How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business?

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business?

Homebuyers are familiar with the mantra—location, location, location. Well for a business owner looking to sell their business, there’s an equally important phrase to remember—timing, timing, timing. But if you are looking into selling your business, what does that mean for you? And exactly how long will the process take? This graph represents the average number of months to

How Inflation Impacts the Sale of your Small Business in Colorado

How Inflation Impacts the Sale of your Small Business in Colorado

From the pandemic’s supply chain issues to the current worries over rising inflation, many small businesses have been struggling to adapt to the sudden shifts of today’s economy. With inflation in June hitting 9.1%, more than the Dow Jones estimate of 8.8% for the month, more and more businesses are worrying about how exactly inflation has and will impact their business, and if now is

Thinking of Selling Your Beauty or Personal Care Business in Colorado? What You Need to Know in 2022

Thinking of Selling Your Beauty or Personal Care Business in Colorado? What You Need to Know in 2022

Time and time again, the beauty and personal care industry has proven to be resilient during challenging times by adapting and changing to their audience. The world has reopened, and beauty-based companies continue to rebound, so you may be asking—is now a good time to sell? Selling a beauty or personal care business in Colorado is not very different than selling any type of business.

Thinking of Selling Your Construction Business in Colorado? What You Need to Know in 2022

Thinking of Selling Your Construction Business in Colorado? What You Need to Know in 2022

After a bit of a tough turn during the pandemic, the construction industry has come roaring back to life. Demand is growing, with an increase of almost 9% anticipated for 2022 for this industry segment within the U.S. market. While supply chain disruptions and shortages of skilled workers may be continuing to cause hiccups for some, the overall outlook is very positive, particularly in terms of i

Selling Your Medical Business or Practice| Transworld Colorado

Selling Your Medical Business or Practice| Transworld Colorado

Thinking of Selling Your Health Care Business or Practice in Colorado? What You Need to Know in 2022. Health care is an industry that is constantly growing and evolving as new technologies and discoveries change treatments and care. This reality is truer than ever as the world has seen during the recent COVID-19 health care crisis. If you are looking to sell your health care business, the condit

Selling Your Cleaning Business | Transworld Colorado

Selling Your Cleaning Business | Transworld Colorado

Thinking of Selling Your Cleaning Service in Colorado? What You Need to Know in 2022 Americans started 2021 by cleaning house—literally. The COVID-19 pandemic kick-started worldwide hygiene awareness and majorly boosted demand for cleaning businesses. It wasn’t just about safety—it was about peace of mind. Residential cleaners, maids, janitors, and other sanitation professionals

Selling Your Restaurant | Transworld Colorado

Selling Your Restaurant | Transworld Colorado

Thinking of Selling Your Restaurant? What You Need to Know in 2022 If you’ve been following the news over the last few years, you know that business sales are up—way up—for certain industries, including restaurants. And if you’re like many restaurant owners, you’ve been thinking about selling your business, too. It’s easy to see why. Record-setting sales (both

How Quickly Can I (or Should I) Sell My Business in Colorado?

How Quickly Can I (or Should I) Sell My Business in Colorado?

In a perfect world, every entrepreneur would have ample time to prepare their business for sale. It’s a long, often complex process the demands our full attention—and ideally, assistance from professional brokers. After all, there are many, many factors to consider: Why am I selling? Is the market ideal? Do I have my legal and financial ducks in a row? (And more.) That being said, the

Business Trends to Look Out for in 2022 | Transworld - Colorado

Business Trends to Look Out for in 2022 | Transworld - Colorado

Business Trends to Look Out for in Colorado in 2022   Thinking of selling your business in 2022? Give yourself an edge—read up on what we learned in 2021. 2021 was a year of unpredictable firsts for business owners and entrepreneurs. Nothing we learned in 2020 could have prepared America for pandemic shutdowns. Many small operations had to quickly pivot, improvise, and adapt to a wor

How to Identify Trustworthy Buyers | Transworld - Colorado

How to Identify Trustworthy Buyers | Transworld - Colorado

For many entrepreneurs, selling a business is about more than money—it’s about passing down a legacy. After years of hard work, it’s only natural to want to see your creation in the hands of someone who shares your passion. However, finding that perfect “someone” can be a challenge. Not everyone that can buy your business should buy your business. As veteran brokers,

Six Ways to Improve Your Business's Value in Colorado

Six Ways to Improve Your Business's Value in Colorado

Six Ways to Improve Your Colorado Business’s Value Preparing to sell your business? You could be leaving money on the table. Your business’s value depends on many different variables: revenue, profitability, market conditions, and more. But valuation is not set in stone. Depending on your situation, there may be several things you can do to raise your business’s value prior to

Fees and Expenses to Expect When Selling a Business in Colorado

Fees and Expenses to Expect When Selling a Business in Colorado

When you sell your business, you expect to make money—not spend it. But as the saying goes, you have to spend money to make money. The question is, how much? The answer isn’t always clear. However, most brokers agree that a certain amount of due diligence is necessary when preparing a business for sale. That means retaining qualified professionals to look over your books, guide you th

Pros and Cons of Selling Your Business without a Broker in Colorado

Pros and Cons of Selling Your Business without a Broker in Colorado

Are you ready to sell your business, but still on the fence about using a broker? You’re not alone. Many business owners, especially first-time sellers, feel compelled to DIY the process, thinking it will save them time and money. Selling your business can be a long process with many tedious steps. An experienced business brokerage (plus the valuable resources they bring to the table) can m

How to Find the Right Buyer in Colorado for your Business

How to Find the Right Buyer in Colorado for your Business

Finding the right buyer for your business goes beyond getting the highest offer possible. As a seller in Colorado, you're looking for the most qualified buyer that best aligns with your values. After years of building your business, it’s natural to want a big payoff. But there are other factors, like preserving your legacy or maintaining the integrity of your company, that matter too.  

3 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Business Sale Broker

3 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Business Sale Broker

If you decided to sell your business in Colorado, you now have two options: Do-It-Yourself or work with a business broker. In today’s climate, it takes a lot more than just sticking a for-sale sign in your window. The truth is, as a business owner, your time is better spent running your company; not dealing with prospects or negotiating deals. Hiring a broker may be your ideal option if

How to Sell Your Business in Colorado in 2021

How to Sell Your Business in Colorado in 2021

Over the past year, many owners have been working hard to keep their businesses afloat. At times, having to reinvent or resize their company to stay competitive amidst the pandemic. Now, as things are turning around, you may be asking yourself, Should I sell my business? As valuations continue to go up, and buyers remain eager to spend their money, it’s prompting to be a big year for busin

Increasing Business Value: Your People

Increasing Business Value: Your People

You’ve heard the term working on the business versus working in the business, or, said another way, moving into a business owner role versus a business operator role. The business operator handles all the day-to-day operations, while the business owner works outside of the business by focusing on its growth and innovation.   To increase the multiple of your business sale from a qualit

Selling a Business - How to Avoid Deal Killers

Selling a Business - How to Avoid Deal Killers

Selling a Business: Deal Killers   You found a buyer for your business, they make a great offer, you accept, and everything should be smooth sailing after this, right? Many times, that is the case, but often sellers run into the dreaded “deal killer” before the sale can close.     So, what is a Deal Killer?   Most deal killers come up during the process of Du

2020 Small Business Market Report

2020 Small Business Market Report

Curious about the current business maker? Read below to learn what happened in 2020 and what we can expect in the future. Or, watch the video here.     Key takeaways of the 2020 market data: 1Many business owners waited out 2020 instead of listing their businesses for sale, we expect as businesses recover and restrictions ease, these owners will fuel the increasing market demand fo

How Small Businesses Are Valued

How Small Businesses Are Valued

Almost every business owner ponders at some time: what is my business worth? Maybe it is in preparation to sell the business, raise capital, or just because you are curious. And you may think the formula and the answer is fairly simple, but unfortunately, that Is not always the case.  Depending on the purpose of the valuation, businesses are valued in different ways. These different met

An Explanation of How Businesses are Sold

An Explanation of How Businesses are Sold

When I tell people what I do, most have never heard of a business broker. And I'll explain the profession as a 'realtor for businesses.' Which usually gets me a  slight nod of understanding. But it's still not enough. Small business sales represent a large part of our local economies.  Thousands of businesses are sold across the United States each year for totals in the hundreds of milli

Top Questions to Ask a Business Broker

Top Questions to Ask a Business Broker

A Guide to Identifying a Great Business Broker in Colorado Having experience as a business owner allows you the understanding of what a quality service professional can truly bring to the table. When it comes time to sell a business in Denver, identifying a Denver business broker you can trust is important to ensuring the best outcome for your business sale process. In the following article, we&r

Transaction Announcement - Niche Manufacturing Business

Transaction Announcement - Niche Manufacturing Business

Denver Business Broker, Al Fialkovich, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Helps Sell a Manufacturing Business in Colorado   Denver, Colo., United States (February 27, 2020) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, the number one business brokerage firm in the Rocky Mountain Region, is pleased to announce that Al Fialkovich facilitated the sale of a niche manufact

How To Tell Your Staff You're Selling the Business?

