CL King
Blog Post
Choosing the Right Business Brokers: C.L. King
- By Wilbur H. Stewart
- •
- 06 Jun, 2017
- •
Whether you're buying or selling a business, having a broker on your side can make the difference between a successful outcome and a nightmare. However, not all business brokers will be suitable for your specific situation. Use the tips below to choose the right broker for your needs.
Start by asking for referrals from your inner circle of business advisers and colleagues. Have any used a business broker in the past? Were they satisfied? Does the broker handle the type of transaction you have in mind?
You may need to widen your net to find a pool of qualified business brokers that specialize in brokering deals such as yours. Once you have several potential brokers, it's time to get down to business and narrow the field down. Below are several key so considered, suggested by our experts at C.L. King & Associates:
- Is the individual or firm professional? Professionalism shows in numerous ways including personal appearance, the presentation of marketing materials, website, language, mannerisms, and expertise. Use both objectivity and your gut instinct. Remember, the broker you choose will be representing your business so make sure you're fully comfortable with the person and firm you choose.
- Does the broker have experience working with businesses like yours? While it's not necessary for the business broker to have specific experience in your exact niche, it's helpful for the broker to understand the nature of your business and have experience brokering deals with similar characteristics. For example, if you run a family-owned microbrewery, a broker with a successful track record brokering deals for small wineries, family-owned specialty food manufacturers, or small brewpubs may not know the finer points of brewing beers but could be an excellent choice thanks to experience with similar businesses.
- What qualifications does the broker have? Look for licensing, education, certification, experience, and membership in professional associations.
- Is the broker well prepared? In other words, did the business broker do his or her research prior to your initial meeting? Brokers use comparable sales, business and industry reports, and other tools to price businesses. Your business broker should be able to support any suggested listing prices, which should be presented in writing, with documentation.
- If you are selling your business, find out how the broker intends to market your business. Brokers have many marketing tools available to market their business listings. However, some prefer to use specific marketing techniques over others. Make sure to ask the broker to present a detailed marketing plan.
- What type of businesses does the broker work with? For example, if your business has annual revenues in the $50 million range, you'll need a special type of buyer making it important to choose a business broker capable of attracting those high net worth individuals and investors.
- Check references. No matter how professional, personable, experienced, qualified, and prepared potential broker appear, cover your bases by checking references. Ideally, the broker should give you references from businesses with similarities to yours.
Choosing the right broker to sell your business or help you find a business to buy is a process. Do your part to ensure a successful outcome by choosing wisely.
C.L. King & Associates is a full-service investment bank and self-clearing broker-dealer founded in 1972 with offices in New York City, Albany and Boston. We provide investment banking, equity research, sales and trading, and investor services to corporations and institutions.
To read more, please click here
Start by asking for referrals from your inner circle of business advisers and colleagues. Have any used a business broker in the past? Were they satisfied? Does the broker handle the type of transaction you have in mind?
You may need to widen your net to find a pool of qualified business brokers that specialize in brokering deals such as yours. Once you have several potential brokers, it's time to get down to business and narrow the field down. Below are several key so considered, suggested by our experts at C.L. King & Associates:
- Is the individual or firm professional? Professionalism shows in numerous ways including personal appearance, the presentation of marketing materials, website, language, mannerisms, and expertise. Use both objectivity and your gut instinct. Remember, the broker you choose will be representing your business so make sure you're fully comfortable with the person and firm you choose.
- Does the broker have experience working with businesses like yours? While it's not necessary for the business broker to have specific experience in your exact niche, it's helpful for the broker to understand the nature of your business and have experience brokering deals with similar characteristics. For example, if you run a family-owned microbrewery, a broker with a successful track record brokering deals for small wineries, family-owned specialty food manufacturers, or small brewpubs may not know the finer points of brewing beers but could be an excellent choice thanks to experience with similar businesses.
- What qualifications does the broker have? Look for licensing, education, certification, experience, and membership in professional associations.
- Is the broker well prepared? In other words, did the business broker do his or her research prior to your initial meeting? Brokers use comparable sales, business and industry reports, and other tools to price businesses. Your business broker should be able to support any suggested listing prices, which should be presented in writing, with documentation.
- If you are selling your business, find out how the broker intends to market your business. Brokers have many marketing tools available to market their business listings. However, some prefer to use specific marketing techniques over others. Make sure to ask the broker to present a detailed marketing plan.
- What type of businesses does the broker work with? For example, if your business has annual revenues in the $50 million range, you'll need a special type of buyer making it important to choose a business broker capable of attracting those high net worth individuals and investors.
- Check references. No matter how professional, personable, experienced, qualified, and prepared potential broker appear, cover your bases by checking references. Ideally, the broker should give you references from businesses with similarities to yours.
Choosing the right broker to sell your business or help you find a business to buy is a process. Do your part to ensure a successful outcome by choosing wisely.
C.L. King & Associates is a full-service investment bank and self-clearing broker-dealer founded in 1972 with offices in New York City, Albany and Boston. We provide investment banking, equity research, sales and trading, and investor services to corporations and institutions.
To read more, please click here
