At Advent Business Sales we understand that selling your business can sometimes be stressful. That's why we have a dedicated team of sales negotiators to guide you expertly through the whole process...With Advent you are in the right hands.
Overview
Whatever the motive, nearly all business owners eventually decide to sell one of their most valuable assets: their business. When they do it’s vital to obtain professional advice to achieve a swift, smooth, and hassle-free transaction without affecting the goodwill of the business. At the same time you will want to maximise the selling price and complete the sale as soon as possible whilst maintaining discretion.
Advent is here to help with your best interests at heart and help you over any hurdles. We are a market leader providing a specialist service, “we sell businesses not advertising space.”
Through comprehensive regional, national and international marketing we ensure maximum exposure to buyers whilst maintaining the utmost discretion.
Our dedicated service will keep you informed throughout the process together with regular updates. Hand-picked negotiators take great pride in every business placed with us.
We’ve forged invaluable links with solicitors, accountants, banks, independent financial advisors and stock takers to ensure you receive the best advice as well as facilitating the sales process.
The Selling Process
Keeping things straightforward and simple means we can spend more time doing what you want us to – concentrate on getting the best price for your business...
Step 1: An appointment is made for one of our friendly experienced consultants to visit you at your business and provide a no obligation, discreet appraisal and explain Advent’s marketing strategies.
Step 2: Once you’ve decided to go ahead, our consultant will draft detailed sales particulars for your business, which will contain sufficient information for a buyer without revealing you business name or location. Photographs will also be taken where relevant.
Step 3: Within two weeks you will receive your Vendor Pack containing your own colour brochure, the advertising copy and details of the marketing. While you are on the market with us, we believe that you should know exactly how the sale is going. That's why you will receive regular updates and never be left in the dark. When you meet one of our consultants you will see in detail everything that we do to ensure that your business is sold quickly and confidentially.
Our Services
If you are paying for our services we think you should expect more than just a go-between for you and the buyer. You will find our consultants knowledgeable about the market, understanding of your ambitions and open-minded about the best way to achieve the right price. They will analyze, and take the time to understand your business, all positives as well as the negatives to weigh up the suitability of a sale.
Services we provide include:
- Business Sales
- Preparing a business for sale
- Sourcing Accountants
- Sourcing Solicitors for buyers & sellers
- Sourcing Finance Providers
Partners
Through our partners we provide a complete one-stop service that saves you money and gives you peace of mind. Importantly all of them are experienced in dealing with business sales. Benefit from our effective working partnerships with leading financial, legal and marketing institutions. They’ll provide you with specialist value-adding services to streamline the selling process at reduced rates without compromising on quality.
How we market your business...
Comprehensive Database
We have access to almost 200,000 registered buyers both nationally and internationally. Their details are carefully organised to help us find a match for your business as quickly as possible.Compelling Sales Particulars
Persuasive, informative but always discreet. Our particulars work harder to promote the key aspects of your business and highlight the features that buyers are looking for.The Internet
The web is where most buyers start looking so we make best use of internet. There are over 23,000 visitors a day - each one a potential buyer!Daltons Weekly
The most widely read publication advertising businesses for sale – we regularly appear inside to reach the kind of buyer who likes to do things the traditional way.Daltons Business Magazine
Another popular publication in a glossy magazine format in which we regularly advertise.Our Own Monthly Magazine
This is sent directly to our continually updated live database of serious purchasers.Networking Groups
We attend regular meetings with accountants, bank managers and financial advisors with clients actively looking to buy a business.Public Relations
We have links with PR companies who are able to control the knowledge of a sale, either to promote it or limit it, ensuring the correct message is provided to the media.High Impact Signage
Available for sellers who are less concerned about confidentiality and want to highlight a business opportunity to local buyers.Bespoke Packages
Tailor-made marketing activities for niche businesses and sector-specific promotions. This can include E-Shots: a highly effective way of reaching buyers on the database who show a promising match while maintaining discretion and respecting confidentiality.
These are examples of what we do. They will depend on the specific sector and type of business, and will vary according to individual circumstances, preferences and packages selected
Here are just some of the websites on which we advertise...
Valuation Factors
Our experienced consultants possess the necessary knowledge, skill and expertise to arrive at an asking price that balances your expectations with the market and puts you in a strong position to maximise the final sale price.
Some of the main factors that have to be accounted for during valuation:
Financial
- Accounting and trading information
- Sales and profits
- Drawings or Directors renumerations
- Loan and interest payments
- Rates of Return on capital employed
- Fixtures, fittings and capital expenditure
- Lease terms and rates
- Finance availability
- Market expectations within the sector and in general
- Valuation multiples within specific markets
- Knowledge of niche markets
- Rental incomes
Location
- Location and surrounding developments
- Local, regional and national competition
- Freehold commercial property values within the area
- Applicable licenses, trading hours and planning permissions
- Current activity within the industry and area
Property and Equipment
- Freehold or leasehold, and condition of the premises
- Equipment and state of repair
- Goodwill, fixtures, fittings, property and stock
- Scope, potential and improvements
Legal
- Contracts with both suppliers and customers
- Exclusivity agreements and patents
- Debtors, creditors, factoring, invoice discounting charges
- VAT or revenue investigations or staff disputes
- Staff wages, lengths of service, loyalty and key staff
- Loan serviceability
Other Factors
- Demand for business type
- How long established and customer loyalty
- Handover periods – especially if the owner is the key man
- Vendor exit routes
- Buyer motives of purchasing
- Special circumstances
- Owner or management run
Costs
Here are some of the likely fees involved in selling a buiness:
Legal/solicitor costs – these can vary tremendously. It’s vital to work with commercial solicitors with the relevant experience, as business transactions can be very intricate and detailed.
We work closely with several national solicitors who have the commercial expertise and provide a professional service with reasonable charges.
Taxation liabilities – dependent on your personal circumstances. Your accountant is in the best position to advise you on this matter. Alternatively we can put you in touch with professional accountancy practices that provide specialist taxation services.
Stock takers – the cost for this is normally shared between the vendor and the purchaser. Costs tend to be a small proportion of the transaction value. We work closely with an approved national association whose fees are reasonable.
Landlord costs – these are normally paid by the ingoing tenant or purchaser in the case of leasehold businesses, but in more recent times have become an area for negotiation.
Agent’s commissions – our fees are dependent on how quickly we feel we can sell your business, and are mainly results oriented.
Energy Performance Certificate – Almost all businesses will need an energy certificate which will have to be made available to any potential purchasers. We can recommend a professional, national company to take you through the appropriate procedure.
Fees depend on what kind of package you require. We are told ours are neither the cheapest nor the dearest, but extremely competitive when you consider our unrivaled service and marketing presence. We will always confirm fees in writing before your instruction. You will always know exactly where you stand. You can rest assured that we are politely aggressive when it comes to selling your treasured possession and will use our best endeavors to reach a satisfactory sale.
