations as though the business is still theirs. The old saying, “Don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched,” most definitely applies to selling any business. Business deals fall apart all the time. This is true from small deals to larger acquisitions. A buyer is buying an on-going business with “transferable value” that must be maintained after closing. A buyer is concerned and focused on what happens after closing.
3. Overall Lack of Preparation
Any seller who is truly serious about selling his or her business will have all of their documentation available and well organized. This list would include financial records, payroll records, list of FF&E, inventory reports, maintenance records, environmental studies, business forecasts and much much more. It is important to make a good impression and convey to prospective buyers that a business is well organized and ready to be sold. Disorganization on any level could make prospective buyers worry that the business isn’t being operated in a professional manner and this will create “red flags” and generate lower offers if any. Invest the time upfront and show that you are prepared and serious otherwise the probability of selling your business will be reduced dramatically.
4. Holding Misconceptions Around a Business’ Value
Finally, a real “deal killer” can be when sellers don’t understand (or have a mental block) concerning the real value of their business. This issue can lead many business owners to set a price that is simply too high or even completely unrealistic. Many sellers have put years of blood, sweat and tears into a business. Learning that their business isn’t as valuable as they had hoped can be an emotional, psychological and financial blow all in one. But sellers also have to adjust to the realities of what the market will bear since this is what ultimately determines the value. There are more and more businesses coming to market due to the baby boomer effect so it is important to be priced correctly and equally important to be prepared.
Avoiding seller pitfalls is incredibly important. Working with a skilled and proven Business Broker or M&A Advisor is a way for buyers and sellers alike to avoid an array of significant problems and be successful with the outcome. Contact us for a complementary consultation.
Matt Coletta
Matt Coletta is the Co-Founder / Managing Partner of M&A Business Advisors, a full-service Business Brokerage and M&A Advisory Firm. Matt has over 25 years of experience representing Sellers and Buyers in the CONFIDENTIAL sale of privately owned Businesses in a wide range of industries including Manufacturing, Distribution, Service, E- Commerce, Technology, Health Care, Construction, Food Related Businesses as well as other industries. Visit M&A Business Advisors.