The decision to sell a business is a personal one that only you can make. If you’ve been thinking about selling your business, The Crest Group would like to talk to you about how we can help you maximize your total return. We have many qualified buyer clients with strong cash positions who are looking to acquire businesses throughout the United States, and particularly in New Jersey and the metropolitan New York City area. 

1. Determine your priorities
   Do you want to retire now, continue working in another business, or continue with your current business after you sell?  How much is your business worth? What can you do  to increase its value? How much cash do you want at closing and how much of the sales price are you willing to finance to get a higher sales price? What is the best time for you to sell?  What are your family cash flow considerations?

2. Assemble a team
   Selling your business is one of the most important transactions your will ever make.  You'll need to assemble a dedicated team of professionals with experience in valuing businesses, positioning your business for sale, managing the selling process, and providing you with accounting, tax and legal advice.  The Crest Group can help to coordinate this team so you can focus most of your attention on managing your ongoing business

3. Create marketing and sales documents
   You'll need two sets of documents.  First, a short business summary that doesn't disclose the name of your business but gives enough information to a potential purchaser to get them interested; and second, a detailed description of the business with detailed financial information for a buyer to be interested in meeting with you. Developing these marketing documents is critical to positioning your company to be sold successfully at a price and terms that meet your needs. The next step is to distribute these documents to the right potential buyers. At The Crest Group we have the experience and knowledge to do this well.   

4. Find, interview and qualify buyers, without public knowledge of the sale
   Finding the right buyers is a process that can take a few months. The Crest Group will insure that the non-confidential information that you develop with us is sent to potential buyers that we know, and to other brokers who we know have buyers interested in your kind of business.  In addition, this information will be posted on a number of websites that we have found are successful in locating the right kinds of buyers.  It's important to keep knowledge of the sale of your business from suppliers, customers, employees and lenders until you are ready to let them know. The Crest Group will manage this process to insure that you are in control, that potential  buyers are qualified before you agree to send them any confidential information or meet with them, and that the process is efficient and you can continue to  run your business.

5. Negotiate a Letter of Intent or Offer to Purchase
   These documents are the first formal steps in the purchasing process. They outline the major terms of an agreement and one or the other is negotiated and signed subject to the successful completion of the due diligence process. 

6. Conduct Due Diligence
   The due diligence process involves the buyer verifying all of the information they have been given on the company and looking at the records and other information they may want prior to purchase. This is a critical part of the process and builds on the information about your company that has been developed by you and The Crest Group.  

7. Negotiate final terms
   Elements of the due diligence investigation and analysis will be incorporated in the final Purchase Agreement. This is where an experienced business transfer attorney is needed the most to insure that the final purchase terms agree with the terms of the offer.

8. Assist buyer in finding financing
   Almost all buyers will need financing of some kind. The Crest Group has sources that may be able to  provide financing. In addition, the material  that The Crest Group develops will assist buyers in finding financing.

9. Assemble documents for closing
   Many existing business documents will be needed besides those drawn up by the attorneys, such as leases, notes, insurance policies and the like.

10. Keep running your business!
    Even though the above tasks can easily be a full-time job, your main focus must be on continuing to run your business with good financial results. Assembling the documents and meeting with the buyers will be an important part of  the selling process. The Crest Group will  continue to assist you as needed.
       

B. How The Crest Group will help you sell your business:

It's our job to do most of the work to position your company for sale so you can stay focused on running your business.  To this end we will work with you to:

1. Assist in the valuation of your business.
2. Work  with you to establish a sales price and terms that meets your requirements.
3. Expertly market your business using both non-confidential and detailed confidential information.
4. Find and qualify multiple buyers for the business on a fully validated and confidential basis.
5. Set up and attend meetings with potential buyers. 
6. Assist in negotiations.
7. Advise on and/or find lenders.
8. Advise on and/or find other team members.
9. Actively partner with you throughout the process.
10. Allow you to keep running your business while we work diligently in the background.
       

There’s never any obligation or risk in talking with us.  Everything we do is completely confidential and our methodology insures your privacy will be completely protected.

If you are interested in selling your business or would like to talk to us about the value of it, please call us or fill out the form on the contact page and we will contact you.