The present value of the cash flow is a way of pricing out your company. A high certainty that the company will produce steady, predictable cash flow. Cash flow is king! Predictability only creates more value.
A buyer is willing to pay your price if you have a plethora of tangible and intangible assets and systems that function like a Swiss watch.
A “Swiss Watch” of a company needs to produce the consistent cash flow without you. As an owner you want to sell your business and move on. In many cases, a purchaser may want the owner to stay on and run the company for a period of time. However, if your company is able to produce a cash flow without you, it not only allows you to get your price, but allows you to get out of dodge.
It is worth your while to put together a talented management team, that can not only keep the cash flow consistent, but has the ability to keep the cash flow machine working even if you are not there. Your key management team may be the most important element of your business.
Whether buyers are strategic buyers, or financial buyers, they will be looking for value drivers. From the beginning of your business ownership, these are the things you need to start working on.
Partial list:
- Key management group
- Loyal client base with diversification (most of your firms revenue should come from more than 10% of the clients)
- Efficient production and manufacturing facilities
- Leading edge products or services
- Supplier network
- Intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, trade name)
- Steady, predictable solid profits and cash flow
- Proven growth record
- Effective workforce in place
- Transferable franchise or license
- Key location or territory
- Barriers to entry for a startup
- Research and product development team
- Company name
- Exclusive territory
- Above industry average financial ratios
- Systematized business processes/documented so continuing success is not dependent on any particular person (including the owner)
These are the areas of your business you need to develop and maximize in order to demonstrate the potential for steady predictable growth in the future.
Since the price you will be asking for your business is relevant to your successful retirement (to fill the retirement gap), you will want to spend the time in the areas which will increase the value of your business. Usually, they will be Industry-Specific Business Benchmarks.
Knowing how your competitors are using their resources and the efficiency which they are utilizing them can give you ideas about the strategies being used, and strategies you can compare to your methods. If you are utilizing your resources better than your competitions, you will be able to negotiate a better price for your business.
Your Business Worth 