Stirling Business Transfer Agents

Preparing to sell a business

Stirling's Advisory Service - helping business owners achieve maximum value

Owners thinking of selling their business often do not have experience of selling a business nor have the time to manage the business sale preparation process.

A private business is often run and financially managed with objectives that differ from those that will appeal to a new buyer. A simple example might be that the average private company has to reduce profits in order to minimise tax. This may have an adverse effect on the valuation of the company. Another issue might be the company’s management structure, if the retiring owner is the MD. In this case, the management might benefit from being re-arranged, so that the company can demonstrate a strong retained management team, which should appeal to a wider range of buyers.

If a company is suffering from a market downturn, there may be ways of presenting the company valuation other than as a price-earnings (profit) based valuation.

Stirling Advisory Services offers several cost effective business support options that will prepare a business for sale, aiming to strengthen overall performance, whether sold or not. Fees for this service may be off-set against the initial costs of selling the business through Stirling; this provides a common sense “no win, no fee” approach with the potential of a more saleable and higher value business, when the time comes to sell.

Business Coaching, Training and Mentoring

Stirling ensures that all the necessary skills are properly developed, including financial, sales and marketing, team building and time mastery. We teach the client how to realise their potential by providing the knowledge, tools, vision and motivation to make their business more attractive to potential buyers.

Business Recovery and Transformation

This is a hands-on approach, where Stirling may help the owner prepare short and medium term plans to transform the business and increase the bottom line prior to selling. We can review, develop and implement strategies that cover the product range, sales, marketing and other operations. Our goal is not just to advise, but to put our ideas into action.

Business Planning and Exit Strategies

Ideally, any future business sale should form part of the owner’s long term strategy, rather than a ‘quick sale’ decision, made without due consideration to the relevant planning processes. There is little point in finding potential buyers if the business owner cannot demonstrate the true level of profitability.

Historic accounts are generally structured to reduce tax. However, this can adversely impact the true underlying profitability and could therefore, reduce the ultimate purchase price. Re-presentation of accounts and justified business projections will show the business in a positive light.

Stirling’s advisory service offers a “planned approach” to cover issues which may involve contracts of employment, lease or rental agreements, statutory & management accounts, tax planning etc. We can show how to avoid the potential pitfalls and the considerations required before exiting a business.

Selling a Business

With a substantial network of potential buyers, investors, agents and other professional people, Stirling's cost effective and confidential service is aimed at finding serious business buyers. We prepare the sale memorandum document, process confidentiality agreements, maintain and update enquiries on our database, facilitate negotiations through a considered fee structure (which can be off-set against any of our advisory services) using easy-to-understand terms and conditions.