Back in August 2017, we received an enquiry for a business that had been on the market with ourselves only a matter of months. The enquirer, a large multi-million pound turnover business hot on an acquisition trail and keen to…
We have all seen the headlines, shops closing, major retailers scaling back or closing altogether, and when you might be considering going into business as a high street shop or café it would not be surprising if you were put…
As an entrepreneur, when it comes to selling your business, preparation is paramount Once the decision has been made to sell the business, as an owner you have two choices, go to market immediately or seek advice and ensure you…
Owner managers are highly motivated, talented & skilled in their particular field. However, sometimes they can overlook some very important responsibilities. Business owners have responsibilities to a huge network of people and organisations, not just limited to their staff, customers,…
You’ve found a great business with lots you can get excited about. Then your due diligence uncovers some questionable sales figures, or some debt that has not even been mentioned. You could easily walk away at that point – but…
All business owners aim to add value to their business, but it can be difficult knowing where to start, particularly if you are a small to medium-sized business and feel that you are starting to plateau. However, there are in…
So, you’ve decided to sell your business. The journey can be rather complex, with several things to consider. The amount you profit will depend on the reason you’re selling, the time you decide to sell, the strength of business operations,…
Intellectual Property (IP) and other ethereal assets, such as patents and licenses, can add value to your business, just as tangible assets such as machinery do – if not more so. For one thing, IP doesn’t take up room like…
Selling a business can be an absolute minefield, with vendors having to overcome many obstacles. First, the business owner has to very carefully analyse the reasons why they are considering selling their business, and then ultimately take the decision to…
Often would-be entrepreneurs are very clear where their future lies. However, sometimes, the urge to buy a business is strong but you may want to spend a little time reviewing your options before deciding which sector to choose. Following your…
I would suggest that you ask yourself some questions before you buy a business. I don’t mean the obvious questions about your intended acquisition. It is important that during the due diligence phase of the purchase you make sure that…
Firstly, larger businesses which involve the sale of shares in a limited company are generally marketed as ‘offers invited’. As it sounds offers invited listings are provided without price guidelines or ballpark figures. This allows the seller and buyer to…
Starting a business from scratch and buying an existing business both have their pros and cons. Generally, buying an existing business is less risky than starting one from scratch but there are also other benefits. Here are some of the…
Owner managed businesses are often innovative, creative places, thriving by responding to change and opportunity. Growing the business is a natural ambition which will require investment in assets & staff. Spending time budgeting and planning the next move are essential…
I recently read an article regarding a business owner misrepresenting the facts when selling their business. It was regarding a dental practice that had fraudulently claimed their £400,000 turnover was derived entirely from private patients when in fact only just…
If you’ve spent years building a business, selling it can be a difficult decision to make. Sometimes you just can’t run it any longer, or you may simply want to move on to something new. However, even once that decision…
When buying anything, be it a television or shares in a company, we usually carry out a certain amount of due diligence. We research the item and find out what we can about the product beforehand. However, there’s always an…
…a commonly asked question. The best advice is that you should try to avoid waking up one morning and deciding that you just can’t do this anymore. This is the worst-case scenario, and it probably means that you are not…
Locked Box or Completion Accounts? BP Corporate recently completed the sale of National Autorax to Inneva Ltd. National Autorax, established some 30 years ago and acquired by our Client just after the turn of the millennium offers a full design,…
As technology becomes ever more impressive, Virtual Reality applications are going to be increasingly used in the future to generate additional revenue streams for businesses. Properties and business lettings are already being shown in VR using 360 video technology. There now exists…
When valuing a business it often feels like we are providing an education in how to sell a business and ensuring the benefits that have been gained over the years are not lost in excessive taxation or poor planning. I…
The term ‘memorandum (memo) of sale’ may be familiar to anyone who’s bought or sold a property. But this is a common area of confusion. In this context, a memo of sale is a document that states both buyer and…
This video was made in partnership with https://uk.businessesforsale.com You’re interested in buying a business. You have the capital, you know what you want, now how do you go about starting the ball rolling? Where do you begin? Paul Dodgshon, Regional…
Finding the right business broker is a priority because selling a business can be a lengthy and difficult process, therefore, using the right team with the best negotiators is imperative. It’s important to find the right Broker that has experience…
