Foreword by Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball and Liar’s Poker When huge conglomerates are sold, there are teams of lawyers, accountants, and other specialists to handle all the details and dirty work. But for entrepreneurs whose sweat and blood have built the company and made it what it is, selling the business means navigating new and potentially dangerous territory.
This book walks readers through the entire process of selling, from valuation and preparing the business for sale to finding a buyer and assembling and closing the deal. The author presents the many different ways to structure and finance the sale, and also addresses some often overlooked concerns, including managing the emotional issues that can undermine business and financial decisions.
In the next few years, up to 40 percent of the CEOs of family-held companies will retire. For many, selling the company will represent the biggest deals of their lives. Sell Your Business Your Way will make sure that they’ll get back everything they put into their businesses -- and so much more.
"""Your business is your baby. It has your DNA all over it. It has more of you in it than anything you have ever done in your life."" -- Rick Rickertsen
Whether you built it from the ground up or acquired it and then made it your own, your company is a reflection of your vision, hard work, business savvy, and resiliency. Now that you’re thinking of walking away, you’ll need all those qualities to see you through the deal.
But you’ll also need some frank advice and real strategy to knowing if you’re doing the right thing -- and to maximize your profit. Sell Your Business Your Way walks you through the entire selling process. Rick Rickertsen presents the many different ways to structure and finance a sale, and gives you step-by-step guidance to help you:
Decide what your goals are, and if it’s really time to get out.
Prepare for the sale as far in advance as possible.
Separate business from family, and do what’s best for both.
Assemble a team of advisers.
Determine how much your business is worth.
Approach and attract the right buyers.
Structure and close the deal.
And with Rickertsen’s sage investing and tax tips, you’ll learn how to make the most of the payoff. There is also crucial information for family owned businesses, of which only about one-third will make a successful ownership transition to the next generation.
Sell Your Business Your Way features a treasure trove of sample documents, adaptable forms, and -- whether you plan to hire one consultant or dozens -- a resource listing of hundreds of business brokers, valuation firms, accountants, investment firms, debt-financing sources, and much more.
Selling your business means navigating new and potentially dangerous territory. With the right information and resources, the journey will be not only safe but also exhilarating -- and hugely rewarding."