Entries by bbpadmin

The Hidden Obstacles in Business Sales

Call TM Business Brokers Today!  412-580-3399 – Cris Maragos, Certified Business Broker The sale of a business is often seen as the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, but for many, the process doesn’t go as planned. While the goal is always to reach a successful transaction, the reality is that many […]

7 Essential Questions to Ask Before Buying a Business

Buying a business is a significant investment that requires careful consideration. To make an informed decision and reduce risks, you need to ask the right questions. Below are seven essential questions every buyer should ask before finalizing any deal. These will help you understand the business’s true value along with potential risks. 1. What Are […]

How to Set Remote Teams Up for Success

As remote work continues to evolve, businesses must adapt to this new way of working. What was once a temporary solution during the global pandemic has now become a permanent part of the modern workforce. While the flexibility of remote work offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges. This can be particularly true when it […]

The Critical Role of Confidentiality in Business Sales

Call TM Business Brokers Today!  412-580-3399 – Cris Maragos, Certified Business Broker When it comes time to sell a business, ensuring confidentiality should always be the top priority. A breach of confidentiality is one of the quickest ways to undermine a business sale. Once this trust is broken, it can be incredibly difficult to contain […]

The Essential Role of Corporate Social Responsibility

If you’re not entirely familiar with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), you are not alone. While this word is getting used more and more often, many people are still not familiar with the concept. Yet, CSR has become a critical focus for businesses of all sizes. As a result, understanding its key elements is essential for […]

5 Questions to Ask Before Purchasing a Global Business

Purchasing a business abroad involves unique challenges and factors. There are considerations to keep in mind that you typically won’t face when buying a local business. The decision to invest internationally is complex and influenced by various elements. Let’s take a look at some of the best practices for anyone looking to buy a business […]

Top Four Reasons Why Buying an Existing Business May Be Smarter Than Starting One from Scratch

When people dream of becoming business owners, they often picture launching their own venture. They may picture building something from nothing, and the fulfillment of turning a concept into a company. While exciting, this path comes with plenty of hurdles, which include creating brand awareness, finding customers, hiring a team, and generating consistent income. Keep […]

Key Considerations Before Buying a Business

  When considering the purchase of a business, asking the right questions is essential. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned entrepreneur, you’ll want to avoid unpleasant surprises down the line. One way to do that is to be proactive and diligent when you’re making your evaluations. Below are some critical areas to explore […]

Co-Branding: A Strategic Business Partnership for Success

The concept of combining businesses is a tried-and-true strategy. A classic example of this strategy is the tailor next to the dry cleaner. This is a combination that has been part of commerce for a long time. Today, however, this partnership model has evolved into a modern strategy called co-branding. Particularly popular among franchises, co-branding […]

Thriving in the Modern Business World

As we step further into the 21st century, the landscape of business is changing. While there are always new challenges on the horizon, the core principles of achieving success in business remain largely unchanged. Have you considered how well you’re preparing for both the new and enduring demands of entrepreneurship? Let’s take a look at […]

Recognizing Trouble in Your Business Before It’s Too Late

Businesses can face various challenges, and many issues that arise are not always immediately obvious. However, there are common signs to look for when a company is in trouble or headed in that direction. Recognizing these signs early is crucial, as they can help business owners make informed decisions about the future of their business.  […]

Post-Closing Steps for a Successful Transition

Once the deal is sealed and the closing is complete, many business owners might think their job is done. However, ensuring that the transition to the new owner goes smoothly is crucial not only for the business’ continued success, but also for protecting your own ongoing interests.  First and foremost, even after the sale, most […]

The Importance of a Professional First Impression

In today’s business world, effective communication is paramount, and the telephone remains one of the most essential tools for engaging with clients, prospects, and partners. Automated answering services, voicemail systems, or hold music can significantly impact your company’s image and customer satisfaction. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that the telephone is a productive sales tool […]

The Risks of Under-Reporting Income for Business Owners

One of the most critical questions for prospective buyers, investors, and lenders is understanding a business’s true income. However, it should come as no surprise that the party most invested in uncovering this information is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Why is determining a business’s real income so difficult? While financial records should provide a […]

Understanding the Odds of Selling a Business

When it comes to buying or selling a business, we often get asked two common questions: “How many businesses are for sale?” and “What percentage of businesses on the market actually sell?” To get a sense of the market, it’s important to break things down by business category. The industries that make up the majority […]

The Entrepreneur: Understanding Strengths and Weaknesses

Entrepreneurs are typically dynamic and driven individuals who play a critical role in driving innovation. However, to succeed, they must leverage their strengths while being mindful of their weaknesses. By understanding both, entrepreneurs can maximize their potential and build more sustainable businesses. Strengths of Entrepreneurs Flexibility and Positive Attitudes Entrepreneurs are highly resilient and maintain […]

Does Your Company Have an “Orphaned” Product or Service?