How To Tell Your Staff You're Selling the Business?

The Better Question to Ask is “When to Tell Your Staff You’re Selling the Business?” Selling your business is a momentous decision. In conversation with owners, we find they struggle with how the decision might affect their employees, since they consider their team like a family. But part of being a business owner is shouldering the responsibility of the company and having the f

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Business

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Business

Avoid These Things When Selling Your Denver Business For a long time your small business has played a major role in your daily life, so when you list your business for sale, it is important to remember you’re not at the finish line just yet and that mistakes can still be made in the process. With the goal of a successful business sale in mind, we’ve outlined 5 Mistakes to Avoid When S

How to Maximize Your Profit When Selling a Business

How to Maximize Your Profit When Selling a Business

Building Up Your Business Valuation When Selling a Business Typically, when we meet with business owners preparing to sell their company they have financial goals in mind that they would like to meet through the sale and are wondering how to determine the value of a business. Quite a few of our clients plan to retire after they sell their business and want to contribute to their retirement fund.

Is 2020 A Good Year to Sell a Business?

Is 2020 A Good Year to Sell a Business?

Does the new year represent a great opportunity for a business sale? In a recent article for Colorado Business Magazine, our President, Jessica Fialkovich shared her insight on the trend of boomer business owners selling to retire. She goes on the mention that, “Looking to the future of small business mergers and acquisitions, nearly 9 million businesses will transition to new ownership as

Transaction Announcement - Coffee Shop Business

Transaction Announcement -  Coffee Shop Business

Associate Business Broker, Taylor Bombardiere, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Helps a Business Owner Relocate After their Coffee Business Sale   Denver, Colo., United States (November 26, 2019) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, the market leader in business brokerage in the Rocky Mountain Region, is pleased to announce that an established coffee shop t

Professional Support During a Business Sale

Professional Support During a Business Sale

Professional Support During a Business Sale Choosing qualified professionals and vendors to support business operations is just as important as choosing the right local professionals to support a business sale transaction. But how do you know how to choose the right professionals to help you sell your Colorado small business and whose services do you even need to retain? In this article, we will

How Do You Sell a Small Business?

How Do You Sell a Small Business?

How Do You Sell a Small Business? Small businesses come in many shapes and sizes, but one thing they have in common is that at some point the owner will need to transition from the business. Whether the owner is retiring, or they’ve become weary of running their company, selling the business offers an exit plan with a great return. But how do you sell a business? In this article, Transworld

The Buyer Qualification Process

The Buyer Qualification Process

Understanding the Transworld Buyer Qualification Process As Business Brokers we receive a lot of questions about our buyer qualification process from business owners looking to sell their company. A common question we receive from owners is, how do we find the right buyer for a business that is for sale in Colorado? For good reason, business owners are concerned with the legacy of their company a

Training, Transition, and the Transfer of Ownership

Training, Transition, and the Transfer of Ownership

Developing a great training and transition program will help you move the needle in your business sale process. When you’re unfamiliar with planning the sale of a business, developing a transition and training program may seem like a novel concept. But when you consider your goals as ownership for the sale process, the development of a sound transition plan makes a lot of sense. Building a

3 Options to Exit Your Business if Your Assets Are Worth More than Your Cash Flow

3 Options to Exit Your Business if Your Assets Are Worth More than Your Cash Flow

What can you do when your business isn't making any money and you need to get out now? Transworld has three paths to exit that can help a business owner transition out of a company and get a respite from the daily stress.   While we would love for every business owner to find success, the reality of this scenario simply isn’t possible. So what can you do if you have started a company

What is a BPO and Why Do You Need One?

What is a BPO and Why Do You Need One?

What is a BPO and Why Do You Need One? What is a broker price opinion? Simply put a broker price opinion provides a business owner with a value for their small business based on market variables, comparable sales data, and industry expertise that a buyer would willingly pay for the business on the open market. Some of the factors a business broker will analyze are the company’s financial p

How Do You Know When It's Time to Sell Your Business?

How Do You Know When It's Time to Sell Your Business?

In this article, Transworld Business Advisors will share some of the typical reasons for selling a business to help you identify if the time for you to sell is now. Introduction Our Denver business brokers have worked with hundreds of business owners to help them exit their business. Year over year we’ve seen a steady 10% growth in business owners selling to retire, but there are any numbe

Does Your Business Plan Include an Exit Strategy?

Does Your Business Plan Include an Exit Strategy?

When a business owner starts or purchases their small business, their exit strategy is often not at the forefront of their mind. But just like every other part of business operations, which are outlined in a business plan, your exit strategy should be thought out and intentional as well.   What is an exit strategy? An exit strategy is a plan for a business owner to transition out of their

What's the Best Way to Sell a Business?

What's the Best Way to Sell a Business?

Consider your exit from the start to maximize value. When an entrepreneur starts a business and becomes a business owner, they are often not thinking in terms of what's the best way to sell a business? from the very start. However, building a strategic exit into your business plan is the best way to address this question and prepare for an exit. In this discussion, we’ve described three way

How Do You Calculate the Value of a Business?

How Do You Calculate the Value of a Business?

As a business owner, it’s important to keep on top of the value of your business. Whether you’re looking to identify ways to improve its value, are thinking about selling your business, or simply want to know what your sweat equity has built, knowing the value of your business will provide valuable insight. At Transworld Business Advisors, our business valuation experts can help you de

After the Sale: Making a Plan and Building Structure

After the Sale: Making a Plan and Building Structure

Life Doesn't Stop After the Sale of Your Business While selling your business may be the end goal, life doesn’t stop after the sale - it continues on but on a vastly different course. In a recent podcast episode, Jessica Fialkovich, President of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain shared that, “A lot of entrepreneurs are really emotionally tied to their business, basically i

Selling Your Business: How Do You Know Know When It's Time to Sell?

Selling Your Business: How Do You Know Know When It's Time to Sell?

