business focus 13


of the month Haines Watts, Chartered Accountants,


Get the business sale you dream of writes John Bailey, partner at Haines Watts


Like all things in life, selling your business is likely to be more successful if it’s carefully planned and shouldn’t be left until the eleventh hour, even if it’s not a priority right now.


Good planning will help you find the right buyer and achieve the sale price you hoped for.


Having a plan will:


• Help you build a profile of prospective buyers who will see the potential of your business. It might be that they could take your products or services to wider markets, for example, or so


that they can trade in a new niche/location.


• Flag up issues which could put buyers off, so that you can address them.


• Give you a clearer idea of what the business is really worth, including intangible assets such as your reputation, any exclusive licences to market a product, etc ... as well as tangibles like property, vehicles, machinery etc.


• Give you the chance to spot key benefits a buyer might value and ensure they are made available to them. For example, you might agree with your suppliers that


they will extend their favourable terms to your new buyer; or encourage your customers to have longer-term contracts so that they will be ‘on board’ after the takeover ... or it might be that you appoint your replacement from within the business, to show how someone might run it, if the buyer doesn’t want to do it.


As well as getting your business into the best shape for selling, the timing needs to be as conducive as possible for optimum results. A professional adviser will monitor both your trading performance and marketplace indicators to gauge the best time to sell. They may


also identify possible buyers and approach them discreetly on your behalf.


It really is worth investing some time now in planning an exit strategy – that way you’re much more likely to get decent rewards for your hard work.


For details on financial matters see below.


Details: www.hwca.com


presents a series of articles based on the HW blogs. The firm offers analysis, reviews and comments and welcomes your feedback at www.hwca.com/blog


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We’re always happy to chat or meet for a coffee so why not contact Martin Anson:


Email: martina@whitleystimpson.co.uk Banbury: +44 (0)1295 270200


freephone: 0808 252 5051 thamesvalleytraining.com


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – APRIL 2013


www.whitleystimpson.co.uk CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS ADVISORS


Whitley Stimpson ad 92x133mm 'Personal service' Martin Anson f.indd 1 www.businessmag.co.uk


08/03/2012 12:44


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