This video was made in partnership with https://uk.businessesforsale.com It can be a tricky business (excuse the pun) to sell your company, there are nuances and procedures that no regular business owner should be expected to know. So Paul Dodgshon, Regional…
The first article on this subject looked at the issues surrounding selling a business within a short time frame. The article offered advice as to what measures and actions a potential seller could undertake to increase the value of their…
Selling businesses can often be a difficult and lengthy process. Once we have gone through the process with our client of appraising their business and preparing it for sale, drafting and producing sales particulars and uploading it to the various…
Most businesses owners begin with the end in mind, and so when they set up a business, they visualise an exit plan. Creating a sustainable business model makes sense regardless of whether you’re a new start-up or if your business…
Working In or Working On: The Doer vs The Thinker Do you long for the days when you are able to take that family holiday either skiing on the slopes or relaxing by the pool basking in the warm…
Buying a business doesn’t have to be an arduous task. If you know what you’re looking for, you can get the right answers to your questions to make a well-informed and profitable decision. When you are looking to buying a…
There is no doubt that finding a strategic buyer is the best way to maximise the value of your business when it comes to a sale. If you can find two competing buyers then it ensures you are in the…
Business Partnership are marking the expansion of their Business Broker coverage with the addition of not one, but two additional partners in Hampshire. The husband and wife team of Paul and Maria Bulpitt have taken over as Regional Partners for…
Starting or buying your own business, whether it’s Industrial, Service, Innovation or the Café you’ve always dreamt of owning, is a hugely important decision. After taking that step, you are faced with opportunities, rewards, challenges & disappointments, all in equal…
As a Business Transfer Agent, our role is more than obtaining the best value for our clients when we sell a business. We are the owners trusted confidant, sounding board and at times counselor. During the process, our clients take…
I sit in many meetings with clients, potential clients and their advisers where everyone moots who might buy their business and where they might come from. True, you should always look at which buyers would make the best fit and…
In the business world, completion can have a variety of meanings. In project financing, for example, completion is when the cash flow of the project becomes the primary source of repayment on loans. Prior to completion, a turnkey contractor or…
Things to consider when choosing an industry and business type Discovering exactly what you’re looking for could be the key to success when looking for the perfect small business to buy. Once you’ve identified the criteria for your ideal small…
Buying a franchise offers all the benefits of running your own business without the stress and risk of starting from scratch. Looking for a low-risk way of owning your own business? Owning a franchise offers the independence of running your…
Make sure you’re informed about the buying process before you begin searching for your first business to buy to get things off to a smooth start. Finding and buying the ideal business can be an arduous process if you don’t…
As a business broker, we are obviously working for our vendors. However, it’s never nice to see a buyer enter a business deal without taking the proper advice, especially when entering a lease agreement. Whether it’s our business vendor leasing their premises or a…
Russell Gorman Podiatry in Birmingham has been established for more than 30 years and, at the ripe old age of 83, it was time for our clients to hang up the nail clippers for the last time and enjoy the…
Often when meeting new clients for a potential business sale the first question I am asked is ‘What can I do to increase the value of my business?’ The answer is dependent upon the timescale for the sale. The suggestions…
In recent years entrepreneurs have increasingly come to see the numerous benefits of purchasing a preexisting business as opposed to creating a startup. It can make the overall process a lot quicker and easier, but that is not to suggest…
“You cannot be serious!” These are the words proclaimed by the Business Partnership team when a business sale breaks down unexpectedly, and sometimes for bizarre reasons. Buying and selling businesses is a complex and often lengthy process. So it’s comforting…
1) Repeat after me: Repeat business adds value to my business. Acquirers like nothing more in a business than customers who keep coming back for more. And if they have to come back to buy from you because they’re contracted…
Many people grow up dreaming of owning their own business and believing that being their own boss will lead to a better life, but this isn’t always the case. Most entrepreneurs in recent years have been venturing into acquiring businesses…
This was a particularly complicated yet hugely successful story. Completed in summer 2015, this was an extremely unusual and diverse business for which we had to a) find a buyer, and b) walk them through the business purchase process from…
The business started trading in 1994 as a contract manufacturer of UPVC doors and windows, their core market being the manufacture and supply of UPVC windows and doors into the very demanding and high specification public and housing association sectors….