As a business owner you’re often head down in your business. But when you come up for air, you may realize that you’ve begun to wear out, or you’re ready to retire. “Is it time to sell my business?” you might ask yourself. This is a great question that we will help you consider more in depth in the following article.   Selling your business is a personal choice

The Significance of Confidentiality in Business Sales

The Significance of Confidentiality in Business Sales

Each time we connect with a business owner thinking about the sale of their business, we are met with big concerns over confidentiality. The business owner does not want their competitors to know, or they don’t want their employees to know; the list of reasons in favor of confidentiality is lengthy and we don’t disagree with their importance.   It is crucial to keep the pending

Valuation Methods to Determine How Much Your Business is Worth

Valuation Methods to Determine How Much Your Business is Worth

How Much Is A Business Worth? Buyers and sellers alike are primarily concerned with how a company is valued. Unfortunately, there is not one simple explanation because valuation is an art, not a science. There are multiple methods for determining the value of a business prior to sale, and we’ve outlined them below.   First, let’s look at the four different types of value that ca

Key Value Drivers for Business Buyers

Key Value Drivers for Business Buyers

Not all businesses for sale are the same, some share common factors that help them stand out in the eyes of a buyer. If you’re ready to sell your business, than the following discussion is a great place to start to help you address key value drivers for business buyers in your own business.   INDUSTRY. We all know trends come and go and the same is true for small businesses. Each year

Seller Financing: The Only Guide You'll Ever Need

Seller Financing: The Only Guide You'll Ever Need

In business brokerage, we talk about financing options a lot, from the latest developments in SBA lending requirements, to up and coming alternative lenders. Financing is a key piece of a high number of our transactions, and for many buyers, its inclusion is the only way to get a deal done. For deals on the small side, that are harder to finance through traditional routes, or transactions involvin

Using the Due Diligence Period Effectively

Using the Due Diligence Period Effectively

When a business owner accepts a buyer’s letter of intent (LOI) to acquire their business, the buyer gets the opportunity to perform due diligence as outlined in that LOI. The offer to purchase a business is contingent on the successful completion of the due diligence period. Due diligence is meant to open the paths of communication between the buyer and seller to discuss the business on a gr

The Transition Period: Knowledge Transfer & Training the New Owner

The Transition Period: Knowledge Transfer & Training the New Owner

Many business owners have the ill conceived image of the buyer of their business signing the APA, pushing it across the table to them, where they execute the document, and then that’s that - they wash their hands clean of their old business. Aside from most business transactions actually happening virtually these days, the prior owner of the business is not done with their business just yet!

Transaction Announcement - Horizontal Drilling Business

Transaction Announcement - Horizontal Drilling Business

Business Broker, Gary Goldwasser, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes on a Horizontal Drilling Business   Denver, Colo., United States (February 25, 2019) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain (http://www.tworld.com/locations/centraldenver/), a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a drilling company traded

Transaction Announcement - Tutoring Business

Transaction Announcement - Tutoring Business

Business Broker, Nathan Willis, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes on a Tutoring Business   Denver, Colo., United States (February 18, 2019) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain (http://www.tworld.com/locations/centraldenver/), a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that an education company traded hands with

Transaction Announcement - Landscape Design Business

Transaction Announcement - Landscape Design Business

Business Broker, Gary Goldwasser, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes on a Landscape Design Business   Denver, Colo., United States (January 29, 2019) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a landscaping and design company traded hands with the support of Gary Goldwass

What is Your Word of the Year? Motivating Mottos When Looking to Sell a Business.

What is Your Word of the Year? Motivating Mottos When Looking to Sell a Business.

What’s Your Word of the Year? Motivating Mottos When Looking to Sell a Business.   For small business owners, the new year typically brings new focus, and an emphasis on goal-setting. One of the most recent – and beneficial – trends we’ve seen? Establishing a word of the year to focus your goals, activities, and general ethos for the year ahead.   And if you&

How to Maximize the Value of Your Small Business

How to Maximize the Value of Your Small Business

Increasing the value of your small business has a number of benefits from building a stronger more resilient company to preparing your business for a sale in the future. In the following article you will learn five strategies a business owner can implement to increase the value of their business. Strategy 1: Build Your Team Early While you may not be preparing for a sale just yet, it is never to

Quarter Four 2018 Market Insight Report

Quarter Four 2018 Market Insight Report

The Fourth Quarter of 2018 proves to be another record shattering year for the small business mergers & acquisitions market. Buyers are confident in the economy and their capability to take their finances into their own hands through business ownership and have found the opportunities more and more accessible. Sellers also exhibit confidence and optimism towards the market for its ability to provi

Is 2019 the Year to Sell Your Business?

Is 2019 the Year to Sell Your Business?

As we get closer to January and a fresh new year, many of us begin to take stock of the past year. We reflect on the ups and downs and look to 2019 with a glint of hope in our eyes. One thing many people think about is a career change or retirement leading them to the question, "How do I sell my business?" 2019 is going to be a pivotal year for the business for sale market, especially for business

Be a Professional

Be a Professional

As a small business, we have built our company on a number of core values that we believe represent how we want to serve our community, how we want to act as professionals, and help us guide our service offerings from a solid foundation. Transworld’s core values are Tenacity, Learn & Grow, Be a Professional, and Small Business Advocacy. Today we would like to take a closer look at Be a Profe

Seller Financing

Seller Financing

Transworld Business Advisors works in the small business mergers & acquisitions market, which means we work with a lot of family owned, main street type businesses. We love working with these types of small businesses, however these deals can be on the smaller side requiring creative financing (outside of traditional lenders) to get the business transaction done.   One way to get these deal

Small Business Advocacy

Small Business Advocacy

As a small business, we have built our company on a number of core values that we believe represent how we want to serve our community, how we want to act as professionals, and help us guide our service offerings from a solid foundation. Transworld’s core values are Tenacity, Learn & Grow, Be a Professional, and Small Business Advocacy. Today in honor of the holiday and the upcoming small bu

When is the Right Time to Sell a Business?

When is the Right Time to Sell a Business?

Wondering how to sell your business and when the right time to exit a business is are natural question for a small business owner to have. The short answer to these questions is to begin the process 1-2 years before you want to sell your company, to allow room for the sale process. There are many factors that come into play when it comes time to exit your business that you can prepare for to bette

Transaction Announcement - Environmental Mitigation Company

Transaction Announcement - Environmental Mitigation Company

Business Broker, Patrick Bombardiere, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes a Transaction in the Environmental Mitigation Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (November 1, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that an environmental mitigation business exchanged hand

Learn & Grow

Learn & Grow

As a small business, we have built our company on a number of core values that we believe represent how we want to serve our community, how we want to act as professionals, and help us guide our service offerings from a solid foundation. Transworld’s core values are Tenacity, Learn & Grow, Be a Professional, and Small Business Advocacy. Today we would like to take a closer look at our second

Sharing Financial Information With Your Business Broker

Sharing Financial Information With Your Business Broker

Preparing to sell your business can be a stressful time for many. Thinking about the return you hope to receive from the sale, the plans you have for retirement, or a new career - it can all be a little too much. But using a business broker is a great way to relieve the stress of the process when figuring out how to sell your business, and will ensure you can receive a good return on investment, a

Common Business Sale Questions Answered

Common Business Sale Questions Answered

When you’re thinking about how to sell your business, it is common to have a lot of questions about the process and what to expect like, "How much is my business worrth?" Below we’ve addressed a few of the top questions you may have to begin the conversation about how to sell your company.   Q: How do you sell a business and can I sell my business without a business broker? A:

The Final Step: Training & Transition

The Final Step: Training & Transition

Once you reach the closing table, the transaction is not quite done. There is one final step in the transaction process and that’s the training and transition period! Soon following the closing activities, the buyer and seller will present the change in ownership to the management and employees of the company. While this discussion sounds simple enough, it is absolutely integral that the buy

Our Core Values: Tenacity

Our Core Values: Tenacity

As a small business, we have built our company on a number of core values that we believe represent how we want to serve our community, how we want to act as professionals, and help us guide our service offerings from a solid foundation. Transworld’s core values are Tenacity, Learn & Grow, Be a Professional, and Small Business Advocacy. Today we would like to take a closer look at our first

How to Get Ready for a Business Exit

How to Get Ready for a Business Exit

When you begin to think about selling your business and are wondering how much your company is worth, it can seem overwhelming! Where should you start? What will you need to be ready for? How do you sell a business? So we’ve prepared a brief cheat sheet of the first few steps you can take towards your business exit.   Build Your Professional Team. There are three important professiona

The Closing Table

The Closing Table

We have finally made it to the closing table! All Pre-Closing activities such as transferring the lease, the buyer and seller statements, and finalizing the financing have been completed. Funnily enough though, most closings are completed virtually, so there is no actual closing table per say, but that doesn’t make arriving at closing any less significant!   At closing, the asset purc

How to Identify a Professional Business Broker?

How to Identify a Professional Business Broker?

Working with a qualified, professional business broker can mean the difference between selling your business at a great value or never selling your business at all. So the questions becomes, how do you identify a professional business broker to begin with? In the following discussion, we will outline a number of qualifications a professional business broker will have to ensure they are an appropri

Should I Sell my Business?

