If you’re thinking about selling your business, there are a lot of factors to consider before making that decision.
“First and foremost, you need to determine whether it is a good time as it relates to you, as the business owner, to help meet the goals and objectives of the business life cycle,” says Albert D. Melchiorre, president of MelCap Partners, LLC, a middle market investment banking firm. “Other factors include trends in the business and the industry, and economic trends.”
Smart Business spoke with Melchiorre about how to evaluate whether now is the right time to sell your business.
How can a business owner begin to evaluate whether selling is the right decision?
Beyond whether it’s a good time for the business owner and current trends, do you have a successor in place? Are you aging and considering a sale because you’re 75, or are you 55?
Is it a good time as it relates to trends in your specific business? Is the business performing at high levels, with the added opportunity for further growth? Is it a good time in your industry? You may be performing, but if your industry is declining rapidly, is the business’s performance sustainable based on what’s going on in the industry?
Also consider whether it is a good time from a mergers and acquisitions perspective. Is capital plentiful? Are there plenty of potential buyers?
It’s good to have all of these factors lined up. Historically, it’s rare, but in the current economic environment, for a lot of business owners, they are lining up.
How can the current mergers and acquisitions market impact the decision to sell?
Although some areas of the economy are still struggling, other industries are doing very well. As a result, the earnings of corporations remain strong, giving strategic buyers the financial resources to be able to buy companies. Right now, there are trillions of dollars sitting on corporate balance sheets resulting in an incredible amount of liquidity from a strategic buyer’s perspective.
In addition, although the availability of bank debt to lower- and middle-market companies remains tight, overall, banks are beginning to lend money again. And with lower interest rates, the cost of capital remains low and there are a lot of private equity dollars looking to invest in good, quality companies.
So if your business has performed well and has good prospects for growth, the trends in your business are positive, and it’s personally a good time for you, it may be a good time to consider a sale.
How could the potential end of the Bush-era tax cuts impact a decision?
Nobody has a crystal ball, but in all likelihood, the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts will come to an end this year. Whether or not new tax cuts go into effect, there is a strong likelihood that taxes will be going up for businesses and that you will pay more next year on the sale of a business.
I would look at that as the tipping point. I don’t think it’s necessarily a primary driver in determining whether it’s a good time to sell, but it may be a secondary driver if everything else lines up for you.
How can an outside expert help you through the process to maximize your return on a sale?
For most business owners, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, the most significant liquidity event in their lives. Business owners should focus on what they do best and let investment bankers focus on their expertise. The role of the investment banker is to help business owners maximize the value of their business to allow them to reach their goals and objectives in the sale of their business.
The investment banker will also work with the business’s other advisers, such as an attorney, an accountant and financial advisers. While the investment banker may be leading the charge, it is clearly a team effort.
How can a business owner’s decision about whether to stay with the business after the sale impact that transaction?
Some business owners, especially if they are the founder, may be key to the continued success of the business. But many just want to sell the business and walk away today.
If you’ve taken the step of bringing in key managers or finding your successor, you’re more likely to be able to exit the business at sale. But those who have not taken those steps from a succession standpoint will find it much more difficult to exit upon sale, because if you are still very key to the business, that will have a negative impact on the value of your company if you were to leave upon a sale.
How far in advance of a sale should a business owner begin to prepare?
It varies from owner to owner, but you should begin thinking about it years in advance. This is not a decision any business owner should take lightly, just suddenly deciding, ‘Today, it’s time.’
Having an early conversation with an investment banker can help you think through the process and evaluate where you are with the business today, what you can expect to receive and provide you with an overview of the process. It’s a very good exercise to get the input, advice and assistance of someone who can help you execute on that transaction.
Because this may be a once-in-a-lifetime event, you need to make sure it is the right time for you before moving ahead.
Albert D. Melchiorre is president of MelCap Partners, LLC. Reach him at (330) 239-1990 or [email protected].
Insights Mergers & Acquisitions is brought to you by MelCap
