Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory

A Neumann & Associates, LLC

November 17, 2015

Can Your Business Survive A Disaster?

By Achim Neumann

You might not think about it from day to day, as life can lull you into a false state of security, but natural disasters can happen at any time, in a variety of ways. Being caught without a plan to keep your business afloat can put its survival in doubt, making it vital to take the steps necessary to protect your assets before the unexpected happens. Having a plan will help restore it to full health despite any circumstances that might beset you in the wake of a disruptive event.

CANYourBusi

Which types of disasters are most likely to occur in your region?

Your first task is to assess what natural threats pose the biggest risk to your assets. What plans can you draft, or infrastructure can you purchase that will counteract these threats? For example, if you live in an area that is prone to severe storms, having a generator on site at your retail food store may be a worthwhile investment, as it will keep frozen perishables viable while you wait several days for your power to be restored.

Review your insurance cover

Are you adequately protected for the partial or complete destruction of your assets? Are there clauses in your current policy that exclude or limit coverage for disasters that have a realistic chance of happening in your area? Review it line by line (with your attorney if possible) to make sure you are covered for everything you need to be protected against. It is always a good idea to get periodic business valuations to ensure you know what your business and assets are actually worth, and especially for insurance purposes.

Mirror copies of important documents, and back up vital data to the cloud

Go through your files and identify every document that would damage your business if it were to be lost in a fire, and photocopy it multiple times. Take these copies and store them in various secure places (e.g. safety deposit boxes, a safe in your home, etc). Additionally, you will want to scan them and upload their digitized forms to a secure cloud storage site along with all the vital electronic files that are present on your company servers.

What will your employees do in the aftermath of a disaster?

Disasters may create communication challenges that will make contacting employees difficult in the wake of a natural disturbance. With telecommunications likely to be unreliable or offline, it is important that people in various positions know what their responsibilities are after an event before it happens. This way, there will be less confusion among your rank and file with regards to their duties when the unexpected occurs.

What government relief programs are you eligible for in the wake of a declared disaster?

Sometimes, the forces of nature wreak destruction on a scale that may require you to reach out for government assistance. Do you know the protocol that you will you have to go through to receive the capital you need to get your business back on its feet? If you don’t, researching federal and state programs that are set up to help individuals and businesses get level after a disaster will prove to be a worthwhile investment of your time on a quiet afternoon.

About A Neumann & Associates, LLC

A Neumann & Associates, LLC is a professional mergers & acquisitions and business brokerage firm having assisted business owners and buyers in the business valuation and business transfer process through its affiliations for the past 30 years. With an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, the company has senior trusted professionals with a deep knowledge based in multiple field offices along the East Coast and has performed hundreds of business valuations in its history. The firm’s competitive transaction fees are based on successfully completing transactions. For more information, please contact A Neumann & Associates at 732-872-6777 or info@neumannassociates.com

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Client Testimonials

“I've always had great respect for those who are excellent in their fields of endeavor. Gary certainly lived up to that standard. He was knowledgeable, persuasive, determined and ultimately the main driving force that culminated in the very successful sale of my business. Well done Gary!”

Stuart Zeiff, Seller

“ I appreciate your diligent approach to screening buyers and sellers as well as the high quality CIM that you produce.”

Andrey O, Investor

“Finally enjoying retirement after recently selling my business using the services of A Neumann & Associates. Joe Oddo provided the conduit to a successful transaction. Joe knew when to inject input and when to simply listen and allow the buyers to vent, step back and regroup. The outcome met our expectations and got us to the finish line, which included my staying with the company six months in order for the buyers to get their footing and keep our workforce in the loop. He helped at every step by providing his expert guidance & resources. Thank you!”

Emily Parker Myers, Co-Owner - Myers McRae

“I had been in touch with Karin and Gary from A Neumann & Associates regarding some opportunities and was looking forward to meeting with them. Hence, when they organized a seminar in Princeton, NJ, I was quick to sign up. The seminar was very informative as the team walked the attendees through various scenarios and referenced real life buying/selling situations they had been through. The sessions by Gary, Karin and Achim were crisp and focused and brought clarity to potential seller and buyers. I strongly recommend the team and look forward to continue working with them.”

Gaurav Tyagi

“Thank you for your Event on "How to value, Sell, and Buy A Business for Maximum Profit" and the insight into ANA’s approach on what is involved in the Business Exit for sellers. Garys Hervieiou's "Business Valuation", Achim's "Deal structure" presentation and Karin’s "Preparing the Package" are real street knowledge shared. They answered attendees questions which makes it more interesting for learning from others. Great for small businesses like us. The presentations were totally worth our time and travel for the event to Princeton, NJ from Rockville MD. Ravi Bhutani, President, CIPS”

Ravi Bhutani

“Gary, this is to thank you for an excellent job done in selling our business. We could never have done it without your professional expertise, dedication and time put in without reservation to make it happen. We will gladly and highly recommend you to anybody in our position.  It was a pleasure to work with you.”

Pat Iammatteo, Owner

“Your vetting is simply outstanding, among the best I've seen from a broker.”

Eric H., Investor

“I recently contacted A. Neumann and Associates about getting a valuation of my business done. I spoke with Marc, who explained the process in detail. After meeting with Marc in order to get a clear understanding of my business, and what I was hoping to accomplish. His patience in answering all my questions and his knowledge of the proper way to market my business gave me great confidence that this is the firm I will be using to sell my business for max value. Working with Marc at A Neumann & Associates was very easy and professional. I did not know all that was going to be involved in selling my business but they helped me through the process. What I thought was going to be a just another one of those pushy sales companies was just the opposite. Polite, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to talk to and deal with. I highly recommend this firm to anybody who wants to sell now or down the road. Marc not only knows his stuff, but actually is a real nice guy.”

Double Diamond

“Used A Neumann & Associates to sale my business. could not imagine having done it with out the patience and experience Gary provided. Thanks Gary,”

Dennis Frazier

“Working with Marc and his company was a pleasure. What I thought was going to be a just another one of those pushy sales companies was just the opposite. Polite, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to talk to and deal with. Marc handled most of the interaction and he has one of the greatest demeanors. Again, it was a pleasure working with him and his firm.”

Douglas DiCeglio
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Contact A Neumann & Associates, LLC

If you are considering selling your business, please contact us to learn more about our comprehensive service spectrum. Our experienced professionals will answer all your questions about selling a privately held business in complete confidentiality. Please fill out our contact form, or call us at 732-872-6777. We will contact you directly and will never identify ourselves to your employees.

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