"Chris (Wilson) communicates with great clarity throughout the process, from planning to execution."
Bill Humphreys Libra Wealth Management Limited
Selling a Business
Chris Wilson Director - Head of Tax
In life, change is inevitable. In business, change is vital.
For many businesses change is both inevitable and vital, and while it may not necessarily come down to a decision to sell your company, there may be other reasons why you need to reassess and weigh up options for the future.
Around 15% of the business population are involved in some kind of transaction every year that involves a change in ownership. Those transactions may be a full sale of the business, a reorganisation of the shareholdings, or a transition to new ownership via a Management Buyout (MBO) or Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
For most owner-managers, these transactions can be dealt with in the following ways…
1. Using Specialist Corporate Finance advisors for help with marketing, advice and support
2. Do-it-Yourself with some lawyer input (no advisory)
3. Sales brokers or agents for help with marketing
4. Small accountancy firms (no advisory)
Number 1, that’s us.
What makes us different is that we have a team of experts with very specific Corporate Finance know-how gained over many years working in banking and accountancy. Whether it’s a full company sale or a shareholder leaving the business, the team also draws on Fortus’ extensive in-house expertise to make sure they’re crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s on every single transaction.
With a business sale, the value you generate will be dependent on many factors including the reason for sale, the quality of your business profits, your sector and the wider economy, as well as the management structure.
It’s a complicated process that’ll require a lot of time making sure your business is properly presented to the market and finding the right buyer.
Once the buyer is found, you’ll need help negotiating a fair price, and a structure of the deal that works for you.
We’re with you from the very moment you decide to market the business for sale through to your deal completing and beyond, to help you manage the tax proceeds efficiently.
DON’T SETTLE FOR EMPTY PROMISES
Unfortunately there’s a proliferation of unregulated sales brokers who live handsomely off the inflated aspirations of small business owners. They’ll promise the earth when it comes to sale price and charge generous fees for preparing ‘marketing material’ which is shared on various websites, then neglected – unless they sell.
Many of the brokers sell very few of the companies they market for sale, but their business is sustained on ‘marketing’ fees from vulnerable business owners. As they’re unregulated, there’s no professional body to appeal to if you are badly treated.
So, with that said, it’s important you really trust your advisor and the promises they make.
5 REASONS TO CHOOSE FORTUS
1. DOING GOOD, FOR THE GREATER GOOD
We’re regulated by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), a highly respected professional membership organisation. This means we can be fined or struck off for malpractice. We’re also bound by the highest standards of confidentiality.
2. CHAMPIONING A HOLISTIC APPROACH
Unlike business brokers, we’re involved in both the buying and selling of companies, which gives a rounded view of business valuations, buyer tactics and funding available for acquisitions.
3. COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS
Clients come to us with their business problems, we help solve them. Fortus offers a complete range of in-house services including specialist tax advice and funding, if required.
4. DISCOVERING NEW POSSIBILITIES
Not everything goes to plan and we’ll be frank when it comes to the viability of your business sale. If a trade sale’s unsuccessful, for whatever reason, we’ll advise on alternative options. Our team have supported numerous organisations through MBOs and EOTs as sensible alternatives to selling externally.
5. TRULY EXPERIENCED CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORS
Where you’ll find high street accountants fitting their services around tax returns and accounts, we have dedicated Corporate Finance advisors who are focused on this area as their core day job. The world of Corporate Finance is complex, and our team thrives on it.
Chris Wilson Director - Head of Tax
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