When you’re looking to sell your lawn care business, you need effective solutions that get the job done quickly and efficiently. You worked hard to grow your business and want to sell it for what it is worth. You can still sell it quickly, but for it to pay off, you will need to do your due diligence. At Green Group, we understand this—which is why we provide eight ways to help you sell your lawn care business fast.
Due Diligence Process
Whether you want to make a quick sale because you want to retire, you are ill or injured, or you want the money, you still need to prepare for the sales process. Before talking to serious buyers, take these few steps to speed your sale:
- Determine an asking price and the minimum selling price you will accept.
- Pull together your accounting records and financials supporting your business valuation, including financial statements, balance sheets, assets and liabilities, and tax returns.
- Itemize your business assets, such as real estate, inventory, customer base information, and intellectual property, if appropriate.
- Spruce up the business to make your business attractive to potential buyers.
How Can I Sell My Small Business Fast?
Here are eight ideas to help you find a buyer fast.
- Sell to your employees. One or two of your employees may be budding entrepreneurs just waiting for the right opportunity. Consider offering seller financing to ease their financial outlay and to speed the selling process.
- Sell to a family member. Keeping your business in the family can be one of the most rewarding and quickest ways to sell your business. The downside is you may not get near market value.
- Use online marketplaces. BizBuySell and BusinessesForSale.com are online marketplaces specifically for buying and selling businesses. The online platforms tout more than 3 million monthly visits and bring interested buyers with minimal work on your part.
- Sell to a private equity firm. Private equity firms have the money and resources to buy your business, but the purchase agreement may require you to maintain a percentage of ownership and remain involved in the daily operations. This process may take longer than the others.
- Hold a fire sale. One strategy is to sell all your assets and inventory at an extremely low price. This approach is not a business sale per se. Instead, you sell your property, bypassing the challenge of finding qualified buyers. This approach could work well for a small lawn care business but will yield less money.
- Sell “as is.” Forego sprucing up your property, cleaning up data, etc., and let the buyers know they may have additional work during their startup. Lower your business valuation to cover the buyer’s expenses.
- Use a brokerage firm. Contact a business broker specializing in small businesses, ideally, one familiar with your type of business. The downside of using a brokerage is they may charge a commission for their services, and the process may take several months or more.
- Partner with Green Group. Green Group partners with lawn care companies by purchasing their businesses outright. We provide a straightforward, no-nonsense process, making the transition for you and your employees as smooth and efficient as possible.
What is the Fastest Way to Sell a Business at the Highest Price?
Unfortunately, there is no standard process for selling a business. The size and type of your business, location, and growth potential are just a few factors that impact the ability to find the right buyer at the right price. Weigh the above eight suggestions against your circumstances to find one (or more) option that works best for you.
How Long Does It Typically Take to Sell a Small Business?
The answer to this question varies widely from business to business. Factors that can affect the length of time to sell your small business include the type and value of your business, the economy, and your business’s reputation. The time it takes to sell a lawn care business with large equipment could be very different than the time it takes to sell a smaller lawn care business with mowers and blowers. It could take anywhere from a few months to one year to sell a small business.
Join the Green Group Family of Brands
At Green Group, we know how important it is for small business owners to sell their businesses quickly and leave them in good hands. That’s why we established our partnership program—to help make that happen. We streamline the process by purchasing your business outright, saving you time and energy. Our team understands that there have been years of work put into your business, and while you may be ready to sell or step down from daily management tasks, you don’t want to see your businesses dismantled and transformed. That’s why we provide a comprehensive transition plan that focuses on preserving the legacy of your business. We make the process sweet and simple. After the closure, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that the business you built is in capable hands.
Green Group Has the Answers You Need
When you are ready to sell your lawn care business, you need to look beyond “how much can I sell my small business for?” Green Group can help you make a smooth transition for you and your employees. Our Learning Center contains business tips for all your lawn care business needs. We partner with lawn care businesses to invest in their people and processes.
