Once a business owner has made the decision to sell their business, Empire Business Brokers of Houston will handle every step of the selling process. From preparing the business to go to market, to negotiating the structure of the deal, Empire Business Brokers provides comprehensive intermediary services for all of their clients, which enables a business owner to focus on whats most important - running their business.

After we review the information you provide us, including your financial information, we will come up with an asking price range that we know is appropriate for your business. At this time, we will discuss the advantages of having a formal business valuation performed.

If you choose us to represent you, we will prepare a Listing Contract for your signature and we will immediately prepare your business to go to market.

During this pre-market stage, you will be asked to provide us with more detailed information regarding your business, including advertising materials, client lists, and product info, as well as financial information not already provided, such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and tax returns (latest 3 years if possible).

How we sell your business

We will first prepare a written Business Sale Prospectus for your business that summarizes its most important features, such as history, operations, and recast financial information.

We will search our proprietary database of buyers for a match with your selling criteria.

We will market your business in a generic fashion, in order to ensure maximum confidentiality. Generic ads will be placed in all of the most effective outlets for selling a business, including internet and print media. We may also utilize a direct mail or telemarketing program if we deem it necessary.

Every buyer that responds to our ads must first sign a Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement and be approved by you before they receive any specific information about your business, including its name and the Business Sale Prospectus. This way, you know who is viewing the information about your business and you will have the ability to prevent employees, customers, competitors, or suppliers (or others you may object to) from knowing that your business is for sale.

We will handle all of the legwork involved with the sale of your business, from qualifying buyers, to negotiating the price, terms, and structure of the deal. Our goal is to get our clients the best price in the shortest period of time. Getting the right price for your business involves many factors, including starting with the correct valuation from the beginning of the sale cycle. If you start out with an asking price that is too low, the business owner will not receive as much as they should get for their business. If you price the business too high, valuable time and prospects will be lost while the market determines what the actual price should be.

Many times an interested buyer will make an offer that is lower or different than the price and terms asked by the seller. They will base their offer on their own valuation formula or a rule of thumb given to them by their accountant or friend. Without an independent third-party valuation report, a business owner should be prepared for intense negotiations because it will be your opinion of value versus a buyer's opinion. A buyer will place little credibility in the brokers opinion of value.

There is a big difference in the quality of valuation reports that can be prepared. Many brokers rely on generic valuation software reports that are based on unproven theories. Is the report designed as a marketing tool, or is it something that has to be put in a drawer and not shown to a buyer? Was a true analysis of the business performed? Were factors such as industry trends, age of the business, client base, and other factors that will affect the price taken into consideration? Empire Business Brokers of Houston uses the services of one of the best business valuation specialists in the U.S. to address these factors.

Our valuation report delivers credible valuation conclusions by applying the most advanced and appropriate valuation techniques. Every business is unique. Research is the foundation of valuing a business, which is why our business valuation specialist utilizes the most comprehensive databases of economic and comparable transactions available and spends numerous hours researching historical transactions and conducting detailed financial analysis for every valuation assignment to assure that you receive the most accurate valuation possible.
We have consistently produced higher prices and smoother sales when a professional valuation report is presented as part of the business offering package than similar businesses produced that did not have the benefit of a comprehensive valuation report.

We strongly recommend that a comprehensive report be included in the offering package of any business being offered at $500,000 or above.