Insights

Engaging with Benchmark International is Not a Commitment to Sell

November 29, 2017

Engaging with a mergers and acquisitions firm is a huge emotional decision. It may feel like making a commitment to sell, and you aren’t sure if this is what you want. At Benchmark International, our purpose is to help our clients achieve their personal goals whatever they may be.

We know you have spent a lot of time and effort building your business, and engaging Benchmark International does not have to be a concrete decision to sell. Senior Analyst, Shannon Hess, explained “right now, it’s about letting us go to work for you to find out what might be possible for you, then you make the decision.”

Engaging with us does not mean you are making a commitment to sell your business. What it does mean; however, is gaining an insider’s look at a buyer’s perspective. Knowledge is power; and using our firm, regardless of your decision to sell or not, will certainly gain you a wealth of knowledge about your own business. You will have a glimpse into what outsiders think when they look at your company.

Understanding what buyers are looking for and how your business measures against others in the market, will provide you the insight you need to make an informed and well-planned decision in the end. The items that you feel are most important to prepare your business for sale may not coincide with those of potential acquirers.

For example, you may feel you need to expand your sales force, whereas buyers may be more concerned about your customer concentration. Given this information, you have an opportunity to make changes within your organization that are beneficial, not only in a sale, but also to you and the company itself, should you decide to keep it. We have had clients who ultimately decided to implement strategies buyers had suggested when examining their business, and they recognized improved performance for themselves as a result.

Sometimes, buyers may approach you, and you might not be thinking of selling your business. In this case, it’s essential to know what your business is worth before you proceed with an offer. In his webinar “Beware of Strangers Bearing Gifts,” one of Benchmark International’s Managing Directors, Andre Bresler, stated, “it’s important that you control your own destiny. A sale may not be what you were considering, but when opportunity knocks, there’s no downside to exploring it.” Benchmark International is here to negotiate the best deal.

Our services reveal buyers’ strategies that can be to your benefit. You will learn what it is about your company that interests them and what they see as risks. Also, you will learn how long the sales process takes and what may be involved. “If your intention is to sell your business and not be bought, you need a team with the transaction experience of your acquirer,” Bresler said. We are here to help you explore all of your alternatives.

Once you engage with Benchmark International, you are always our client. You do not need to feel rushed to decide to sell. If you decide now is not the time to sell, we will support you in that endeavor. Having an exit strategy is essential, whether you use it today or years down the road. Knowing how and when to end a business, and having a plan in place, is equally important to knowing how to start.

Gaining market knowledge sooner exposes you to current opportunities, and if you find one that works for you and your business, that’s perfect. If not, you have a new set of tools in your toolbox you can use to make your business grow under your command.

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