| Most business owners spend little or no time at all | | | | certified public account (who will prepare your |
| learning how to sell their business. Thus, they | | | | income tax returns and documents showing your |
| struggle when it's time to let go. | | | | annual earnings), and a business broker (who will |
| Here's how you can easily sell your business: | | | | act as a middleman and will help you find the best |
| 1. The first thing that you need to do is to have | | | | buyer for your business. |
| an exit plan. Ask yourself, after selling my | | | | 3. Prepare. Before you meet up with your |
| business, what's next? You need to know exactly | | | | potential buyers, make sure that you are |
| what you are going to do. Some business owners | | | | prepared. You need to anticipate all the questions |
| back out from the selling process simply because | | | | that they might throw at you and you must have |
| they realize they've got nothing to do after they | | | | all the documents they need. |
| sold their business. You don't want this to happen | | | | 4. Choose the best buyer. The best buyer is |
| as this can cost you time, money, and energy. | | | | simply the person who is willing to pay more for |
| 2. People to hire. Depending on the size of your | | | | your business and someone who's got the right |
| business, you will need to hire a lawyer (who'll | | | | reasons. If you've grown attached to your |
| take care of the legal matters), an appraiser (who | | | | business, you would surely want somebody to |
| can pull up the real value of your business), a | | | | take good care of it, right? |