Ready to Sell Your Business?

Deciding to sell your business is the easy part. How to go about selling it is another problem altogether. Whether you are ready to sell your business now, or are just beginning to consider selling, call our office for a confidential, no cost appointment. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Preparing to Sell Your Business

At VR Business Brokers we are very familiar with what it takes to sell your business.

Preparing the seller, and aiding the seller in preparing the business to achieve the maximum gain from the sale, are two important roles of the professional intermediary. Owners sell their businesses for reasons stemming from retirement, partnership disputes, personal relocation, family concerns, the desire for change, illness, or to enter another business venture. Knowing the reason for the divestiture aids your VR professional in structuring the most advantageous transaction. VR Business Brokers turns to its professional alliances to help you seek the appropriate tax strategy, succession plan, or investment strategy to again help you maximize the benefit of the sale.

VR has identified specifics needed in order to aid a successful transaction:

• Having provable books and records increases the numbers of potential buyers. Buyers want proof of sales and profits the business has attained in the past.
• Expectation of a reasonable price and terms. Educated buyers only consider competitively priced businesses.
• List of assets including furniture, fixtures, and equipment. A complete inventory that can be referenced during inspection.
• Valuing the business properly. A valuation on the business creates a document that proves value to the buyer and shows the business to be competitively priced.

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Our Commitment to Excellence

At VR Business Brokers, we know there are no shortcuts to success. Selling a business to the right buyer at the best price is hard work. Review the short summary of our services for business sellers below.

Expert Advice. If you're thinking of selling your business, you no doubt have a million questions. There's probably none we haven't heard, from "Is now a good time to sell?" to "What do I do next?". VR has sold over 65,000 businesses, so we can provide expert advice founded in deep experience.

Business Valuation. We can provide a professional estimate of the fair market value of your business, whether you need an informal estimate to satisfy your curiosity or a rigorous appraisal for legal or accounting purposes. We know what businesses like yours are actually selling for and how to price it right. VR has valued and sold virtually every type of business.

Structuring. The right asking price is obviously critical, but so are other terms, such as down payment, financing, non-compete agreements, and training. Experience in deal structure often makes the difference in a successful transaction.

Advertising & Networking. We will get you exposure you can't possibly get on your own, or from any other firm. We use our nationwide network of offices and buyers, all the leading Internet sites, newspapers, the multiple listing service and other proprietary techniques.

Buyer Screening & Qualification. We screen through the thousands of tire kickers out there to find and qualify the most likely potential buyers for your business. We obtain a signed non-disclosure agreement to protect your confidentiality, and a net worth statement to qualify ability to purchase.

Introduction & Follow-up. We introduce your business to qualified potential buyers and work with them until they make an offer to purchase. The decision to buy a business is an emotional and difficult one. We know how to assist buyers to help them overcome their concerns.

Contract Negotiation. When you're emotionally involved in your business,
it's hard to be an effective negotiator for its sale. We represent you
vigorously to ensure you receive the full market value for your business.

Management Through Closing. Our job is not done until your
business is sold. We work with you and your advisors (attorney,
accountant, landlord, etc.) and vigorously represent you all the way
through closing of escrow.

Selling a Business FAQ's

When is the best time to sell my business?

The best time to sell is when a business is doing well. It's best not to wait until after a business has peaked; the selling price can suffer. However, almost any business can be sold, even if it is not doing well, if the sale is handled professionally and priced correctly.

How much is my business worth?

A company's value depends on many factors- such as cash flow, asset values, financial history, condition of equipment and premises, favorable lease terms, competition, location, and the economy. By analyzing your business and comparable sales in your industry, your VR Intermediary can advise you on the proper pricing strategy for your business. For larger businesses we recommend a third party valuation. Buyers are much more likely to pay top dollar for a business when documented evidence supports the asking price. Most financial institutions insist on a business valuation before they will consider financing.

Why not sell the business myself?

Most owners find that the frustration, expense and time involved do not yield cost savings and many end up working with unqualified buyers. In fact, because they do not have access to a large number of qualified buyers, many owners end up selling their business for much less than they could have received by working with a well-established Intermediary. Plus, owners find it difficult to work directly with buyers while maintaining confidentiality. Selling a business is a specialized trade. Seek professional assistance when it comes to selling an asset as valuable as your business.

Why use a full-time professional Intermediary?

Sellers benefit in various ways. The more significant benefits include: the ability to spend their time managing their business during the selling process, thereby keeping their net profit up and maintaining the maximum sales price; the ability to maintain confidentiality about the sale therefore not alarming client bases, employees and suppliers, or giving a market advantage to a competitor; and step-by-step assistance through the selling process.

How to choose the right Intermediary?

Who you choose to sell your business could affect the way you live the rest of your life. Select a trained professional who specializes in the sales of businesses only. Some questions you should ask prior to making a decision are :

• Are you a full-time business Intermediary?
• Do you work from home or from an office?
• What type of training have you received?
• How do you value my business?
• Do you expose my business to a network of other full-time professionals that are willing to show the opportunity to their qualified buyers?
• What type of national and international exposure does my business receive?
• What is your success rate of selling correctly priced businesses?

Why should I use VR to sell my business?

The VR network has developed a proven system for selling businesses and has been operating since 1979. The only international network of full-time professional business intermediaries catering to the needs of their clients. When working with VR you receive the following and much more:

• Confidentiality
• Maximum exposure
• Pre-screened buyers
• Negotiating power
• Advertising & marketing expertise
• International and national co-brokering
• Pricing and financing knowledge
• Experience
• Proven results