Everyone wants to be their own boss; living life on their own terms, choosing their own hours and pursuing a career they love. The obvious route to this for most people is to start their own business but as with…
Despite the fears that Brexit would completely demolish the British economy, the current outlook is surprisingly positive and arguably now is the perfect time to sell your business. Over the past couple of years, the sale value of businesses across…
If you are planning on selling your business you need to be prepared for a lot of questions from potential acquirers. It is important for them to understand every single aspect of your business, even things that you think are…
As anyone who’s ever done it will be able to tell you, starting a business is one of the most rewarding things you can ever do. The rush of energy as you start trading and the sense of satisfaction as…
Times are hard for employees and they have been for a number of years. It’s a difficult decade for the ambitious career-builder, particularly those in the hard-hit public sector. Our jobs become ever more uncertain, yet simultaneously our bosses are…
You’ve always wanted to run a coffee shop or a dog-grooming parlour. It’s the only dream you ever had. Many of us have a hobby or a skill that we think we should be able to use to earn a…
Retirement comes to us all. Even if you’re not working in an occupation with a fixed retirement date, there will come a day when you just don’t have the energy to keep going anymore. You want to shed the pressure…
Why do you want to sell your business? The biggest question you’ll get asked when selling a business is ‘why do you want to sell? Whilst it is a seemingly simple question if you don’t have a concise and comprehensive…
Just as with selling a house you want to make sure that every aspect of your business is appealing from the indoor and outdoor aesthetics to its location. The things you first see when looking at your business are exactly…
Protecting your business from the competition allows you security in the market and gives you better control of your pricing. It is a lot harder for smaller businesses to find ways to create this barrier so they have to be…
Depending on what industry you are in, the value of your company will undoubtedly vary. With this in mind, we have compiled a list of the key areas you should be concentrating on as a business owner to ensure that…
When we keep doing the same thing year on year, it’s bound to get a little boring. For those of us with the sort of drive and creativity to start a new business, it can be especially so. You’ve done…
It’s the season when we want to make changes in our lives. New Year has gone, and we’re back to the boring paper pushing for ungrateful managers. It’s been driving you mad for ages, but now you’re at the beginning…
When it comes to selling your business you should be prepared for what may feel like an overly intrusive process. Potential acquirers will want to probe your business top to bottom, understanding every inch of what they would be purchasing….
In the past, a smaller business looking to sell usually would have to go looking for potential buyers and subsequently be heavily driven down on the price. However, as a result of the current market, it has never been easier…
Before starting the process of selling your company it is only natural for you to want to as much as possible. If you are able to successfully take the necessary steps in doing so you will likely be selling your…
Located throughout the UK, Business Partnership’s experienced regional partners all offer an important service to business buyers and sellers alike – valuation. It’s a straightforward enough process, you may think. After all, our over-riding objective is to provide impartial, professional…
Regional partner Paul Dodgshon has been appointed to the board of Business Partnership (Management) Limited. In addition to his executive responsibilities, Paul who covers the Manchester Central, South Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Mid Wales areas for Business Partnership and Business…
If we had a pound for every time we heard the old wartime adage: “Keep calm and carry on” since last Thursday’s Brexit vote, we’d all be on our sun loungers in the Maldives by now. Experts, along with people…
In the words of Roy Castle, dedication’s what you need – not only to be a record breaker but one of the UK’s many thousands of small business owners. Being an entrepreneur invariably means long hours and big decisions, but…
The old adage ‘you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone’ perfectly suits this inspirational tale of a former teacher who is now living her business dream. When Wells Stores, Farm Shop and Deli in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, first came…
Business Partnership has appointed new regional partners to its nationwide network of business brokers. Stephen Boyle will be responsible for the Surrey and North East Hampshire regions while John Knight will be covering Birmingham South, Wolverhampton and the West Midlands….
It is all too easy to view the sale of a client’s business as the end of the road – but we all know that does not have to be the case. Business Partnership can certainly vouch for that as…
After the headlines and sound bites comes the task few of us would envy – picking through the fine details of Chancellor George Osborne’s eighth Budget. The proposed sugar tax predictably grabbed the tabloids’ attention but many of the more…
A successful sale is always music to our ears at Business Partnership and regional partner Tim Bayley, who covers Birmingham North and Central and Warwickshire, certainly hit the high notes with this thriving family-run company. Based in bespoke offices with…
The Chancellor’s Budget and Autumn Statement always contain plenty of substance for writers and analysts from health to housing and the headline grabbing U-turn on tax credits. However, the devil is in the detail and one proposed measure which may…
Is this a good time to buy or sell a business? It is a decision many business owners, who hunkered down in the ill winds of the recession, may be presently pondering. On the face it there may seem some…
Business Partnership has expanded into the corporate market. Business Partnership Corporate, which has its own brand identity and website, has been launched to meet the requirements of small to medium companies and businesses up to a turnover of £5 million….
