How Do Buyers Actually Value a Service Business?
Key Takeaways Introduction If you’re considering selling a service business, one of the first questions you’re likely to ask is: What is my business actually worth? You may have heard that service businesses sell for three times earnings, five times EBITDA, or even a percentage of annual revenue. Those rules of thumb can provide context, […]
How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business?
Key Takeaways Introduction Most Business owners didn’t build a company just to survive — they built it to be free eventually. After decades of missed dinners, weekend calls, and carrying the weight of every payroll on their shoulders, they’ve earned a premium exit. But here is the hard truth: the market doesn’t pay for their […]
Buyer Safety Nets in a Business Sale: Escrow Holdbacks, Earn-Outs, and Seller Notes Explained
Many business owners focus almost exclusively on valuation when negotiating the sale of their company. While purchase price certainly matters, experienced buyers know that the true negotiation often centers around risk. Buyers are not simply purchasing a company’s historical performance. They are making a significant financial commitment based on expectations about future performance, customer retention, […]
How Do Business Brokers Get Paid When Selling a Business?
One of the first questions business owners ask when considering a sale is, “How much does a business broker charge?” While that is an understandable question, it is often the wrong place to focus. The more important question is: How is the advisor compensated, and are their incentives aligned with mine? Not all business brokerage and […]
Due Diligence: Where Business Sales Are Won or Lost
Most business owners believe the hardest part of selling a company is finding a buyer or negotiating the purchase price. In reality, the most critical stage of the transaction begins after the Letter of Intent (LOI) is signed. That stage is due diligence. At Biz Selling Expert, we often tell clients that buyers make offers […]
Strategic vs. Financial Buyers: Who Should Buy Your Business?
Two buyers can evaluate the exact same company and arrive at completely different valuations, not because the business changed, but because their objectives are completely different. One buyer may see immediate expansion opportunities, operational synergies, and market dominance worth paying a premium for. Another may focus entirely on cash flow durability, debt capacity, and future […]
What Does a Business Broker Do — And Do You Actually Need One?
Many business owners assume a business broker simply lists a company for sale, finds a buyer, and collects a commission once the transaction closes. That perception is one reason some owners hesitate to involve an advisor early in the process. On the surface, selling a business can appear straightforward. If the company is profitable and […]
Exit Planning for Business Owners Over 60: How to Sell on Your Own Terms
Most business owners spend decades building their company assuming they’ll know when the right time to sell arrives. For many business owners over 60, it isn’t that simple. The business may still be performing well, but priorities begin to change. Retirement becomes more tangible. The demands of ownership may become less appealing. Family, health, taxes, […]
7 Mistakes Business Owners Make When Selling Without an Advisor
Many business owners assume selling a company is simply about finding a buyer willing to pay the right price. But most transactions become difficult long before negotiations ever reach the closing table. The real challenges emerge during valuation analysis, due diligence, deal structuring, buyer screening, and risk assessment. Buyers evaluate businesses strategically, and every operational […]