Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory

A Neumann & Associates, LLC

March 7, 2020

Top Five Owner Concerns When Selling A Business

By Jeremy Albelda

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‘I have made the decision to sell my business.  I have built the business over my whole career and it is the biggest asset in my portfolio.  What are some of the concerns I need to worry about throughout the business sale process?’

“These are the some of the key concerns for many business owners,” says Tony Valentino, Managing Director at A Neumann & Associates, a New Jersey based mergers & acquisitions and business brokerage firm with multiple offices along the East Coast.  “In the following, we will address some of these concerns.”

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Is my business ready for sale?

The owner is worried that he/she doesn’t have accurate and up-to-date financial documentation, peak profitability margins that are sustainable, lease issues, client concentration and employee retention issues.  These items should be addressed prior to putting the business up for sale.

Fear of breaching confidentiality

The owner fears word getting out that the business is for sale.  It is important that clients, employees and suppliers are not aware of the possible sale of the business.  That is why it is important to have the right team in place that will maintain confidentiality throughout the whole process.

Do I have the right team in place to advise me with the sale of my business

Seller is worried that he/she doesn’t have the right consultants in place to guide them during the whole process.  The team should be made up of a reputable Business Broker who will coordinate an independent certified business valuation, a qualified CPA/Tax Advisor that has experience in Mergers & Acquisitions, and an Attorney that is also experienced in M&A transactions.

How do I run my business while I am trying to sell it?

You should run your business like you will own it forever. This helps put you in a stronger negotiating position.  It is important to maintain continuous growth throughout the sale process.  Don’t take your foot off the pedal.  Owners are often worried that the sale process will consume too much of their time and it will take away from running the business.  That is why it is important to have the right team in place to offload some of the issues that arise during the sale process.

What happens once my business is sold

Often, a seller thinks that once they have handed over the keys at the closing table that they are no longer involved in the business.  However, it is important to the buyer’s perception of the business that the seller will stay involved in the business during an agreed upon transitional period.  This time period can be up to six months at no cost to the buyer normally.  Usually, it is at a reduced role and sometimes part of the period is just phone consultations.  It gives the buyer comfort in the investment they are making.

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 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

“I recently completed an acquisition using A Neumann & Associates. Tony Valentino was very helpful and accessible during the entire process. They do a thorough job vetting both parties and got us to the finish line.”

Srini Mudambi
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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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