ABB Fast-TrackerOctober Edition
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Below is a Sampling
of Florida Businesses
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use a Business Broker? Selling or buying a business is one of the most important financial decisions you will make. A Business Broker has the training and expertise to guide you through the process in a comfortable and efficient manner. He is a team player who will coordinate the efforts of your professional advisors, such as attorneys and accountants. He has handled many transactions and understands the complexities of selling and buying a business.During the process, the Seller's job is to do what he does best, which is to run the business as if he were going to keep it. The Broker's job is to confidentially market the business, find and screen the Buyers, educate them, negotiate the terms of the sale and provide a buffer for the emotional highs and lows that we all experience. The Buyer benefits because the Broker has already pre-qualified a business before he lists it. He has psychologically prepared the Seller for the sale. He has also done a lot of the legwork to assemble the financial information and background of the business. This helps to reduce some of the uncertainty for the Buyer and make this search more efficient.
How do you handle confidentiality? Transactions handled by American Business Brokers are held confidentially by all parties. We require that a prospective Buyer review and sign a non-disclosure statement outlining his responsibility in having access to a Seller's confidential information. This occurs before any detailed information concerning a specific opportunity is released. We are committed to protecting the confidentiality of the business sale. We understand that public knowledge of a potential sale can affect the attitudes and actions of customers, employees, competitors, lenders, suppliers, or investors, and thus the value of the company. We also want to safeguard the employment status of a potential Buyer while he considers a very important change for his future.
Why buy a business instead of starting one? It may take more money than time to buy a business. It takes more time than money to start one. The break-even point for buying versus starting a business is the cost to buy equipment, rent a space, pay a staff, pay for advertising, establish contractual relationships and support yourself while you are building up a customer base. If you buy an established business, you have an income from the day you take over. You already know what can be accomplished by the business. If you start a business, you face a lot of uncertainty over the success and desirability of your product or service. Buying a business takes a lot of the risk out of your decision.
What kind of financing is available? Seller financing is usually the cheapest and easiest to obtain. It also tells the Buyer that the seller has confidence in the business. There are no loan fees and the interest rate is usually lower than the bank rates, but the term of the loan is often shorter. Seller notes make up the majority of Buyer financing. Banks will loan money on businesses that show a strong earnings history on the tax returns. They require a lot of documentations and the payment of upfront fees. In recent years, bank loans, which are guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, have become very popular and more readily available. If all else fails, family or friends will sometimes offer to help out. They can either provide funds or sign a guarantee for a bank loan.
How long does it take to sell a business? It usually takes longer to sell a business than a house or a commercial building. Because of the confidential nature of a business sale, a business broker cannot put a For Sale sign on the window. The average time to sell a business is usually between six to eighteen months. However, there are exceptions. Some businesses may sell within a month of being put on the market. Others may take several years to attract the right Buyer. A business broker seeks out and talks to Buyers everyday. The next one may be just right for a particular business.
How do you advertise a business for sale? We advertise on the Internet using several different sites i.e. American Business Brokers website, Florida Cooperating Business Brokers Association multi list, Business Brokers of Florida multi list, International Business Brokers Association multi list, Merger Network, and Broker Works to name a few. We also advertise in the local newspapers, which still generates a large number of calls. We direct market weekly to our exclusive in house database of Buyers. We place ads in journals and publications that target particular industries. We network with members of trade associations such as the International Business Brokers Association, the Florida Cooperating Business Brokers Association and the Business Brokers of Florida. We also receive referrals from attorneys, accountants and real estate professionals.
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