I have two points to contribute.

First, in support of your point number one, is that having a well crafted strategic business plan in hand will greatly facilitate the sale while also going a long way to support the asking price.

Second, in support of your point number ten, is that entrepreneurs need to appreciate that a buyer’s view of the risks involved in the sellers business are always much greater than those of the seller. Consequently, sellers need to ensure they don’t view their business through ‘rose coloured glasses’ or otherwise get too dismissive about the blemishes, warts and other possible flaws that might be there or seem like they are. Listening to an independent business broker or M&A consultant can help sellers out a lot here.

My own experiences in selling companies has taught me that the cash-out value realized on selling a business is usually more dependent on top layer qualitative factors than bottom layer quantitative ones at they end of the day. So, if you start with a good business, have reasonable market-validated expectations, get your ducks properly lined up and market both the strengths and the weaknesses of the company appropriately, the end result will always be a maximized sales price getting realized. And if you and/or your business broker/M&A consultant look after the tax issues involved by doing a good job on structuring the deal in a tax efficient way, then you will also get a maximized deposit made in your personal bank account as well. Doing all that is the best way to set up and realize your best retirement possible.

- Tony Johnston
President
Compass North Inc
Toronto Canada
- helping companies access & use money brilliantly so they accomplish important / challenging goals