Selling A Business Through A Business Broker? Some Pros And Cons

For businessmen who are keen on selling a business, the prospect of using a business broker is an exciting one. As a professional, a business broker is more than just a middle man for the deal; he/she helps in business valuation, marketing the business for sale as well as retaining the attention of an interested buyer. Using a business broker for a business for sale deal is a very good idea for a number of reasons as listed below:

  • Business brokers, with their experience, can not only market your business for sale in the right manner, but they can also find the right buyer and get a great price for your business for sale. Good business brokers have great negotiating skills, which they employ to get the maximum possible price for your business. You can hence achieve your goals of selling a business with ease.

  • The right business broker can help with the valuation of your business for sale, so that you know what price to expect and sell your business for. Pricing the business right is crucial for closing a successful business for sale deal; a business broker is a vital help for this purpose.

  • Professional business brokers are also a confidential lot. They work in a confidential manner, ensuring that news does not leak out that you have put up your business for sale. You can hence rest assured that your customers, employees, competitors or others do not know that you are selling a business.

  • In addition to making your business for sale look like an attractive deal, the business broker can also use his/her network and alert the majority of buyers that your business is up for sale. The business broker then acts as an intermediary between you and the buyer until a successful deal is etched out. Along the way, the business broker will also advice you as to which steps are in your best interest. With such a professional dedicatedly working for your cause, you will be less worried about selling a business and can concentrate on growing your business until it is sold.

Having discussed the pros, there are also some cons of working with a business broker which need to be mentioned here.

  • Sometimes the fees or brokerage of business brokers are so high that many sellers consider trying to sell a business on their own. Brokers charge anything between 5-20% as fees, which some business for sale owners may be unwilling to pay. However, despite the high fees, the experience of a business broker is an advantage a seller cannot afford to ignore.

  • Another point to consider is the challenge in finding a good business broker, who keeps in mind your interests rather than his/her own fees. If you are thinking of selling a business, always remember that the competency levels of different business brokers are different. Landing up with an incompetent or inexperienced professional can cost a business for sale owner more than the high fees of a good business broker.

Working with a business broker for selling a business can be a very advantageous decision for your business for sale. You just need to select a good business broker who is experienced in selling businesses and has your best interests at heart.

1 comments

Chris Khoo said...

Hi, thank you for your advice about choosing a business broker - I'm aspiring to be one, and it's good to read these blogs to gain an insight into what it takes.