I'd like to suggest a question to ask yourself over the holidays. Do your plans for the future of your company include selling while at a peak in value?
Many companies we meet with, show neither top or bottom line growth. Owners have instead, resorted to stalling growth and squeezing whatever cash they can from the business. Some Owners are tired and lack the energy or incentive to continue growing their business, let alone sell it. They think they'll have enough to live on in retirement but continue to come into work more out of habit than to make a real difference. Often working is the result of not having an alternative way to spend their time.
Sound familiar?
A lack of hunger permeates the company and over time the business stalls or worse fails because no new ideas or re-investment are made. We ask Boomer Owners to consider this. Even if money is not the incentive, why would you let your lifetime of work just peter out and end with a failed or deflated legacy?
It's a big question.
Some Owners step back, taking extended time off or even retiring and leave their trusted, loyal employees to run the company. Sure your employees know their jobs but does that qualify them to run the whole show? In our experience, the answer is no.
Often it does not end well.
There's always a 'peak value time' to sell a company and Owners who miss this selling sweet spot could be letting over 50% or more of their potential enterprise value just slip away.
What a waste.
Every day we speak with Boomer Owners who are thinking about retirement and selling their business. Some are sitting very close to the peak time and don't even realize it. A little effort and the increased value could translate into $ millions.
Too many believe they can get there themselves while continuing to run the business as usual. The truth is they can't. By the time they realize this, the opportunity to sell at a premium is lost.
It doesn't have to be this way.
Maximizing enterprise value and negotiating a successful business sale to achieve that 'peak value' requires years of experience and many different skills. It cannot be treated just like another sale or left to your employees and trusted advisers. You have to ask yourself, what if any experience do you or do they have in selling businesses?
The answer is likely none.
When it comes to outside help, we say to Boomer Owners, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by bringing in a 'fresh set of experienced eyes' to help maximize corporate value? Do you want to be operating at peak levels when Buyers come knocking and sell at a premium price or not? This assumes you are a desirable company and can attract Buyers. Big assumption, not always realistic.
Some Owners get it, others do not.
The ones who don't, politely defer the decision to bring in outside help for another day, another week and another month. Their one moment in time gone forever and all that is left is regret. It becomes too late and they run out of time. Either the doors close, no one is interested or they are offered a fraction of what the company is worth. Did you really spend decades building to just give the business away?
Not likely.
On the other hand, some Owners light up and say you're right, when can we start? Followed by - if you can help me solve the problem we discussed in our first meeting like you did, can you also tackle this and this and ....
It's up to you. We are simply saying, allow us to help get your company back in peak condition by seizing the untapped potential and realizing a much greater selling price. Together we can help you finish on a high. Leaving a wonderful legacy of success doesn't hurt either.
Finish right.
We asked current Clients why they agreed to work with us. The answer was simple. "Once we met with you, we began to see the value WarrenBDC could bring to the table."
The holidays are always a good time to sit back and contemplate your options while peering into the future.
If you'd like to discuss how 2017 might look, please contact me directly.
Cheers, Eric
PS It's ok to forward this email to your Boomer Aged Business Owner clients, family and friends.
Many companies we meet with, show neither top or bottom line growth. Owners have instead, resorted to stalling growth and squeezing whatever cash they can from the business. Some Owners are tired and lack the energy or incentive to continue growing their business, let alone sell it. They think they'll have enough to live on in retirement but continue to come into work more out of habit than to make a real difference. Often working is the result of not having an alternative way to spend their time.
Sound familiar?
A lack of hunger permeates the company and over time the business stalls or worse fails because no new ideas or re-investment are made. We ask Boomer Owners to consider this. Even if money is not the incentive, why would you let your lifetime of work just peter out and end with a failed or deflated legacy?
It's a big question.
Some Owners step back, taking extended time off or even retiring and leave their trusted, loyal employees to run the company. Sure your employees know their jobs but does that qualify them to run the whole show? In our experience, the answer is no.
Often it does not end well.
There's always a 'peak value time' to sell a company and Owners who miss this selling sweet spot could be letting over 50% or more of their potential enterprise value just slip away.
What a waste.
Every day we speak with Boomer Owners who are thinking about retirement and selling their business. Some are sitting very close to the peak time and don't even realize it. A little effort and the increased value could translate into $ millions.
Too many believe they can get there themselves while continuing to run the business as usual. The truth is they can't. By the time they realize this, the opportunity to sell at a premium is lost.
It doesn't have to be this way.
Maximizing enterprise value and negotiating a successful business sale to achieve that 'peak value' requires years of experience and many different skills. It cannot be treated just like another sale or left to your employees and trusted advisers. You have to ask yourself, what if any experience do you or do they have in selling businesses?
The answer is likely none.
When it comes to outside help, we say to Boomer Owners, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by bringing in a 'fresh set of experienced eyes' to help maximize corporate value? Do you want to be operating at peak levels when Buyers come knocking and sell at a premium price or not? This assumes you are a desirable company and can attract Buyers. Big assumption, not always realistic.
Some Owners get it, others do not.
The ones who don't, politely defer the decision to bring in outside help for another day, another week and another month. Their one moment in time gone forever and all that is left is regret. It becomes too late and they run out of time. Either the doors close, no one is interested or they are offered a fraction of what the company is worth. Did you really spend decades building to just give the business away?
Not likely.
On the other hand, some Owners light up and say you're right, when can we start? Followed by - if you can help me solve the problem we discussed in our first meeting like you did, can you also tackle this and this and ....
It's up to you. We are simply saying, allow us to help get your company back in peak condition by seizing the untapped potential and realizing a much greater selling price. Together we can help you finish on a high. Leaving a wonderful legacy of success doesn't hurt either.
Finish right.
We asked current Clients why they agreed to work with us. The answer was simple. "Once we met with you, we began to see the value WarrenBDC could bring to the table."
The holidays are always a good time to sit back and contemplate your options while peering into the future.
If you'd like to discuss how 2017 might look, please contact me directly.
Cheers, Eric
PS It's ok to forward this email to your Boomer Aged Business Owner clients, family and friends.
