The perils and pitfalls of earn-outs
Earn-outs are a growing topic of conversation in the world of business sales. Since 2020, the use of earn-out agreements has increased, mainly due to restrictions on business operations during the global pandemic and the economic uncertainty that ensued. Unknown factors made it unclear how much of a business’ earning potential would return. Five years […]
What will life be like after exiting your business?
Selling your business is fraught with more emotion than you could ever imagine. With so much sentiment tied up in the enterprise you built, post-exit life can be tough. Once you’ve completed the deal to sell your company, you might go on a big blowout holiday to celebrate. Life is good! But when you return, […]
What happens to a family business when the owner dies?
The death of a business owner isn’t the most uplifting topic, but it is vitally important if you own a family business (or a share of one.) Family businesses tend to blur the lines between professional and personal interests, which can also leave them exposed when an owner passes away. Thinking about your wishes now […]
Think like a buyer: what’s going on in the mind of a prospective buyer?
Wouldn’t it be great if you could read the mind of the person who wants to buy your business? Being able to foresee your buyer’s thoughts and understand what they’re looking for in a business would certainly accelerate the pace of negotiations. When it comes to pre-empting buyer intentions, nobody is a mind reader. But, […]
Lessons from 20 years’ selling businesses
June 2025 marks Uscita’s 20th business anniversary. We can’t quite believe we’ve spent 20 years successfully helping business owners to build, market and sell their businesses. Where has the time gone? Such a big milestone presented a wonderful opportunity to look back and reflect on where we’ve come from and revisit some of our most […]
5 signs that shout “your business has outgrown you”
No business stays the same forever. The healthiest, most profitable and successful businesses are continually evolving. To achieve this requires a business owner to constantly evolve too; shifting mindset, strategy, and priorities to deliver what the business needs. When there’s a gap between the leadership required by the business and its owner’s expectations and willingness […]
Is your business due a financial health check?
A new financial year is the ideal time to focus on getting your business on a sound financial footing, more so if you are planning to sell in the near future. Prospective buyers want to see evidence of regular financial health checks, strong cashflow, organised record-keeping, and optimised business finances. It should come as no […]
Fees for selling a business: the complete list
This article was originally posted on 15th of December 2020 and has been updated. What does it cost to sell a business? Well, it depends on your attitude to risk and the selling approach you choose. The most common professional costs of selling a business include legal fees, accountancy fees, and business broker fees. […]
Recommended reading when planning your business exit
If you don’t do your research before selling your business, at some stage you’ll get caught out – which could have consequences for your reputation and the integrity of your business. We’ve compiled this reading list for business owners that want to enter into the business sale and exit process armed with resources, knowledge and […]
Looking back is a key component of your exit plan
This is the time of year when we’re bombarded with phrases designed to improve our lives and boost our businesses – planning for success, the perfect exit strategy, organisation and optimisation, changing habits and becoming financially healthier. These are all themes we’ve come across in recent weeks, which are designed to inspire, but can easily […]