Why Do Deals Fall Apart?

Business Negotiation

In many cases, the buyer and seller reach a tentative agreement on the sale of the business, only to have it fall apart. There are reasons this happens, and, once understood, many of the worst deal-smashers can be avoided. Understanding is the key word. Both the buyer and the seller must develop an awareness of what the sale involves–and such an awareness should include facing potential problems before they swell into floodwaters and “sink” the sale. What keeps a sale from closing successfully? In a survey of business brokers across the United States, similar reasons were cited so often that …

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Good Negotiation is the Key

You’ve made the big decision to put your business on the market. Your reasons for selling are valid, carefully-considered, and “good” – the kind that won’t make a prospective buyer shy away. Now, you may tell yourself, comes the fun part. You’ll come up with a price – maybe a little high, but why not? – and let gut instinct (an attribute common to successful business owners) lead the way. Wait just a minute. Or maybe a quarter of an hour; however long it takes you to bone up on your negotiation skills with the following steps as a guide. …

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Financing the Business Acquisition

Business Acquisition

Continued corporate downsizing in the US has made owning a business a more attractive proposition than ever before. As increasing numbers of prospective buyers embark on the process of becoming independent business owners, many of them voice a common concern: how do I finance the acquisition? There are a variety of financing sources, and buyers will find one that fills their particular requirements. For many acquisitions, here are the best routes to follow: Buyer’s Personal Equity In most business purchase situations, this is the place to begin. Typically, anywhere from 10 to 50 percent of the cash needed to purchase …

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