Should I Sell my Business?

Many business owners think selling their business is outside of the realm of possibility, and wonder "Should I sell my business?" for any number of reasons. The reasons could be size, industry, or even because it is a home-based business. So business owners are often surprised and delighted to hear, that, yes, their business is salable.   The idea of a business’s salability depends on

The Penultimate Piece of the Process: Pre-Closing

The Penultimate Piece of the Process: Pre-Closing

Due diligence has come and gone and the closing table is in sight. But we’re not quite there yet because a lot has to be accomplished for the buyer and seller to close on their business.   Pre-closing is when a large list of items gets buttoned up before closing, and the broker manages this whole process for the buyer, seller and their attorneys. These items can range from transfering

Beyond the Google Search: Selecting an Attorney to Represent Your Business Sale

Beyond the Google Search: Selecting an Attorney to Represent Your Business Sale

When taking on the sale of your business it is important to have a highly qualified team in place. Outside of your business broker, we recommend sellers work with a finance professional as well as an attorney. Selecting an attorney to represent the sale of your business, goes far beyond simply Googling transactional attorneys. You will want to make sure that the attorney you choose has the right e

Doing Due Diligence Justice

Doing Due Diligence Justice

In our latest discussion of the business sale process, we outlined the submission of the letter of intent by the buyer to the seller of the business. With the submission and acceptance of the letter of intent the period of due diligence begins. The length of the due diligence period is outlined in the letter of intent and can vary from business to business, but generally for a small business only

Transaction Announcement - Liquor Retail Business

Transaction Announcement - Liquor Retail Business

Business Broker & Managing Director, Al Fialkovich, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes a Transaction in the Liquor Retail Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (July 11, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a liquor retail company traded hands due to the fac

What Does a Business Broker Bring to the Table?

What Does a Business Broker Bring to the Table?

It’s not uncommon to hear of a friend of a friend who sold their business without representation, but have you heard whether the deal was actually good or if their business suffered while it was for sale? Usually those details are kept under wraps and for good reason. Because the answers are likely, the deal was difficult, the sale price was much lower than expected, and, yes, the business s

What Do Business Buyers Want?

What Do Business Buyers Want?

Navigating how to sell your business can be a complex task. There are hundreds upon thousands of businesses for sale across the United States (and even abroad). These businesses come in all shapes and sizes from home-based, owner/operator companies, and franchise resales, to 200 employee construction businesses and multi-location salons. With so many options available for purchase, what are buyers

Transaction Announcement - Janitorial Company

Transaction Announcement - Janitorial Company

Business Broker, Alex Dvorak, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes A Transaction in the Janitorial Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (June 20, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a janitorial service and supply company traded hands due to the facilitation

Transaction Announcement - Health & Wellness Business

Transaction Announcement - Health & Wellness Business

Business Broker, Patrick Bombardiere, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes a Transaction in the Health & Wellness Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (June 14, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a health & wellness company traded hands due to the support o

Submitting a Letter of Intent

Submitting a Letter of Intent

In our previous discussion of selling a business we took a moment to sit down with the seller and tour their operations. This discussion will take the process one step further to explain what happens when the buyer submits a letter of intent. A letter of intent (LOI) is a non-binding contract that formalizes the terms and conditions if the buyer were to purchase the business. The LOI pays special

Transaction Announcement - Commercial Painting Industry

Transaction Announcement - Commercial Painting Industry

Business Broker, Ross Haymes, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes a Transaction in the Painting Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (June 8, 2017) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a local painting company changed hands with the facilitation of Ross Haymes. &

Cobroking in Business Brokerage: Why It Matters?

Cobroking in Business Brokerage: Why It Matters?

Business brokers are transactional advisors - as such it is our mission to educate the small business community on how to sell a business. On the surface, cobroking may not seem like a big deal, but let me give you a little backstory. First a simple explanation of cobroking is when two business brokers collaborate on a transaction across brokerage offices, one broker representing the seller and on

Transaction Announcement - Flooring Business

Transaction Announcement - Flooring Business

Business Broker, Gregg Kunz, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes a Transaction in the Flooring Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (June 5, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a commercial flooring company traded hands due to the support of Gregg Kunz. &n

Transaction Announcement - Rafting Business

Transaction Announcement - Rafting Business

Business Broker, Nathan Willis, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes a Transaction in the Rafting Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (May 31, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a rafting & adventure company traded hands due to the support of Nathan Willis

Doing Your Due Diligence as a Business Owner

Doing Your Due Diligence as a Business Owner

While technically speaking Due Diligence is an aspect of the business sale process, it can also be used as an informative tool for business owners. As a business owner, taking a hard look at your business from a buyer’s perspective is a great way to help you get your business in a better place prior to sale, or to simply add value to your current operations.   Performing your own due

Sitting Down with the Seller & Touring the Business

Sitting Down with the Seller & Touring the Business

The last time we discussed the process of selling a business, we looked at the first buyer meeting, where the buyer met with their broker for an initial meeting and learned more about the business in question. At this point in the process, the buyer has a clear interest in moving forward with the business purchase and so it is time to be introduced to the seller.   A second meeting is set u

Selling a Business: What Does the Time Commitment Look Like?

Selling a Business: What Does the Time Commitment Look Like?

When selling your business it is normal to wonder how long you can expect the process to take from execution of the marketing agreement to the execution of the purchase agreement. And honestly, there isn’t one way to answer this question, because there are so many variables at play.   If your business is in tip top shape, with clean records, great cash flow, no daily oversight require

Transaction Announcement - Coffee Business

Transaction Announcement - Coffee Business

Broker and Managing Director, Al Fialkovich, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes A Transaction in the Coffee Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (May 09, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a local coffee shop traded hands with the support of Al Fialkovich

2018 National Small Business Week

2018 National Small Business Week

National Small Business Week has arrived and while we like to think we celebrate small business every day here at Transworld - we can always use a good reason to cheer on the small businesses community in Colorado!   This week we will be sharing quotes about small business straight from the team members who work with them every day and have many years of experience themselves as small busin

2018 National Small Business Week

2018 National Small Business Week

National Small Business Week has arrived and while we like to think we celebrate small business every day here at Transworld - we can always use a good reason to cheer on the small businesses community in Colorado!   This week we will be sharing quotes about small business straight from the team members who work with them every day and have many years of experience themselves as small busin

2018 National Small Business Week

2018 National Small Business Week

National Small Business Week has arrived and while we like to think we celebrate small business every day here at Transworld - we can always use a good reason to cheer on the small businesses community in Colorado!   This week we will be sharing quotes about small business straight from the team members who work with them every day and have many years of experience themselves as small busin

We Are More Than Just Transaction Advisors

We Are More Than Just Transaction Advisors

We talk a lot about core values at Transworld - Rocky Mountain, because to us they aren’t just words you slap up on a website, they have gravitas. We take our core values of Tenacity, Learn & Grow, Be a Professional, and Small Business Advocacy to heart and try to embody them in our work every single day. We want to make sure we are supporting Colorado’s small business community in a h

2018 National Small Business Week

2018 National Small Business Week

National Small Business Week has arrived and while we like to think we celebrate small business every day here at Transworld - we can always use a good reason to cheer on the small businesses community in Colorado!   This week we will be sharing quotes about small business straight from the team members who work with them every day and have many years of experience themselves as small busin

2018 National Small Business Week

2018 National Small Business Week

National Small Business Week has arrived and while we like to think we celebrate small business every day here at Transworld - we can always use a good reason to cheer on the small businesses community in Colorado!   This week we will be sharing quotes about small business straight from the team members who work with them every day and have many years of experience themselves as small busin

Your Business is Listed for Sale, Now What?

Your Business is Listed for Sale, Now What?

