If you know who is going to buy your business, you have already dealt with the significant core perception necessary for business strategic planning: that inevitably, voluntarily or involuntarily, you will transfer your business interest. The reality check for the owner-manager of a business is the perception of and planning for the inevitable transfer of the business interest. The owner and the business will separate, the principal unknown factor is when.
The estate planner waits for the client to say “When I die” instead of “If I die.” Similarly, business strategy cannot be effective if there is a denial about the inevitability of the transfer of the business. Once the inevitable transfer is acknowledged, even though the time may be impossible to know, the probable buyer and the terms of the transfer, may be envisioned. Business strategy should have a primary goal of formulating the transfer of the business to known and probable buyers for the highest possible price. This is the essence of being able to realize maximum value for the business interest of the owners of the business.
Buy means that in exchange for cash and other consideration, you transfer a business interest to a buyer. In finding a buyer, it is helpful to ask: “Do I know anyone who will give me cash for my business interest?” For most businesses, the logical purchaser is someone who knows the business and is capable of raising the cash to make the purchase. Very likely, this person is already a part of the business. Moreover, it will be easier to identify a buyer when the buyer is someone you know and someone who is familiar with the business. There is, however, a downside to selling to someone already involved in the business.
Someone in the business knows certain things that persons outside the business will pay to learn. Put another way, there are certain items of know-how or good will that an inside buyer will not pay for because the buyer already knows them. A person outside the business, a third-party buyer, will pay for this knowledge. Therefore, to maximize the price (the value received for the business) the sale should be to a third-party buyer.
Do you know third-party buyers? Probably not. If you do not know a third-party buyer, then find one. But this search will take time, and the planning for it should be part of the strategic plan. What do you do in the interim? If you die or become disabled in this interim time what happens to the value in your business? How will it pay out to your family? For the interim, the probable buyers will be the only ones known, the ones already involved in the business and who may already be owners. There should be an owner agreement in place to assure a value for each business interest. For foreseeable trigger events (for example, death, disability, termination of employment, or withdrawal) there should be an enforceable sale at an acceptable price to provide assurance of value to each owner.
To find the unknown third-party buyer, you need to role play. There are certain groups that usually contain buyers for a business: competitors, similar businesses in other markets seeking growth, and investors. Place yourself in their position, assume a requirement of rationality, and ask: “Would you buy the business interest?” If not, then ask: “Why not?” If the purchase of the business interest does not make sense, the first task is to meet the rationality test: the purchase of the business interest you have for sale must make sense. In making this determination you will be directed toward people who would have an interest. You need to interact with these potential purchasers to see if your role playing was accurate. Again, ask “Why not?” if there is no interest. This feedback is the most reliable feedback you will ever obtain about how well your business is managed.
Critical to your understanding of the potential third-party buyer is the requirement that the purchase be for a controlling, if not total, interest in the business. The owner agreement, in addition to establishing an assured insider sale for interests in the business, also needs to provide for a transfer of a controlling, if not a total interest, to a third-party buyer. Most of the time, for all owners, receiving the maximum value for their business interests will be in the best interest of all.
There is no better way to plan and manage your business than with the contemplated buyer looking over your shoulder. Accounting must be current. Human resources records up to date and in compliance. All regulatory requirements must be met. Taxes must be paid up to date. Use the same diligence checklist as a sophisticated buyer would use to check the status of the business.
When you approach planning and management with the perspective of a potential buyer, you will see the things that make the sale attractive, and you will be getting to know the buyer of your business. The business will become more valuable and will be sold for a higher price when the inevitable sale must take place. Rather than denying the inevitable will happen, when the sale happens, you will have provided for a transfer providing maximum value for your business interest. To obtain maximum value for your business interest, you need to know who is going to buy your business.
Rick Riebesell is the Principal Consultant and Manager of Business Transition Consulting LLC. For access to the site’s resources simply register.
Rick Riebesell’s perspective is unique. In addition to his fifteen-year experience as a consultant, he has been employed by businesses in a variety of roles, practised law, owned and managed businesses, taught MBA classes, and dealt extensively with family business issues. His years of experience in working with owner-managed businesses has taught him that each business is unique. Having respect for the accomplishment of the entrepreneur in creating the business, he knows that often the skill set of the entrepreneur-founder does not include management skills or experience.
Rick latest book, Now What?, deals with the situation of the owner of a profitable business and describes how management skills, including necessary structure and process, can be implemented to derive the maximum wealth-building value from the business. Click for more about the book.
Business Succession Planning – Forms and Practice Manual published by Data Trace Publishing Company is a book for advisors involved with succession planning. It is available at Data Trace Publishing Company.
