I had a conversation yesterday with a seller about the fees associated with buying a business.  It’s the same conversation I have over and over with both buyers and sellers. Now I know that it’s an over-generalization, but I think SBO’s are tight with their money.  Some say conservative, but wow have I seen some very inconsistent money management traits where business owners will fight to save a penny and lose a […] Continue Reading…

What’s wonderful about working with small business owners is that they allow me to learn how to be a better parent to my teenagers.  All I need to do is take a call from a business owner and be amazed by their ”logic” and complete inability to listen to advice from someone who has been there before.  Unlike my kids who don’t ask for my advice but have to hear it anyways, the business owner […] Continue Reading…

I just went by some clients of mine who want me to sell their business and the company doors where closed.  It’s 9:30am on a Tuesday and they aren’t open for business.  This is killing me.  I’m sure there is some good reason but in a buyer’s view, the one who might just stop by, it doesn’t look good.  I’ve told her, like so many other business owners, that once you mentally […] Continue Reading…

There are some basic considerations when it comes to planning the sale of your business.  The most challenging part for me was to make the time to learn how to do it.   I had no experience, I had no friends that had sold their businesses and research was hard to find.  What I quickly learned was that this was going to take some time.  Time for me is a very precious commodity and every day I have to evaluate […] Continue Reading…

What makes a business owner become motivated to sell their business?  Most reasons can be broken down into a few general areas, (i.e. financial, health, personal) but really it is about our attitude.  As SBO’s we are required to fill our own personal batteries and be the energizer bunny for the battles each day.  We stress when work is too busy and then when it is too slow.  We worry about cash flow, the economy and our key employees.  We […] Continue Reading…