Consolidation is inevitable in maturing industries. As an M&A advisor working with owners of private wholesale distribution, manufacturing and industrial service companies, one of the questions I am often asked is whether it is better from a valuation perspective to sell early in a consolidation phase, or hold off. It depends of course, but generally […]

We have a saying: “Go ugly early.” When you’re selling a business, put issues on the table right away. Whether you have ineligible employees on your payroll, you just lost a client, or litigation is pending—be up front. For advice on exit planning or selling a business, contact Al Statz, CEO of Exit Strategies Group, […]

If you have certain employees who are critical to operations and would be hard to replace, take steps to secure them before a sale. Noncompete contracts can be one way to reduce employee defections. Take a look at your employee agreements, too, and ensure you have appropriate non-disclosure and “no raid” covenants. Give careful consideration […]

When you’re ready to retire, or exit your business, you may think selling to a competitor is your only option. But competitors are seldom your best buyer. They’re rarely willing to pay top value because they’re already established in the market. They can’t see that your “secret sauce” is any better than theirs, so they […]