Barbara Findlay Schenck & John Davies 
Selling Your Business For Dummies 

A hands-on tool for conducting the successful, profitable sale of a business

As business owners gray, trends have shown that they start thinking of cashing out. Selling Your Business For Dummies gives readers expert tips on every aspect of selling a business, from establishing a realistic value to putting their business on the market to closing the deal. It helps them create sound exit plans, find and qualify, find and qualify a buyer, conduct a sale negotiation, and successfully transition the business to a new owner. The accompanying CD is packed with useful questionnaires, worksheets, and forms for prospective sellers, as well as a blueprint for customizing and assembling information into business sale presentation materials sale presentation materials –including snapshots of revenue and profit history, financial condition, market conditions, brand value, competitive arena, growth potential, confidentiality agreements, and other information that supports the sale price.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of e Book file. Please refer to the book’s Introduction section for instructions on how to download the companion files from the publisher’s website.

Table of Content

Foreword.

Introduction.

Part I: Getting Ready to Get Out.

Chapter 1: So You Want Out of Your Business? Your Options andthe Process.

Chapter 2: Evaluating Your Business as a Sale Prospect.

Chapter 3: Sprucing Up Your Business.

Chapter 4: Assembling Your Business Sale Team.

Part II: Packaging Your Business for a Sale.

Chapter 5: Compiling Your Financial Records.

Chapter 6: Pricing Your Business.

Chapter 7: Telling Your Business Story — Succinctly!

Chapter 8: Preparing Your Selling Memorandum.

Part III: Launching and Navigating the Sale Process.

Chapter 9: Planning and Launching Your Advertising Strategy.

Chapter 10: Screening and Communicating with Ad Respondents.

Chapter 11: Steering the Pre-Purchase Process and Accepting a Buyer Offer.

Part IV: So You’ve Got a Buyer! Now What?

Chapter 12: The Investigation Begins: Due Diligence.

Chapter 13: Structuring and Negotiating the Deal.

Chapter 14: Handling the Fine Print: Financing and Tax Specifics.

Chapter 15: Closing the Sale.

Chapter 16: Announcing the Sale and Passing the Baton.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 17: Ten Deal-Killers to Avoid.

Chapter 18: Ten Business Marketplace Trends and Truths.

Chapter 19: Ten Things to Consider When Hiring a Broker.

Chapter 20: Ten Answers to Have Ready for Buyers.

Appendix: About the CD.

Index.

About the author

Barbara Findlay Schenck is the author of four For Dummies books, including Business Plans Kit For Dummies, 2nd Edition and Branding For Dummies. The founder of an advertising agency, Barbara has spent more than two decades helping businesses start, grow, market, and brand their companies. John Davies, CEO of Sunbelt, contributed expert advice for this book.