So your business is listed for sale with Transworld - Rocky Mountain, now what? While you may think the answer is complex, our advice is actually pretty simple. Keep up with your status quo!   If you usually get to work by 7:30 AM, grab coffee and start checking emails - do just that. If you have a sales meeting scheduled for every Wednesday at 12 noon, than keep those scheduled. The idea

Transaction Announcement - Home Improvement Distribution Business

Transaction Announcement - Home Improvement Distribution Business

Broker and Managing Director, Al Fialkovich, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes A Transaction in the Home Improvement Distribution Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (April 24, 2017) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a home improvement distribution business

Transaction Announcement - Catering Company

Transaction Announcement - Catering Company

Broker and Managing Director, Al Fialkovich, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes A Transaction in the Catering Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (April 24, 2017) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a catering company traded hands with the support of Al Fialkov

Transaction Announcement - Dental Business

Transaction Announcement - Dental Business

Business Broker, Ross Haymes, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes A Transaction in the Dental Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (April 23, 2017) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a dental lab business traded hands with the aid and support of Ross Haymes. &n

Transaction Announcement - Pack & Ship Business

Transaction Announcement - Pack & Ship Business

Business Broker, Chris Warfel, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes A Transaction in the Pack and  Ship Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (April 23, 2017) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a local pack and ship business traded hands with the support of C

Quarter One 2018 Market Insight Report

Quarter One 2018 Market Insight Report

Introduction. The small business sector of the M&A market continues to grow, even following 2017’s record breaking data. In fact, BizBuySell’s survey of business brokers nationwide in December of 2017, showed that brokers expect the market to at least remain consistent if it does not continue to increase in the near future. In Transworld - Rocky Mountain’s specific service area,

The First Meeting: A Basic Company Review

The First Meeting: A Basic Company Review

After a buyer inquires about a business, has signed a non-disclosure agreement, and decides they are officially interested in learning more about the company, their broker will request a meeting with them to take the first steps towards getting to know the business for sale better.   The first meeting takes place between the broker and the buyer - the seller does not join the conversation u

Transaction Announcement - Fitness Industry

Transaction Announcement - Fitness Industry

Business Broker, Chris Cantwell, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes A Transaction in the Fitness Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (April 12, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a local group fitness gym traded hands with the support of Chris Cantwell.

The Benefits of Using a Business Broker

The Benefits of Using a Business Broker

Business brokers have finely honed expertise they use to help you sell your small business, in addition to their real estate licensing, they hold memberships with organizations such as the Colorado Association of Business Intermediaries (CABI) and the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA). These organizations provide industry support, a vast network, continuing education, training oppo

A Buyer Inquires

A Buyer Inquires

One of Transworld’s service goals is to not simply list a business for sale, but to proactively market a business to identify a great buyer. So when a buyer eventually inquires on a business for sale, they can come from quite a few places. They may come in through our website listings or Biz Buy Sell, they can come as a referral from a trusted resource in our professional network like an att

What Is EBITDA?

What Is EBITDA?

EBITDA is an acronym for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Using a company’s EBITDA allows an experienced business broker to answer the question, "How much is a business worth?" and develop the fair market value of a business. EBITDA allows for the elimination of non-operating costs that are unique to each business, while also allowing you to focus on a company

The Sellerâ??s Role Post Sale

The Sellerâ??s Role Post Sale

The Question How long do sellers typically stay with their business following its sale?   The Answer The answer to this question depends on the business itself and, of course, the seller. If the business is quite a large manufacturing facility with a lot of moving parts, than the seller may stay up to a month, possibly longer. If the business is a small home based business or the buyer is

Transaction Announcement - Cleaning Company

Transaction Announcement - Cleaning Company

Business Broker, Ross Haymes, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes a Transaction in the Cleaning Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (March 1st, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a commercial cleaning business traded hands with the support of Ross Haymes.

Taking Your Business to Market

Taking Your Business to Market

During the business sale process, following information collection, it is time for your Business Broker to get your listing out to the market! One of the main responsibilities of a business broker is to pair off buyers with sellers and visa versa. Though the process of how to sell your company is the same, the marketing of your business will be different depending on the specific business and its

How Much is My Business Worth and How Do I Increase its Value

How Much is My Business Worth and How Do I Increase its Value

  Let Transworld Business Advisors help you make the best of key value drivers to build the value of your company. Most business owners eat, sleep, and breathe their businesses. But are they doing everything they can to build value into them? Increasing the value of your business has a number of benefits from building a stronger more resilient business to readying your business for sale whe

Do You Have an Exit Strategy?

Do You Have an Exit Strategy?

It is never too early to begin planning for a strategic exit from your business! While we like to think we are in control, you can never know what the future holds and don't want to feel stuck asking yourself, "How do I sell my business fast?' Putting in place a sound plan to exit your business will help facilitate a faster exit when the time comes and can provide for a higher return on investment

Transaction Announcement - Retail Game Store

Transaction Announcement - Retail Game Store

Business Broker,  Chris Cantwell, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes a Transaction in the Gaming Retail Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (February 7th, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that retail game store traded hands with the support of Chris Ca

Transaction Announcement - Restaurant

Transaction Announcement - Restaurant

Business Broker,  Chris Cantwell, of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain Closes a Transaction in the Restaurant Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (February 7th, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a pizza and pasta restaurant traded hands with the support of

Information Collection

Information Collection

After Building Your Team as part of the how to sell your business process, the process begins to get real with the collection of information by your broker. The information collection step while not everyone’s favorite, provides your broker with all of the necessary information to understand your business, and get it listed for sale!   Once the marketing agreement has been signed, you

What Makes Your Business an Ideal Purchase?

What Makes Your Business an Ideal Purchase?

Add value to your company by addressing buyer preferences. While all buyers are different, there are a number of factors that make a business an ideal purchase, buyer preferences aside. As a seller, you can keep these factors in mind to help move the needle for a prospective buyer. The considerations that follow will provide some great insight into what a buyer might be looking for. Established

Building Your Team

Building Your Team

Following the preparation step of selling your business, comes one of the most integral parts of the process, building your team! Why is this step so integral, you might ask? Well, a good team can mean the difference between selling your business or not, or negotiating a good deal or not - are you starting to get the picture?   Building a team of qualified and experienced advisors will you

Preparation

Preparation

One of Transworld's core values is small business advocacy a key component of which is sharing educational information and resources with our community on how to sell your company or the benefits of buying a business to help them make informed decisions for their future. So today we will begin working our way through the 12 step process of how to sell your business, starting with Preparation. Pre

Transaction Announcement - Restaurant

Transaction Announcement - Restaurant

Broker, Chris  Warfel, of Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado Closes A Transaction in the Restaurant Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (January 2nd, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a local wine and food pairing concept traded hands with the support of sell side Bro

Transaction Announcement - Restaurant

Transaction Announcement - Restaurant

Broker, Roger Smolik, of Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado Closes A Transaction in the Restaurant Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (January 2nd, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a Vietnamese Restaurant traded hands with the support of Roger Smolik.   “Thi

Transaction Announcement - Vending Business

Transaction Announcement - Vending Business

Broker, Chris  Warfel, of Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado Closes A Transaction in the Vending Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (January 2nd, 2018) – Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a healthy vending machine business traded hands with the support of Business Broker, Ch

Transaction Announcement - Sales Training Business

Transaction Announcement - Sales Training Business

Broker and Managing Director, Al Fialkovich, of Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado Closes A Transaction in the Sales Training Industry   Denver, Colo., United States (January 4th, 2017) – Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado, a leading business brokerage firm in the state of Colorado, is pleased to announce that a local sales training business was traded to a new owner with

Preparation

Preparation

One of Transworld’s core values is small business advocacy a key component of which is sharing educational information and resources with clients and our community to help them make informed decisions for the future of their business. So today we will begin working our way through the 12 step process of selling a business, starting with Preparation.   Preparing for the sale of your bu

How Much is My Business Worth?

How Much is My Business Worth?

