Benjamin Ross Group Business Broker Urges Entrepreneurs to Employ Exit Strategies to Prepare Businesses for Sale

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. (Business Wire EON) October 1, 2008 -- Speaking to members of the Newtown chapter of Business Networking International (BNI), Lefkowitz outlined several simple steps entrepreneurs selling a business can take to make their businesses more attractive to potential buyers ? "a win-win for both the buyer and seller," said Lefkowitz.

"People are leaving significant amounts of money on the table when they decide to sell a business," said Lefkowitz, who has been in the mergers and acquisitions business for 22 years. "We see too many cases where owners do not have a business to sell. Although they may be making a profit and have a great reputation, the reality is they have a job with several assistants, not a business."

Lefkowitz, whose professional business brokerage has been helping the owners of small businesses for sale since 1997, explained that every company has a life cycle. When it comes time to exit the business, an owner has two choices: close the doors and liquidate assets, or be acquired. "Finding someone to buy a business usually provides the best opportunity for maximum profit and long-term security when selling a business," he said.

"The best time to begin planning for your exit is the day you open the business," he said. However, as soon as you think you are going to transfer or sell your business, you must begin planning. This is an especially important topic for today's Baby Boomers, many of whom are now working towards retirement.

Lefkowitz suggested serious planning should begin at least three years in advance before deciding to list your business for sale. Early on, owners should be developing management depth, exploring tax implications, improving financial statements, formalizing partnership agreements, purchasing minority interests and negotiating lease transferability. If you will have a franchise for sale, you should be reviewing franchise agreements carefully.

As the sale gets closer, Lefkowitz suggested making sure the company's books are in order, taxes are up-to-date, technology is functioning smoothly, and potential environmental issues are addressed. In the last six months before selling the business, owners should clean up their premises to increase the business's "curb appeal," sell or replace obsolete equipment, resolve receivables and inventory issues, trim payroll and negotiate any contractual agreements.

Nationally, only about 20 percent of businesses for sale on the market actually sell, according to a recent study by INC magazine. By contrast, the Benjamin Ross Group arranges sales for about 95 percent of its clients by working to make their businesses marketable.

"There are four common mistakes owners make in selling their businesses as it relates to their ability to sell," said Lefkowitz. The number one-reason is the owner having too much responsibility for day-to-day operations; the business must be able to continue uninterrupted after the owner leaves.

"Another common mistake is a lack of professional (accounting, legal, financial planning) systems in place," Lefkowitz said. Potential buyers want to be assured that if they buy a business; it has been running smoothly and efficiently with no hint of underlying problems.

"Timing is also an issue," said Lefkowitz. Owners should try to sell a business when on top and the business for sale is running well rather when forced to by crisis (death, sickness) or external events (economic downturn, changing neighborhood, new technology).

"The final mistake business owners make before selling a business is an unwillingness to take risk," according to Lefkowitz. A business that relies on one product, sold in one geographic area to the same customers year after year is not an attractive business for sale to potential buyers. Lefkowitz suggested diversifying on a number of levels to improve the ability to sell a business.

"These four common mistakes cause owners to leaves thousands, sometimes millions, of dollars on the negotiating table, if they can even find someone willing to buy their business for sale," said Lefkowitz. "By being aware of these pitfalls and making a few changes that are transparent to the public, business owners are in a better position to reap the benefits of their hard work when they try to sell a business."

NOTE ? Michael Lefkowitz has more than 22 years of experience. He is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) and a Merger and Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI), which has been granted to 68 people worldwide, including only three in Pennsylvania. He is available for interviews or as a resource on business-related news topics including selling a business or buying a business. Michael can be contacted at (215) 357-9694 and michael@benjaminrossgroup.com.

About the Benjamin Ross Group: With offices in Southampton (Bucks County), Pa., Radnor (Delaware County), Pa. and Princeton, NJ, the Benjamin Ross Group is the most experienced, professional and exclusive business sales, mergers and acquisitions firm in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The company represents well-managed businesses, regardless of their size. It provides a full range of services relating to buying, selling or merging businesses; business financing and valuation; and exit planning. For more information, go to: www.BenjaminRossGroup.com.

About Business Networking International: Established in 1985, BNI was founded on the motto, "Givers Gain." The purpose of this group is to provide valuable networking opportunities to generate business for fellow members. BNI provides a structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals for both men and women. Their unique feature is only one person from a profession is eligible to join a chapter. To date, there are more than 5,000 chapters in 37 countries with more than 100,000 members. In 2006, a total of 4,900,000 referrals worth more than $1.9 billion were given out.