Preparing and Selling Your Business

TOPICS COVERED

When is the right time to sell? How much is my business worth? What is the likely success rate? How long will it take to sell? How many enquiries will I get? Are there businesses that are certain to sell? Are there businesses that get no interest? What puts buyers off? Who are the buyers? Who are not buyers? Will my close competitors buy? Who are the best buyers? Why do they buy?

Should I discount the price? What does a business broker do? Can I sell without a broker? How can I spot the good and the bad business brokers? How should I negotiate? Should I accept staged payments? How can I keep down professional fees? What is the ideal size of business to sell? Is my business too personal to sell? How much work should I as owner be doing?

What should sale information look like? Do I need to use confidentiality agreements? What is due diligence? What are heads of agreement? How much will a sale contract cost? What is a non-compete clause? Are my customer records right? Are my marketing systems good enough? How should I arrange my IT systems? Are my accounts right for a sale? What is the difference between a share sale and an asset sale? Am I prepared for an asset sale? Will I be paying too much tax on a sale?

TRAINER

The workshop will be run by Ian Benson from Matrix Mergers who has sold more than 200 businesses over 25 years as a business broker.

PARTICIPANTS

The workshops are open to owners of businesses of all sizes and profit levels who are looking to sell their business either now or in a few years time. People who provide advice to businesses are also welcome.

ORGANISER

SME Workshops  18 Blake Street  York YO1 8QG