The start of 2018 brings with it a certain amount of introspection into the status quo. It is also the time of year many small business owners review their business plans and develop plans for the new year. All of this review may bring about questions like, "How much is my business worth?" or "How much can I sell my company for?" These are great questions to ask whether you are looking to grow you

The Financial Documents Needed to Sell Your Business

The Financial Documents Needed to Sell Your Business

It is our job to help prepare a seller and their business for the sale process and part of this discussion is identifying the records and documents we will need to substantiate the business and answer the question for our seller, "How much is my business worth?" At the start of working with a seller it is necessary to evaluate their business and provide a valuation of its worth as a starting poin

Advocating For Your Small Business

Advocating For Your Small Business

Business Brokers get the chance to work with a lot of people on a daily basis from professionals learning how to sell a company, and cobroking with other business brokers to attorneys, CPAs, and future entrepreneurs. All of these daily interactions can make it confusing as to whom we are advocating for. But at the end of the day we are always advocating for your small business – its current

When It Comes to Selling Your Business, Timing is Key

When It Comes to Selling Your Business, Timing is Key

Many business owners, when they get their business up and running, do not think about how to sell their company down the road. But why not? When you start your business, you may have plans to keep it in the family or planning for your exit is just one more thing on your plate that you just don’t have the time for. But what if something happens, and you need to retire early? Or your childre

Is 2018 the Year to Sell?

Is 2018 the Year to Sell?

As we start our journey through the holiday season, beginning with Thanksgiving tomorrow, many adults begin to reflect on the status quo. Am I where I wanted to be at 45, 55, 65…? Am I making enough money to continue to support my family, pay for college, and save for retirement? Is 2018 the year I would like to sell my business and retire to spend time with my family and to travel? How muc

Who is Qualified to Sell My Business?

Who is Qualified to Sell My Business?

Selling your business is one of the most significant decisions an entrepreneur can make. Often times a substantial amount of a business owner’s wealth is tied up in their business and they begin to wonder, "How much can I sell my busines for?" When thinking about selling it is integral to select a quality team of industry-familiar professionals to provide necessary guidance during the proces

Confidentiality & The Sale of Your Business

Confidentiality & The Sale of Your Business

When we sit down with a new seller and begin to discuss their situation and the exit goals they have, one of their main concerns usually has to do with the confidentiality of their sale and the best way to sell a business. The seller may be nervous that they could lose customers or employees if they hear they plan to sell. Some sellers have concerns over competitors finding out their trade secrets

Common Seller Questions Addressed

Common Seller Questions Addressed

Most professionals looking at how to sell a business have never been through the process before, so they naturally have quite a few questions about how to sell a business and how to find out how much a company is worth. So today we will be addressing some of the questions we hear quite often from our sellers to hopefully ease your mind. How do you sell a business? I have been thinking about sellin

#12 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Training and Transition

#12 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Training and Transition

The work of closing a transaction is not quite complete following the actual closing activities, as described in blog eleven of our series. There is one final step in the process of how to sell a business and that is training and transition! The Training and Transition period takes place the day of, or soon after Closing. The Buyer and Seller, in concert, hold a closing meeting with management and

Should You Sell Your Business at Its Peak?

Should You Sell Your Business at Its Peak?

Knowing when to sell a business is half the battle. As business owners, we want to reap the benefits of our businesses doing well for as long as possible. However, when you are planning a strategic exit it might be smart to sell at the peak of your business's performance. Although that seems counterintuitive it can be an ideal time to sell your business because of the three reasons we have outlin

#11 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Closing

#11 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Closing

Finally following our discussions of Pre-Closing in blog ten of our series on how to sell your company we have made it to Closing! Closing is that monumental step that everyone pictures in their mind when thinking about buying or selling a business. It brings up that great image of contracts being signed with fountain pens and keys jingling as they are exchanged. In actuality, most closings are do

What Makes a Business Salable?

What Makes a Business Salable?

Business ownership is a unique venture. It gives the owner the opportunity to be in control and work for themselves. But most importantly, it is the chance to work in an industry you love, or produce a product or provide a service you feel strongly about. This is all fine and dandy until it comes time to exit your business and you wonder if it was all worth it in the end; is your business truly sa

#10 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Pre-Closing

#10 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Pre-Closing

In part nine of our series on how to sell your company, we walked through the Due Diligence period. Now it might seem that the next natural step is the Closing period, but there is a lot of work to complete between now and Closing! So we have made room for a step in the process called Pre-Closing. It is during this step that a whirlwind of work is finished so that the buyers and sellers can be tak

#9 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Due Diligence

#9 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Due Diligence

The letter of intent was submitted in part eight of our blog post series on how to sell a business and now comes the time for due diligence. The due diligence period is outlined in the letter of intent and is a time for the buyer to explore the business in question. The length of time for due diligence varies, but generally, a week or two for small businesses is all that is required. During this p

The Complexities of the Liquor License Transfer in Denver

The Complexities of the Liquor License Transfer in Denver

Learn About Transferring a Liquor License in Denver Working in business brokerage, Transworld is used to performing a number of i dotting and t crossing activities. But recently there have been some changes to the regulations governing liquor license transfers that we sought professional help to better understand. Enter Peter Nemkov, a private practice attorney with Nemkov and Bonifazi, PLLC who

Identifying the Right Attorney for a Business Transaction

Identifying the Right Attorney for a Business Transaction

Selling a business is a process that requires organization - a lot of "t" crossing and "i" dotting. Which is why you should leave figuring out how to sell your business to the professionals. Building a team of professionals to support this process is integral to ensuring a smooth transaction. Aside from working closely with an established business broker, hiring a transactional attorney will provi

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Organizational Structure

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Organizational Structure

Part 2: Organizational Structure When business owners are preparing to sell their businesses, there are many ways they can make themselves attractive to buyers. As we represent many current and new business owners in Colorado, we have compiled the top five ways sellers can make themselves attractive to buyers. In Part 2 of our series, we will focus on Organizational Structure. The way a business

#8 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: The Letter of Intent

#8 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: The Letter of Intent

In our last post in our buying and selling series, the buyer participated in their second meeting and review of the company with the broker and seller. The buyer is now ready to submit a letter of intent (LOI) to the seller with the help of their broker. The LOI will outline the ideal specifics of the deal structure inclusive of the following information: The price the buyer is willing to

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Cash Flow

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Cash Flow

Part 1: Cash Flow When business owners are preparing to sell their businesses, there are many ways they can make themselves attractive to buyers. As we represent many current and new business owners in Colorado, we have compiled the top five ways sellers can make themselves attractive to buyers. In Part 1 of our series, we will focus on Cash Flow. When business owners are preparing to sell their

Why You Should Use a Business Broker to Sell Your Business

Why You Should Use a Business Broker to Sell Your Business

When business owners are looking to transition out of their business for a variety of reasons - relocation, retirement, and change of career - they are presented with multiple options in regards to the future of their company. Should they close? Transfer to an employee or family member? Or sell? And if they sell should they do it on their on or through a small business broker. If the choice is to

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business?

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business?

How long does it take to sell a business? I can say, without fear of contradiction, "It depends." It depends on the market: At this very moment, the market for business sales is warm to hot. The economy is improving, especially in Colorado, but it will not stay that way forever. Currently, money for business acquisitions is cheap. Baby Boomers are leaving the corporate world in droves, and m

What Financial Records Will I Need to Share to Sell my Business?

What Financial Records Will I Need to Share to Sell my Business?

Feel confident in sharing financial records with your business broker. In our regular discussions with sellers, inevitably the question of, "What financial records will I need to share to sell my business?" arises. In my experience sellers are cautious about with whom they share their financial records and at what point in the process this will take place. To begin allaying the Seller's trepidati

Is my business salable? Can I sell my business? Should I sell my business?

Is my business salable? Can I sell my business? Should I sell my business?

Is my business salable? Can I sell my business? Should I sell my business? These are questions every business owner ponders and they may even keep them up at night. But they don't have to! By the end of this discussion you will be able to deduce whether your business has what it takes to be sold. While there are many variables that intersect and create an opportunity for sale (or not), at the end

How Do I Get My Business Ready for Sale?

How Do I Get My Business Ready for Sale?

How can you get your business ready to sell? First, we need to answer this question, "How soon are you planning to sell?" If you want to start the process right away, then we will stick to the basics. #1. Get your financial reports in shape. Buyers typically want to see at least three years of financial data. When we list a company at Transworld, we will ask for three years of tax returns, plus

Is 2016 the Year to Sell Your Business?

