Category: Business

The simple fact is that family businesses are different.  After all, a family business means working with family and all the good and bad that comes with it. While an estimated 80% to 90% of all businesses are family owned, relatively few are properly planning for what happens when it comes time to sell.  According to one study, a whopping 72% of family ...

A recent article posted by The National Law Review entitled “Thinking of Selling? Start Early, Build Your Team” explains the importance of putting together a good team of trusted advisors well in advance of selling your business. Your team should include an attorney, accountant, investment banker, and wealth manager. This team will help you with ...

I have very fond memories of my first “real” job. After all, this was my initial step into the real world: no longer did I receive cash for a few hours of watching someone’s children; I now had my hands on an official paycheck – complete with my social security number, full address, and withholdings for the government! I was attending ...

If I sell the business now, will I get enough money to satisfy my needs? Will I really improve my personal financial position, or should I wait a little bit longer? Define priorities: Do I want an all-cash deal, so that I can wash my hands and be done with the business? (This will generally result in a lower price the buyer will be willing to pay.) Am I willing ...

Today we are offering a wish list for a typical seller of a small business. Entrepreneurs who are selling their companies, as well as those looking to purchase, generally agree on what would make the process more seamless overall. What the seller wants: A qualified buyer - This not only means someone with the financial resources to meet a down payment ...

The biggest financial transaction in a private business owner's life is likely the sale of his or her business. Although many transfers are predetermined, others result from unplanned events, which is why it is essential for business owners to have an exit strategy. Operate your business as if you are going to sell it. Most owners assume they will operate the ...

Ho-hum, you may be thinking. Or, boring. Maybe even, when can I possibly fit this into my hectic week? As an entrepreneur, you are an extremely busy individual who probably shoots from the hip more often than not. So, do you really need to take the time and effort to put a business plan in writing? Almost every CEO and business consultant in the country would ...

The buzz is that if you are a Baby Boomer and you want to sell your business in the next few years, then you are in the majority. You are not the only Baby Boomer and will possibly have your business compete against many more similar businesses in both model and industry. In order to be well-prepared, you will need a proper valuation. Establishing a baseline value of ...

How often do you find yourself looking for that important - yet somehow misplaced - piece of paper? Do you promise yourself that you're going to become better organized, but find the days, weeks and months slipping by with too much work to do and not enough time to start that new filing system or categorize your overflowing email messages? Everyone can benefit ...

Did you know that your small business is subject to the same regulations as a giant commercial entity? If you find this startling news, you're not alone; most entrepreneurs in the United States assume that laws apply only to much larger corporations. All companies – small, medium, large and mammoth – must adhere to the applicable local, regional and ...

Natural disasters may hit at any time of the year, but the recent wildfires in Colorado and derecho (line of violent thunderstorms) that cut a path across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic have made Americans aware that the atmosphere is often very unstable during the summer months. Have you given any thought to a disaster plan of action for your small business? Having a ...