Selling a Business? Let Southard Financial Help You Get the Best Deal
We have the people already in place.
It’s not something you do every day, so the idea of selling a privately held business or divesting a corporate division or subsidiary might be a bit mind-boggling. How does it work? What is the business worth? How do you know which buyers are legitimate and which offers to consider? At Southard Financial, we work with sellers and buyers every day — and maintain relationships with an extensive network of investors, private equity firms, banks, and finance companies — so you can bet we have the resources to assist you.
And a process that can’t be beat.
To protect your interests and ensure that you get the best deal possible, Southard Financial follows a proven three-part process. We are with you every step of the way, providing solid, actionable analysis and advice, and weeding out ineligible buyers and weak offers. Our aim is to make you aware of the realities of the marketplace, help you negotiate the final agreement and close the sale, and ensure that you and the buyer are both happy with the end result.
Here’s how it works:
Phase 1: Benchmark Analysis
We know you want to make as much money as you can from the sale. We also know it’s critical to price the offering appropriately. By conducting a valuation benchmark analysis, we determine what a business is truly worth so you can align your expectations with the realities of the marketplace. It’s important to understand that we may not be able to go to the next stage if a client insists on setting an unrealistically high sales price that could result in a failed process.
Phase 2: Descriptive Memorandum
During this phase, we create a memorandum — commonly called a “book” — that documents specifics about the business that are of interest to potential buyers. The objective is to provide enough detail on the front end to answer questions potential buyers commonly ask. The aim is to weed out unlikely prospects and attract eligible, interested parties to the table.
Phase 3: Marketing/Negotiating/Closing
Once you have approved the book, Southard Financial reaches out on your behalf to all of the financial and strategic investors we can identify as candidates. Interested parties sign confidentiality agreements and receive the book, and we arrange introductory calls between you and eligible buyers. Those who wish to proceed submit indications of interest — which includes the price and the structure of the deal — and the field is narrowed to the few best offers. As negotiations progress, we assist you in working out the most favorable deal and closing it successfully. Our ultimate objective is to ensure that both sides are happy with the transaction, especially our clients.
Southard Financial is here for you.
Finalizing the sale of a business can easily take several months and may seem a bit daunting if you have not been through it before. Our firm, however, has managed this process time and again, and you can rely on us for the necessary resources, expertise, and support.
Get in touch, today.
When you’re ready to deal, call Southard Financial at (901) 761-7500, use the form on our contact page, or reach out to us on social media. We look forward to hearing from you!
