Unlock exponential business value by improving The Four Capitals—Human, Customer, Structural, and Social—with the Four Value Creation Engines™ from A Business Owner’s Guide to Maximize Business Valuation by Darrell Amy.
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.