Recent research from UBS revealed that a whopping 81% of business owners who sold their business regretted not spending more time preparing for the sale. 73% of respondents said they spent less than two years.
Founder dependence is the single greatest threat to a company's value. When potential buyers notice that essential operations are tied to the founder, they often lower their offers to mitigate risk, extending earn-outs with conditional payments as a safeguard. This reliance on the founder not only reduces the company's value but also complicates the sale process.
When selling your business, initial industry categorization by acquirers significantly impacts its value. Clear positioning, highlighting positive industry trends, focusing on favorable industry aspects, and leveraging third-party validation are key to maximizing valuation.
Discover the four essential stages of business growth: Start, Scale, Supercharge, and Sell. Learn how to navigate each phase, preserve key elements, and measure Enterprise Value to ensure your business's success and readiness for sale.