Exit Options

There are nine basic ways to exit the ownership of a privately held business - and there are advantages and potential pitfalls to each. It is wise to understand them all before deciding upon the best for your particular circumstance. We have developed a booklet to assist owners in determining the best way to exit their businesses. Our Owner's Exit Manual details all nine possibilities along with their pluses and minuses. Often, a third-party sale is the best option and there are many issues and strategies involved in preparing for, managing, and maximizing the business sale process. Our Exit Manual describes these in great detail. Proper planning for the sale of your business will increase marketability and valuation. If you are considering exiting your business, and wish to explore your options, or, you want to understand the sale process, please review our "Owner's Exit Manual".

Click here to request a free copy or call 757-745-9229

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Selling a Business

Once an owner has determined that a third-party sale is his or her best exit option, the next step is identifying their exit objectives.  Price is always important, but it usually is only one of the objectives.  Others may be transaction timing, continued employment or consulting, employee security or opportunities,customer service continuity, real estate considerations, non-compete requirements, etc.   For most owners, selling a business is a once-in-a-lifetime event. An owner cannot afford the outcome of an expensive learning curve resulting from a lack of transactional experience. Our team provides the kind of personal attention and resources to small and lower middle-market firms that typically are only available to sellers of larger companies. Our expertise in this highly specialized industry creates an advantage for our clients. This translates into positive negotiation results even with the most seasoned acquirers and properly structured transactions, regardless of the circumstance. During the entire process, our clients are able to maintain confidentiality and continue operating and preserving or increasing the value of their businesses.

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Our MidAtlantic Method of selling businesses includes:

  • Maintaining strict confidentiality throughout the entire process
  • Determining the Client's exit goals
  • Developing an exit strategy based on 30 years of experience
  • Determining fair market value through solid analytics and research
  • Identifying added value strategies to make the business "market ready"
  • Presenting the business in the most favorable light
  • Staging the various marketing activities to as much as possible garner multiple simultaneousresponses
  • Identifying and screening buyers
  • Structure the most beneficial transaction
  • Maximizing after-tax proceeds

Most importantly, the MidAtlantic Method works. Brokerage industry sources consistently estimate that only 20% of businesses that are listed for sale get sold, and those only at 80% of the original asking price. To us, these are disgraceful and unacceptable statistics. At MidAtlantic Business Advisors, our success rate is four orders of magnitude higher, and

"not only do we sell more than 80% of our listings, we do so at or very near asking price." *

* MidAtlantic's historical averages are an 83% success rate and 95.6% asking price as of 7/1/2024.

Contact MidAtlantic Business Advisors: If you are thinking about buying or selling a business, please contact us to learn about our confidential, comprehensive list of services. Please Click Here to fill out a short form, or call (757) 745-9229.

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