Many businesses have a product or service that’s performing reasonably well, perhaps even thriving, but doesn’t quite align with the company’s core offerings. It’s often called an “orphaned” product—a good or service that is disconnected from the company’s main focus. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. It’s more common than you might […]

Leveraging Customer Feedback to Improve Your Business

If your business interacts with customers, it’s inevitable that at some point, you will receive customer complaints or negative feedback. The key to turning these situations into opportunities is how you handle them. Ignoring or dismissing customer complaints can damage your brand’s reputation and customer loyalty. However, addressing these issues effectively can improve your operations, […]

3 Steps to Sell Your Business Quickly and Efficiently

Before delving into the specific steps that benefit business owners who are looking to sell quickly, it’s crucial to understand the buyer’s viewpoint. For many buyers, purchasing a business is a once-in-a-lifetime event, often involving significant personal and financial risk. Therefore, sellers must take proactive steps to ensure their business is as appealing and risk-free […]

You Have a Buyer for Your Business – Now What?

While learning that you have a serious buyer for your business may feel like a cause for celebration, it’s important to hold off on the champagne. The journey from a buyer expressing interest to a finalized sale involves several steps, and your business broker or M&A advisor will play a crucial role in guiding you […]

Simple Tips for Being a More Efficient Business Owner

As a business owner, one of your ongoing priorities should be finding ways to save money. Ultimately, this will boost your bottom line and make your business more attractive to buyers. Let’s take a look at some strategies to run a more efficient and cost-effective business.  1. Consolidate Services for Better Deals There are many […]

How to Know You’re Charging Enough

Most business owners fret about whether they are asking too much or not enough for their goods or services. This dilemma keeps many prospective sellers up at night. Ask too much, and you may fail to attract enough customers; ask too little, and you’re cutting yourself short. In this article, we’ll examine how to determine […]

Navigating the Decision to Sell Your Business

For many business owners, deciding to sell their company is one of the most significant financial decisions they will ever face. This choice not only alters their financial situation but also impacts their lives as a whole. Life after selling a business can be vastly different, so it’s essential for owners to consider what their […]

Great Ways for Business Owners to Save Money

Business owners are constantly seeking ways to cut costs and boost profits to make their businesses as attractive as possible to buyers. Fortunately, there are many surprisingly simple strategies to save money across various aspects of your business. 1. Embrace Digital Solutions One effective way to save money is by going digital. Just as you […]

Don’t Settle for Less Than a Highly Accurate EBITDA

  If you, as the seller, want to receive the best price for your business, it’s essential to understand that your adjusted or normalized EBITDA will serve as the foundation for the purchase price. This EBITDA will be used as a multiple to negotiate the final price. Every dollar counts; for example, if your EBITDA […]

EBITDA and What It Means for Selling Your Business

Selling a business is rarely as straightforward or fast as business owners would like. Unless you’ve sold a business before, there will be unforeseen obstacles. Even if you’ve sold a business before, you will likely run into hurdles along the way. The fact that every business is different, and this impacts the variables associated with […]

Unlocking Your Potential Through Business Ownership

As a business owner, you gain freedom and the potential to earn more than you might otherwise earn. If you are ready to tackle the hard work involved in business ownership, you may be prepared to take the next step. Two main advantages to being a business owner include forging ahead with more freedom and […]

Selling Your Business: Key Questions and Answers

Selling your business is a significant decision. You’ve invested considerable time, money, and effort into building and running it—perhaps it even represents your life’s work. Now that you’ve decided it’s time to sell, getting the best professional advice is crucial. This is where working with a professional business broker can be the key to not […]

The Critical Role of Storytelling in Selling a Business

Every business has a story to tell. In fact, selling a business involves the art of storytelling as you must pique interest and enthusiasm in the mind of the buyer. Through storytelling, you can convey not only the history of a business, but also its future.  Good business brokers and M&A advisors are storytellers who […]

How Inexperience Can Impact Your Business Sale

The lessons learned through hands-on experience are often irreplaceable. When it comes to selling or transferring ownership of a business, inexperience can be particularly troublesome. Many business brokers and M&A advisors have observed firsthand the jeopardy business owners can face when they either attempt to sell their business on their own or engage someone without […]

Unraveling the Complex Realities of Valuations

Determining an accurate valuation for a company is far from straightforward. It involves a range of complex, and often rapidly changing, factors. The challenge is compounded by the fact that some aspects of valuation are inherently subjective. This means that different professionals might ultimately arrive at different conclusions. Despite these challenges, we can establish ways […]

What You Need to Know About Family Business Legacy and Transition

Family businesses are quite common. Estimates suggest there are more than 5 million family businesses in the United States alone. While family businesses are prevalent, this does not diminish their unique nature, as a family business often plays a central role in the family’s identity. Family members are typically deeply attached to the business and […]

The Invaluable Benefits of Working with A Business Broker

One of the worst mistakes any business owner can make is neglecting their business during the sales process. It is quite common for sellers to become overwhelmed, lose focus, and see their business suffer as a result. The last thing any business owner wants is for their business to encounter problems right before it is […]

