Building Business Value: Easier Discussed Than Done
Business experts mention "Value Drivers" as if everyone understands what they are, how they work, and where they will have the greatest impact. It can be difficult or frustrating to know that building business value is a frequent topic of discussion, but actually building value is sometimes easier said than done.
One business may have buyers lined up willing to pay top dollar while another may sit on the market for months or even years.
So how do buyers evaluate prospective business acquisitions?
Buyers seek different qualities, but there is one thing important to remember: the characteristics they are looking for must already exist before the sale process begins. Value drivers are characteristics that influence value. As the owner, you must create value before you put your business on the market.
Look At Your Business Through A Buyer's Eyes
To grasp the importance of Value Drivers when preparing to sell a business, owners must put themselves in the buyer’s shoes. Consider the following case study, which illustrates how a buyer might approach the search for effective Value Drivers.
The Alpha Company has earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $2 million, an owner who runs the business, and systems and processes that create growth. The Alpha Company does not have a true management team in place, and the owner generates a majority of its sales. The owner is the locus of the company, holding both the CEO and CFO positions. With such overwhelming responsibilities, the owner is burning-out quickly.
By comparison, the Beta Company has EBITDA of $2 million and a solid management team that runs the business, systems, and processes. The management team creates efficiencies within the business, and the owner vacations for six weeks a year.
If you were a buyer comparing these two companies, which factors would you consider more likely to lead to a successful acquisition? How much more would you pay for a business with a strong management team (one of the most important Value Drivers)? Would you be interested in buying a business whose management team (i.e., the owner) walks out when you walk in?
Experts in getting businesses sold understand that companies that lack strong Value Drivers also lack a strong pool of buyers. The buyers that do come to the table do not arrive with pockets full of cash.
The Most Common Value Drivers
Consider the following important Value Drivers common to all industries.
A Stable and Motivated Management Team
If owners can wait a year to sell their businesses, they should consider an incentive compensation system that is either cash or stock based and rewards key employees based on how the company performs (usually measured by increases in pre-tax income). Sophisticated buyers know that with a solid management team in place, prospects are good for continued business success. Without a strong management team, it may be difficult to sell the business to a third party or transfer it to an insider.
Operating Systems That Improve Cash Flow Sustainability
Operating systems include the computerized and manual procedures used in the business to generate its revenue and control expenses (i.e., create cash flow), as well as the methods used to track how customers are identified and how products or services are delivered. The establishment and documentation of standard business procedures and systems demonstrate to a buyer that the business can be maintained profitably after the sale.
A Solid, Diversified Customer Base
Buyers typically look for a customer base in which no single client accounts for more than 10% of total sales. A diversified customer base helps insulate a company from the loss of any single customer. If the majority of an owner’s customer base is made up of only one or two good customers, the owner should consider reinvesting profits into additional capacity that will make developing a broader customer base possible.
A Realistic Growth Strategy
Buyers tend to pay premium prices for companies with realistic strategies for growth. Even if an owner expects to retire tomorrow, it makes sense to have a written plan describing future growth and how that growth will be achieved based on industry dynamics; increased demand for the company’s products; new product lines; market plans; growth through acquisition; and expansion through augmenting territory, product lines, and manufacturing capacity. This properly communicated, detailed growth plan helps attract buyers.
Effective Financial Controls
Financial controls are not only critical elements of business management but also safeguards for a company’s assets. Effective financial controls support the claim that a company is consistently profitable. The best way for owners to document that their companies have effective financial controls and that their historical financial statements are correct is through a certified audit or a verified financial statement from an established CPA firm.
Stable and Improving Cash Flow
Ultimately, all Value Drivers contribute to stable and predictable cash flow. It is important that the company’s cash flow remains substantial and continues to grow, especially in the year or so preceding the sale of the business. Owners can begin increasing cash flow today by focusing on ways to operate their businesses more efficiently by increasing productivity and decreasing costs.
You can install these Value Drivers and better position your company to secure a premium price upon your exit with the help of a trained Exit Planning Advisor.
If you have any questions about increasing the value of your business prior to your exit, please contact us to discuss your particular situation. We can help you identify and strengthen the current Value Drivers in your business, install additional Value Drivers, and create a road map to meet your overall Exit Objectives. We also have resources that explain Value Drivers in more detail and can help you apply these concepts to your business.
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The information contained in this article is general in nature and is not legal, tax or financial advice. For information regarding your particular situation, contact an attorney or a tax or financial advisor. The information in this newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, tax or financial advice. In specific cases, clients should consult their legal, accounting, tax or financial advisor. This article is not intended to give advice or to represent our firm as being qualified to give advice in all areas of professional services. Exit Planning is a discipline that typically requires the collaboration of multiple professional advisors. To the extent that our firm does not have the expertise required on a particular matter, we will always work closely with you to help you gain access to the resources and professional advice that you need.
Any examples provided are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Examples include fictitious names and do not represent any particular person or entity.
This is an article originally published by Business Enterprise Institute, Inc., and presented to you by our firm. We appreciate your interest.