Is 2016 the Year to Sell Your Business?

Reports for small business sales in 2015 hit the internet this week. According to BuyBizSell.com's Insight Report, "While the number of businesses that changed hands decreased slightly [in 2015], key financial indicators reached all-time highs, indicating a healthy, more balanced market." Does that mean that 2016 is going to improve even more? Is 2016 the year to sell your business? We have some

What Does a Business Broker Charge?

What Does a Business Broker Charge?

What Does a Business Broker Charge? Understand the fees involved with selling your company using a Denver Business Broker. A professional business broker is the right expert professional to guide you through the entire process of selling your company including analysis and pricing, development of a custom marketing strategy, buyer search and qualification, deal structuring, and negotiation and c

What Records Should I Make Available to a Potential Buyer?

What Records Should I Make Available to a Potential Buyer?

Yes, this is business, but for you, the small business owner, it feels personal. Your business is special, important and it is yours. So when it comes time to revealing sensitive information to a total stranger (the buyer), it is natural for you to be cautious. It is true, that potential buyer is a stranger. It is someone who probably doesn't know you and someone who most certainly is not privy t

So You've Liquidated Your Business, Now What?

So You've Liquidated Your Business, Now What?

Avoiding common mistakes after selling your business can be a challenge. People tend to make decisions through their own lens of experience, and chances are if you have started or run a business and are now selling your business, you may want to do it again. What do you need to consider before redeploying your assets into a new venture? There are three keys to a successful transition from business

How Can I Prevent My Employees/Customers/Vendors from Knowing I'm Selling my Business?

How Can I Prevent My Employees/Customers/Vendors from Knowing I'm Selling my Business?

Why keeping a business sale confidential is critical to the sale process. The question boils down to confidentiality. Maintaining confidentiality is critical to the business owner while they sell their business. After all, the process of selling a business typically takes several months from start to finish, which is a lot of time for the reputation or profits of a business to become marred

How Long Does it Take to Sell a Business (Part 2)

How Long Does it Take to Sell a Business (Part 2)

We received a lot of feedback from our first post on how long it takes to sell a business. So to follow up our Managing Director, Al Fialkovich, has answered a few of the questions we received here:   Based on businesses you've sold and the market, can you give us an average length of time it takes to sell a business? Typically, the industry average to sell a business is 9.5 months.

The Baby Boomer Seller Tsunami: How it Affects the Value of your Business

The Baby Boomer Seller Tsunami: How it Affects the Value of your Business

No one can argue that the impending baby boomers retirement will affect how business markets operate currently. And it will be no different for mergers and acquisitions and small business sales. In the current market, it is estimated that approximately 30,000 - 50,000 business sales occur every year. With the wave of baby boomers planning to exit their businesses, however, SME Research predicts th

How Long Does It Take To Sell A Business?

How Long Does It Take To Sell A Business?

How long does it take to sell a business? I can say, without fear of contradiction, "It depends." It depends on the market: Right now the market for business sales is warm to hot. The economy is improving, especially in Colorado Currently, money for business acquisitions is cheap. Baby Boomers are leaving the corporate world in droves, and many are looking for Career 2.0. It depends on th

What is Seller Financing?

What is Seller Financing?

"Financing. Where do I get it?" It's one of the most frequently asked questions we encounter with potential business buyers and, perhaps, the one with the biggest number of answers! At Transworld, we specialize in walking buyers through different financing options. Some options are well-known, like SBA Loans, Conventional Loans, and the use of private investors. Other financing options may not be

How Much is My Business Worth?

How Much is My Business Worth?

If you are a business owner contemplating selling your company, chances are your first question is "How much is my business worth?" This logical inquiry into a company's worth is the number one concern of most of our sellers and is of the utmost importance to any qualified potential buyer. So how should you go about finding out the true valuation of your company when preparing for a sale? Un

Independent Contractor Resources

Independent Contractor Resources

As we represent many current and new business owners in Colorado, we understand that independent contractors can be a benefit and a detriment to a business, particularly during a business sale. We have created a three-part series that will describe independent contractors, how they affect a business sale and how to make sure you are following regulations to avoid penalties or problems during a sal

How Independent Contractors Can Affect the Sale of a Business

How Independent Contractors Can Affect the Sale of a Business

As we represent many current and new business owners in Colorado, we understand that independent contractors can be a major influence on a business and particularly a business sale. We have created a three-part series that will describe independent contractors, how they affect a business sale and how to make sure you are following regulations to avoid penalties. In Part 2 of our series, we describ

Introduction to Independent Contractors

Introduction to Independent Contractors

As we represent many current and new business owners in Colorado, we understand that independent contractors can be both a benefit and a detriment to a business and particularly during a business sale. We have created a three-part series that will describe what independent contractors are, how they affect a business sale, and how to make sure you are following regulations to avoid penalties or pro

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Industry

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Industry

When business owners are preparing to sell their businesses, there are many ways they can make themselves attractive to buyers. As we represent many current and new business owners in Colorado, we have compiled the top five ways sellers can make themselves attractive to buyers. In Part 2 of our series, we will focus on Industry. We all know industries experience ups and downs. Factors that might

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Culture

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Culture

When business owners are preparing to sell their businesses, there are many ways they can make themselves attractive to buyers. As we represent many current and new business owners in Colorado, we have compiled the top five ways sellers can make themselves attractive to buyers. In Part 2 of our series, we will focus on Culture. When a buyer is looking to buy a business he/she wants his/her cultur

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Reputation

Top 5 Ways a Seller Can Make Themselves Attractive to a Buyer: Reputation

Part 3: Reputation When business owners are preparing to sell their businesses, there are many ways they can make themselves attractive to buyers. As we represent many current and new business owners in Colorado, we have compiled the top five ways sellers can make themselves attractive to buyers. In Part 3 of our series, we will focus on Reputation. A business's reputation is not only vital to t

A Guide to Seller Financing

A Guide to Seller Financing

What is Seller Financing? Financing is a difficult topic to address and one that comes up frequently in the brokerage business. The sheer number of options and varying business conditions makes each financing situation unique. At Transworld, we specialize in working with buyers to find the optimal financing option for their specific situation. Some of these options are well-known, like paying cas

The Baby Boomer Seller Tsunami: Why 2016 is the Year to Sell

The Baby Boomer Seller Tsunami: Why 2016 is the Year to Sell

Preface Baby Boomers was the namesake given to the large generation of babies born following World War II, between the years of 1946 and 1964. In 2016 this generation is made up of people between the ages of 52 and 70. As the Baby Boomer population grew into adulthood they became known for their wealth, social activity and physical fitness especially when compared to past generations. This was a g

Common Questions: The Prospective Seller's Edition

Common Questions: The Prospective Seller's Edition

When meeting with prospective clients looking to sell their businesses, there are a handful of questions we are frequently asked. Because we hear them so often, I thought addressing them here with our readers would be useful! Please keep in mind though the following question and answers may not be all inclusive, they will provide an adequate starting point for those considering the sale of their b

Planning For a Business Sale: When is the Right Time?

Planning For a Business Sale: When is the Right Time?

The simple answer to this question is from day one. Most business advisors will recommend you start with an endgame in mind, whether it is 5, 10 or 30 years down the road. Even if you, as the business owner, think the plan may change, it is best to plan from the start and keep in mind that you may need to re-evaluate your plans every few years. For discussion purposes let us use 10 years as our t

How Attractive is Your Business to Potential Buyers?

How Attractive is Your Business to Potential Buyers?

