Every industry has its own special language, and the world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is no exception. A blemish uncovered during due diligence may “torpedo” a deal, an active market is described as “frothy,” and tense moments between buyer and seller can...
The good folks at the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal published my latest guest commentary this week [subscription required]. It was part of the "Northwest Arkansas' Largest Private Companies" issue. Here is the article in its entirety. Enjoy! I’m a sucker for a...
When you first take the leap into entrepreneurship you're usually not thinking about building a sellable business. That initial push often revolves around a more fundamental desire that most of us share: being your own boss. Rather than work for someone else, we...
Looking back on the path of business experience that brought me to where I am today, I always smile when I think about the two-year whirlwind I spent working for a venture-backed Internet startup in my hometown of Seattle. With my freshly-minted MBA in hand, I decided...
You've closed out the books on another fiscal year (congratulations!) and Q1 is off and running. In addition to setting some of my own goals (alright, "resolutions") for the coming year, I’ve read plenty of blog posts on the topic, including this one on why you should...
A New York Times blogger writes about the sale of a business that ended in disaster. Despite all of the details provided, it’s hard to know exactly what went wrong and why. Regardless, it’s a great opportunity to try and learn from someone else’s experience and avoid repeating these three mistakes.
If you have ever promised your child a treat in return for good behavior, you know all about negotiating leverage. When selling an attractive business, you also have leverage — but only up to the point where you sign a letter of intent (LOI). Here are seven things you can do — before you even put your business up for sale, and before signing an LOI — to minimize the chances of your deal dragging on for months and becoming watered down.
How is that we’ve been trained to think of certain things like cars and homes in terms of resale value, but not our most valuable asset: our business? Even if you have no plans to sell today, or in the short term, or ever, it is good to get in the habit of protecting the resale value of your business.
To grow a valuable business – one you can sell – you need to set up your company so that it is no longer reliant on you. This can be easier said than done, especially when, like a PR consultant or plumber, what you are selling is your expertise.
Big companies lock out their competitors by out-slugging them in capital infrastructure investments, but smaller businesses have to be smarter about how they defend their turf. Here are four ways to deepen and widen the protective moat around your business.
Don't miss out on our latest tips and resources for planning a sale, selling your business and business valuation -- delivered straight to your inbox.