Selling Your Business Like a Pro

Having a player mindset when selling a business can be a real gamechanger. The goal with this approach is to steer clear from coming across as desperate or highly motivated to sell. Instead, a seller who embraces a player mindset operates from a position of strength. It’s all about realizing you have something of value […]

Strategic Negotiation: Essential Tactics for Deal Success

Negotiation can evoke a range of feelings: some people thrive on it, others dread it, and many fall somewhere in between. Regardless of your stance, the ultimate goal remains the same: to emerge successfully from the negotiation. Mastering effective negotiation methods and tactics can give you an edge where others might falter. The objective is […]

5 Essential Tips for Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is a crucial platform for professionals serious about business. Its versatility allows business owners to harness its potential in numerous ways. By implementing the following tips, you can enhance your LinkedIn profile to attract more leads and expand your network rapidly. 1. Send Connection Requests Initiate by actively sending connection requests. Most LinkedIn users […]

The Critical Importance of Confidentiality in Selling Your Business

Maintaining confidentiality should be placed at the top of your “to-do” list when selling a business. The tremendous importance of maintaining confidentiality is difficult to overstate and stands as one of the key reasons that any seller should opt to work with a business broker or M&A advisor. Every seller should remember that a breach […]

Understanding the Complexities of Buyer Motivation

Negotiations can often be both perplexing and delicate. A simple misstep can jeopardize what could have been a great deal. One key but often overlooked tool in any negotiation is to pause and consider the wants, needs, and desires of the other party. Contemplating the ideal outcome for them can work wonders. Understanding what motivates […]

Considering Seller Financing

Many sellers are surprised to learn that seller financing is very common. In fact, sellers should realize that there is a good chance that in order to sell their business, they will have to consider offering seller financing.  What is Seller Financing? Seller financing essentially occurs when the seller provides a loan to cover some […]

Unlocking Business Potential with Strong Recurring Revenue

Everyone loves recurring revenue and for good reason. When buyers see recurring revenue, they instantly know that a business is stable, has positive cash flow, and, importantly, has room for potential future growth. There is no way around the fact that buyers want a business to be predictable. In short, buyers want to see consistency […]

The Emotional Side of Selling Your Business

It is easy to get lost in the numbers when it comes to selling your business, but it is important to remember that the numbers only tell one side of the story. Both buying and selling a business come with significant mental and emotional ramifications.  Why is this so critical to understand? Sellers who are […]

Why Should You Buy an Established Business?

A pre-existing business is a proven commodity. A new business, regardless of how great your idea may be, will always have a future that is uncertain. You can hire many consultants and plan meticulously. Yet, even with the best ideas and most experienced consultants, your newly minted business could still quickly fail. A business with […]

What Should You Expect from Your Business Intermediary?

Eventually every business owner needs to sell or think about who will take over their business when they retire. Working with an intermediary is an easy and streamlined way to jumpstart the process and learn what mistakes to avoid. A business broker or M&A advisor can help you to understand what steps to take to […]

How to Save a Deal

Few business owners truly understand the complex dynamics of making a deal. Having never participated in selling a business before, the majority of business owners are blissfully unaware of what it takes to turn the dream of selling a business into a reality. Having a brokerage professional by their side is an easy way for […]

How Business Owners Can Leverage AI

Artificial Intelligence has certainly received more than a bit of attention in the last two years. It’s no wonder that many business owners wonder how best to use this tool to gain an edge over the competition. Currently, the cost of ChatGPT-4 is only $20 per month, which is a very nominal cost considering its […]

Options for Family Owned Businesses

If you own a family-owned business, you may feel as though there are more factors to consider when it’s time to sell. In this article, we’ll examine some of the best options that business owners can use. You’ll want to keep in mind that both internal and external strategies are available to you. Let’s take […]

Understanding the Modern Buyer

A key part of the American Dream is the notion of being financially independent and controlling one’s own fate. While times have changed, the idea of the American Dream is alive and well. Entrepreneurs have long realized that one of the quickest ways of achieving this dream is to own a successful business.  The majority […]

The Top Four Reasons Why Deals Fall Apart

It takes a lot of work to buy or sell a business. When a once promising deal is not successful, this can be due to a wide array of reasons. However, understanding the reasons why a deal can fall apart in advance can serve to dramatically increase your odds of success. Some of the reasons […]

6 Critically Important Aspects of Due Diligence

Performing due diligence as a part of your company’s annual review is a smart move and one that can help your business in a range of ways. Through this means, if the day comes that you need or want to sell, then you’re ready to go. There are six key areas of due diligence that […]

Steps for a Successful Closing

The closing is a pivotal moment in the history of a business as it marks the formal transfer of a business from one party to the next. Behind every successful closing is months of focus and hard work. Simply stated, a successful closing doesn’t just happen, but is instead the byproduct of extensive negotiations.  One […]

Lack of Experience Can Be a True Deal Killer

Most business owners are experts at running their specific businesses. They are not necessarily experts at selling businesses. This is where working with a seasoned brokerage professional can prove to be invaluable.  As it turns out, there are endless examples of people trying to save money by simply finding an MBA to handle the sale […]