The sale of your "built from scratch" business is something many business owners consider from time to time. Whether you are very serious about the sale of your business or still unsure, it can be useful to review key aspects that attract buyers when considering a business acquisition. Businesses, even small ones, are inherently diverse animals. This translates to a wide spectrum of key items to

RE: Business Owners - Don't Stop Doing What You Do Best

RE: Business Owners - Don't Stop Doing What You Do Best

You have worked tirelessly to grow your business. You have helped your business grow from a one person, owner/operator operation to a nice sized, 10-employee company. Now you have reached a point where you feel it is time to move on. It is the prime time to sell your business; it is successful and enjoys a solid customer following. So you decide to meet with a local business broker and begin the

The Five Cs: The Real Benefits of Using a Business Broker

The Five Cs: The Real Benefits of Using a Business Broker

Selling a business can be a time-consuming and often frustrating process. Many business owners have thought about or have even tried selling their business but to no avail. They recognizetheir need for help but are unsure of where to seek said help to support the process of selling their business. There are innumerable tales of the business owner who sold their business for far less than they shou

Preparing for Exit: Write Your Own Story And Ending

Preparing for Exit: Write Your Own Story And Ending

Launching a business is like writing a story, with the owner as the author and the opportunity to define and shape how their business develops and grows a "choose your own adventure." This story includes how the owner will eventually transition from the business, essentially writing their own ending. Ideally, the business owner has substantial control over how and when their business fulfills its

5 Value Factors for Your Financial Services Firm

5 Value Factors for Your Financial Services Firm

When it comes to selling a business within the financial services sector, the evaluation and process of selling that business are treated differently than other industries. Depending on your firm's specialization, the value could be determined by gross revenue, EBITDA, accounts under management and/or many other factors. Here we have compiled five important, factors that will concern savvy buyers

6 Things That Affect the Value of Your Wholesale Business

6 Things That Affect the Value of Your Wholesale Business

The wholesale business is one that legendary coach Vince Lombardi would have loved. It's all about the basics - blocking and tackling. And those companies that are best at the basics tend to perform the best over time. Wholesale businesses are appealing to buyers because it is the quintessential "middleman" business. Wholesalers don't make the product and they don't deliver it to the ultimate con

Size Matters

Size Matters

When it comes to selling a business, size does matter. The data shows that there is a direct correlation between the total sales of a small business and the price it can command when it is sold. The chart below shows the trend of the average transaction price for companies, expressed as a multiple of Seller Discretionary Income (SDE). The chart depicts that larger companies consistently outperform

How Long Does it Take to Sell a Business?

How Long Does it Take to Sell a Business?

There are many factors that play into the length of time a business stays on the market between its official listing date to the moment of its contract close. Timing, especially, plays a big role in this area. It is important to put in solid preparation efforts prior to listing a business for sale otherwise it may needlessly sit on the market for longer than anticipated. Making sure the business i

The Importance of Free Cash Flow

The Importance of Free Cash Flow

To discuss the importance of Free Cash Flow, within a business, I would first like to set the scene using the story of Joe Smith, CEO of Good Investments as an example. Joe Smith just received some financial statements from his Secretary showing 5 million dollars in revenue for the quarter. Upon the first review of these statements, he is feeling pretty good about the success of his company! Now

How to Select an Attorney to Represent the Sale of Your Business

How to Select an Attorney to Represent the Sale of Your Business

Choosing the right representation can make or break a business sale transaction. So you have decided to sell your business and have already signed with an accomplished broker, what should your next step be? Selecting an attorney to represent the sale of your business will give you the upper hand during the deal making process. Selling your business can be complicated, add to this the stress of p

7 Reasons to Choose Transworld for the Sale of Your Business

7 Reasons to Choose Transworld for the Sale of Your Business

Price Option: We analyze the market and perform a Price Option of what your business can likely sell for within the current market. We use reputable proprietary data sites to focus on a specific industry and current conditions to provide an optimal asking price. Market Reach: We market your business to over 300 different websites across the country. Our marketing efforts go far beyond

You Wouldn't Hire a Car Salesman to Sell Your Business

You Wouldn't Hire a Car Salesman to Sell Your Business

In rural markets, it might make sense for the person that would sell your home to also sell your business, because there simply is not another option. But living and working in Denver, if a person says that they can sell both your home and your business, I would run, not walk, to the mountains! There really should be no overlap between the services provided by a real estate agent or commercial bro

A Look at Due Diligence

A Look at Due Diligence

Due diligence is a very interesting step in the process of selling and buying a business that follows the acceptance of an offer. At Transworld, our offers are always non-binding during the due diligence period. This means that the buyer or seller can walk away from the deal at any time for any reason. Following the due diligence period comes the signing of the Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) which

Preparing for a Successful Transition

Preparing for a Successful Transition

When a business owner considers selling their business, it is likely due to one of the following reasons. Some may be tired and frustrated with the day-to-day operations of their business. Some have a desire for more free time to spend with family or manage their life obligations. Others are struggling with their finances and feel like they are in over their head. Some wish to move into reti

Seller Financing: The Key to Getting Smaller Deals Done

Seller Financing: The Key to Getting Smaller Deals Done

Question: How am I going to make your life easier? Answer: Seller Financing! This exchange was repeated many times during my first broker training class at the Transworld headquarters. Our instructor, a veteran business broker with over 30 years of experience, kept repeating these statements - drilling them into our head. But alas it worked, because I still remember it clearly years later.&nb

What Are Buyers Looking For in a Business?

What Are Buyers Looking For in a Business?

It is not outside the realm of possibility that a buyer approaches Transworld having access to cash and an interest in buying a business, but without a particular business in mind. This type of buyer is typically someone who has previously owned a business and were successful in developing the business and they want to replicate this process with a new venture. There are also buyers who are lookin

The Art, Relevance and Importance of Matching Suitable Buyers and Sellers

The Art, Relevance and Importance of Matching Suitable Buyers and Sellers

Interviewing buyers is an important step in helping to better understand the motivation, goals and objectives of the buyer and to help screen some business options for them to consider. This process includes the discussion of many of the following important issues: Delving into the buyer's previous industry and career background. Types of businesses and industries that interest the buyer curre

To Sell or Not to Sell: Is 2017 the Right Year For You?

To Sell or Not to Sell: Is 2017 the Right Year For You?

As we ring in 2017 now is as good a time as any to begin a personal and professional evaluation of your business. Here I will share a few questions you can ask yourself to begin the discussion. Are you ready to sell your business? Do you still enjoy working the day-to-day or has the routine become monotonous or worse - stressful? Are you ready to move on to a different industry, career path or ma

#1 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Preparation

#1 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Preparation

In the coming post, Transworld will be addressing the first step of the Transworld buying and selling process as part of a twelve part series breaking down our entire process piece by piece. In this series, each post will take on one step of the process and detail it clearly so our readers can best understand our service offerings. During this series, we invite you to refer back to some of our pre

Is 2017 the Year to Sell?

Is 2017 the Year to Sell?

All signs are pointing towards yes! As the reports containing 2016's numbers are becoming public it is obvious the business sales market is in a stable place and trending upward. Our first indicator up for discussion is the U.S. market's average sale-to-asking price ratio, which is at 92%. What this means is that the market has reached a place of balance, where the fair market value of a business

#2 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Building Your Team

#2 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Building Your Team

Welcome back for part two of our Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado series. Now that you are prepared to sell your business we can move on to building your team. This step of the process while not as involved as many of the other steps is one of, if not the most important step of the process. Continue reading to find out why! Assembling your team of advisors will poise you and your bu

Keep Calm and Carry On

Keep Calm and Carry On

It is time to sell your business. Your first move is hiring a broker. What's next? "Keep calm and carry on!" That is to say, you should stay the course - continue operating business as usual. This may seem counterintuitive, because you're selling your business, and that is a big step, but this is actually great advice. Currently, your business is doing well, your customers are happy and your brok

#3 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Collection of Information

#3 Buying and Selling a Business in Colorado: Collection of Information

Now that you have built your advisory team we can move onto the collection of information. This may seem like a daunting task, but it is well worth the effort since all of the information will be put to use to work for you in selling your business. Once engaged, your business broker will begin to collect information in order to develop the pitch book, marketing plan, and market price opinion

How Much is My Business Worth?

How Much is My Business Worth?

Moving towards selling a business is a true undertaking, one that brings up a lot of questions. But the one big question is, "How much is my business worth?" This question can be difficult to answer, especially if you are unfamiliar with the business sale process. The truth is that there isn?t necessarily one way to place a value on your company. There are many factors that play into the final nu