Owner questions
Questions owners ask about selling their business
Plain answers to the questions owners ask us most when they start thinking about selling. They cover every route, including the ones that aren't us, because the right buyer is the one who fits what matters to you. Each one takes a few minutes to read.
What happens to my staff when I sell my business?
Usually nothing changes for them day to day. What happens to their jobs and leave, and when to tell them.
My kids don't want the business. What are my options?
Your business can carry on without your children owning it. The real options and what each one means.
Who will buy my business when I retire?
The six kinds of buyer, how each one pays, and what they tend to do with your staff and your name.
Do I need a business broker to sell my business?
When a broker is worth the fee, what they charge, and how some owners sell directly instead.
How much is my business worth?
Buyers price a business on its profit, not its sales. How they work out the number and what moves it.
Earn-outs and vendor finance: will I get paid in full?
Part of the price is often paid after settlement. How earn-outs and vendor finance work, and what to ask first.
When is the right time to sell my business?
The best time is usually while the business is doing well and before you have to. The signs it is time.
If you only read one thing, make it the six questions to ask any buyer. They work with anyone you talk to, us included. And if you'd like to hear from someone who's been through it, Peter Bourke tells the story of selling CMR Recycling.
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