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600 Park Offices Dr.
Suite 300
Durham, NC 27709
Need an extra push to sell an existing business or get a new idea off the ground? Let me help you reach your goals.
#1
We connect sellers with the RIGHT business opportunities.
After networking for more than 25 years, Carlton is uniquely equipped to connect qualified buyers to business owners.
#2
Visioning, Strategic Planning, and Defining Expectations
We do our part to research, plan, and create a plan to get you the most return on your investment.
#3
Knowledge is power when it comes to selling a business.
We also suggest the following activities to enhance your knowledge of the business selling process:
Read our blog for practical tips and advice.
Contact us to schedule an info session.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is My Business Worth?
The short answer is what the market says it is worth. The long answer is there are several ways to price a business. We use “rules of thumb” to determine what we will ask for your business. The basic rules depend on several concepts of value, but all include “DUST”. DUST stands for Demand, Utility, Scarcity and Transferability. If your business sector is in demand, your processes and internal workings are easy to learn and are in good order, how many competitors do you have and are they viable alternatives in the marketplace, and how easy can we convince a prospective buyer of the transferability of your business (good books and records, current ownership structure, employee loyalty, etc.).
We generally use either the trailing 12-month gross sales number or the “Sellers Discretionary Earnings” and assign a multiple according to these DUST factors.
Give us a call and we can talk about valuation. We can provide a “BOV” (Broker Opinion of Value) for your business for $495.
How Long Will It Take To Sell My Business?
This is a difficult question. Some businesses sell very quickly, and others can take a long time. Complications can always come up and extend the time line. Generally, the bigger the business the more time it takes to consummate the deal. Studies show hiring a professional business broker will help you close quicker.
How Will You Protect My Confidential Information?
In addition to a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement we require of all prospective buyers, we have a policy of not sending out any of your financial information until you have actually “met” the prospective buyer. Ideally that entails a face to face meeting where we all get to know each other and you decide if you want to send the information to the party. We can also set up an internet “meeting” using Zoom or just a phone call if you are comfortable with that. That policy keeps the “Lookie Lews” from accessing your information.
How Will I Manage The Sale Of The Business While Still Running The Business?
That is what you hire us to do for you. We will manage the sale for you. There will be lots of people that will want to talk to you about your business. Not many of them will be truly prospective buyers. We will vet the buyers and only introduce you to the ones we feel will actually be interested in going forward to buy your business. This leaves you free to run your business. As a matter of fact, that is the most valuable aspect of working with any business broker. The business will sell for the most money if we can show strong sales momentum in the last two quarters going into a sale, so your undivided attention to your business is critical at this point..
What Other Professionals Will I Need To Engage?
We recommend you talk with your accountant and attorney at some time during the process. If you are not comfortable with that discussion, we have as part of our network several excellent professionals that specialize in business transactions that we can recommend you hire.
How Far In Advance Should I Plan To Sell My Business?
It is far easier to sell a business that is well run, profitable and is in a sector that is hot. Sometimes we run across situations where some or all of these factors are not present. We might advise you not to put your business on the market at this time. We will work with you to help you better prepare your business for sale.
Phone
Office Location
600 Park Offices Dr.
Suite 300 Room XYZ
Durham, NC 27709