When is the best time to sell my business?

At the first meeting with a potential client, I am often asked two questions. You can guess the first. The second is: “When is it the best time to sell my business?”

The answer depends on your state of mind and the condition of the business. These two interrelated factors are similar to two lines on a graph; that is when they come together, then that is the best time to sell your business.

Likewise, it is not a straightforward question to answer as it involves looking at two different facets the personal and commercial. Let’s look at these in more detail.

Personal

Please have a look at my Quiz elsewhere on the website. The answers to the questions may give you an idea as to how ready you are.

You might also like to consider your health, your family’s health and what you would do after the sale.

Commercial

So far as the business is concerned then it is necessary to look at your industry sector since it will give you an overview of the factors you need to consider in reaching the decision on whether now is the best time to sell your business.

Typically, a business will have a growth curve that is inconsistent. It is characterised by periods of growth, slowing down, investment and growth.

Investment

Businesses need investments to stimulate growth and take them to the next level. There are many types of investment. It could be in people, equipment, IT, processes, systems, new products and new markets.

Whatever the type of investment there has to be a desire to take on the risk it will not produce the required return for the owners.

Yet without that investment, the business may well decline, fall behind its competitors or just flat line. Remember buyers are looking for growth or at least the potential. So, it may be as well to let them take the risk rather than you. They will enjoy the upside unless a deal can be struck where you share in this at a later date.

Buyer’s view

Such a business therefore may not be attractive. Indeed, I have known of businesses that have not received offers because of the lack of sales growth.

Likewise, if a business is perceived by the buyer to be at or near the top of the current growth curve and can see the need for further investment is required, then any offer is going to be tempered to this scenario reflecting the need for that investment.

Considerations

Here are some more of the personal and commercial considerations.

Personal

• Emotional not commercial
• When you can, rather than when you have to
• When you have made up your mind
• Appetite for a reasonable handover period
• Taken it as far as you are prepared to go
• Do something else
• Deep down you do not have the skills
• When you have been approached

Commercial

• Sustainable level of revenue and profits
• Is the business sustainable without you
• Management Team run as if nothing changed
• Business plan with forecasts
• Growing levels of sales with more to come
• Scalability
• Brand value
• Leave something on the table for the buyer
• Growth, Plateau, Investment, Growth

Your decision

As you can see from this paper, the timing of the sale itself can be quiet crucial. Bearing in mind this process can takes months and moreover it is not something that can be rushed into. It requires a business that is sustainable without you the owner. In other words, it has to be sellable in the first place. Moreover, it will mean the systems and processes are in place and you, the owner, are not working 24/7 in the business.

If this paper is of interest to you then I would be happy to chat it through with you and see if it is something that works for you and your company.
I look forward to hearing from you.

If you would like to read more of the Overview of Selling a Business, please return to this page on the website.