The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed our new website and branding. it’s all part of a fresh new image. We’ve also dropped ‘the’ from our name – but rest assured, we’re keeping the same ethics and values that have…
Over 85% of our business comes via referral from solicitors, accountants or previous clients. This is because professional advisors trust our valuations and selling ability. They know our directors take a hands-on approach, personally handling every sale. As a direct…
There is a quick answer – but it’s the opposite of the classic response It’s THE question every owner wants to ask a business broker: What is my business worth? Even those with no intention of ever selling want to…
In the previous comment in this series, we highlighted the large number of hidden variables affecting the value of a business and thus why ‘ballpark figures’ tend to be wildly out. Now, we look at how easy it can be…
The days when owners of substantial SMEs might expect a queue of cash buyers collapsed along with Lehman Brothers and the credit boom in September 2008. More positively, there is still plenty of cash and demand out there. It’s the…
From sole traders to multi-national PLCs, the act of putting a business on the market can, in itself, damage a company at the very time that you are trying to maximise its value. What are the risks, and what can…
For most in business, selling up is a rare, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime, experience. As a result, it is not surprising that most owners are unsure whom to turn to first, for advice and practical assistance. Here we look at the ‘usual…
A selection of recent sales with lessons for us all Every business sale has a story to tell – some more than others. This is a small selection of our recent sales and the lessons we think they offer, about…
A short video explaining how Business Partnership uses its five key advantages to help business sellers secure smoother sales at a higher price.
A local celebrity chef, an accountant and several others fought over this terrific, two-brand business in Milton Keynes. The successful buyer has already announced her intention to launch a third brand in the New Year. The cookery school was set…
The 2014 Edelman Trust Barometer, which focusses on levels of public trust around the world, has just been published. Its key findings include that (with the exception of Asia) family owned businesses are THE most trusted, outpacing other SMEs and…
Asking customers to pay to join a special group of your best patrons can increase your turnover, as it encourages them to buy new products and services from you and also provides a healthy boost to your cash flow. Just…
When you look ahead over the next 12 months, where will your growth come from? Will you find new customers or sell more to your existing customers? The answer can have a great impact on the value of your business….
To build a valuable business – and sellable one day – sales need to continue after you’re gone. In most businesses this responsibility lies with the business owner and they often replace themselves with a superstar salesperson, but that’s often…
How to answer THE most important question Many business owners believe the act of selling their business is similar to passing the baton in a 400 metre relay: once the pass is made then you’re done and you get to…
For many, the start of their financial year is a time of rebirth and resolutions. It’s a time to reflect on last year’s achievements and to set goals for the year ahead. Some owners will include personal goals like that…
Our advice to the inventor of the Gencon All-in-1 dog lead & headcollar to turn down the pet supermarket’s offer proved right on the money. In part, this is a classic example of how an outright sale is not always…
We felt this was a great business, despite having made a loss in 3 of the previous 4 years. A good fourth year helped to highlight the underlying value of its profile and customer base, more than justifying the price…
When you are selling your business one thing you can be sure of is that you will be asked lots of questions. This can often be quite frustrating and you will often feel the buyer is testing you. Simply he…
Established 35 years ago by the owner, this consistently profitable retailing & manufacturing business occupied a terrific main road position. We achieved a 100% share sale equivalent to a multiple of twice the adjusted net profit, plus net assets. Retiring…
If your companies sales have stalled after a period of rapid growth, you may have fallen into The Mile Wide Trap. Jane (not her real name) runs a public relations firm. After studying marketing at school Jane went to work…
Business owners often believe that they are their business and that it has no value without their personal expertise. So if this is you, and what you sell, like a PR consultant or plumber, is your experience and knowledge, how…
Warren Buffett has a philosophy, he invests in businesses that have a ‘moat’ around them – a moat that is hard for their customers to swim across and requires a large siege for a competitor to breach. Why? Because this…