A Business Broker or M&A Advisor can help you increase the value of your business before a sale

If you make improvements, we can make a stronger case for selling your business at an attractive price. This will involve some or all of the following:

GATHER CUSTOMER DATA AND SOLVE PROBLEMS

• We begin by talking with your customers. We also use online surveys, details from customer support calls, and onsite conversations to gather feedback. Determining who your ideal customer is and ensuring that your business serves the ideal customer is a crucial step.
• Next, we work to find out what problems your clients are trying to solve and create products and services to better do so.
• These steps can increase customer loyalty and generate repeat business. The Harvard Business Review explains why developing repeat business is so profitable: “Depending on which study you believe, and what industry you’re in, acquiring a new customer is anywhere from five to 25 times more expensive than retaining an existing one.” You can increase sales and control your marketing cost with repeat business.

REVIEW YOUR OPERATIONS

You can save time by working with a Broker or Advisor who can identify areas needing improvement. Your job is to manage your business effectively and increase profits, while Skylight Intermediaries positions the company for sale.

• We will consider how you might create a better customer experience, for example by improving your website or your eCommerce system.
• Automate routine tasks and write a procedures manual to document each process.

THEN, YOUR ADVISOR WILL PREPARE A BUSINESS VALUATION

We will analyze your data and report on your business financials. If necessary, we will help you obtain a trusted business valuation, which is prepared by a certified, accredited valuation appraiser. This is generally different from a valuation prepared by your accountant, because the process is unbiased and reflects the company’s true worth. The broker can then negotiate the sale price using the appraisal and other factors that impact company value.

Among other considerations, we will analyze the sales of similar companies, industry trends, and market factors. Our goal is to ensure that you do not leave money on the table.

Marketing Expertise

We will create a personalized marketing strategy to find interested buyers, including a detailed Confidential Information Memorandum that presents your business in the best possible light. When multiple buyers compete to purchase your business, you can obtain a higher sale price.

Brokers and Advisors understand what buyers are looking for in a business:

• Uniqueness in the market
• Firms with a track record of sales, positive cash inflows, and net profits
• Companies with recurring revenue streams
• A profitable niche that is repeatable over time
• A disruptive product or service that grows profits

Skylight Intermediaries can educate buyers on why your business is attractive. If you can provide a business model that a buyer can use to scale the business, you can close a sale at a higher price.

The specialists at Skylight Intermediaries use unique sources to find buyers, and we will develop a curated list of thousands of potential buyers for a particular business type. We then pre-screen buyers to determine if the buyer has the financial resources to make a purchase offer.

Oversight of Due Diligence

When a serious buyer is identified, your Broker or Advisor will manage the due diligence process. We know which documents are most relevant for due diligence, and we can help you gather and organize them. Requests for additional information are common and can be frustrating. You can hand off that task to your broker.

Negotiating and closing a successful sale

As your Broker or Advisor, we will negotiate the final price on your behalf, and address the laws, regulations, permits, and licenses that impact the sale.

Your Broker or Advisor will help create a closing and transition checklist, which will help you and the buyer close your transaction successfully. An experienced Broker or Advisor will guide you on best practices and what to expect during the closing.

Objectivity

Perhaps most importantly, we are not emotionally attached to your business. The sale process can be emotional and draining for the owner, and a broker will help you maintain objectivity.

You should work with a trusted advisor

Skylight Intermediaries’ Business Brokers and M&A Advisors have worked on a multitude of transactions in a number of industries. We will work to transform your business into a ready-to-sell enterprise, which increases market valuation, then your Broker will help you find the ideal buyer and get maximum value for your business.

Contact us today for a free preliminary valuation.