Divestopedia is a resource for entrepreneurs who want to sell their business for the best price and terms. Whether you are thinking of selling, have started a sales process, or are post-deal, we aim to arm you with the knowledge required to maximize value and limit your downside risk.
Our terms and articles cover anything and everything to do with the process of determining if you should sell your business, how to go about doing so and what "gotchas" you should be aware of along the way. Divestopedia is solely committed to delivering you impartial content that is easy to understand, specific to corporate valuations and free. This doesn’t mean we don’t cover peripheral concepts like retirement and employee retention, but it does mean that we look at those topics as they relate to you, the company owner, broker or curious reader.
No textbook in business school can prepare you for the roller coaster of selling. We believe the best way to learn is to get the experience of those who have been there before -- the entrepreneurs, investment bankers, serial buyers and other service providers who have gone through the process.
Here’s a look at the current landscape of deal sourcing technology, platforms and services that you can use.
When Jason Gibson decided to sell his mid-sized business, he went about things a little bit differently.
When Laura Coe and her family decided to sell their healthcare business, Litholink, they faced a tough negotiation process. Here's what worked and what didn't.
What lessons did Nellie Akalp learn selling her first business? Learn from her $20 million sale in the first installment of 'How I Sold My Business'
Goodwill encompasses the intangible assets of your business. It is an important part of your business's value, but you don't want to overestimate.
Divestment expert John Carvalho discusses exit options for business owners in this video. Here's how to manage expectations and make the best choice.
You're ready to sell your business, but you're not clear what type of banking firm to choose to help you in the process. This article provides a breakdown of each type,...
To maximize the return from the sale of your business you need to plan for that day well in advance. The time to start preparing for tomorrow is today.
The American Society of Appraisers' general requirements for developing a business valuation so you know what is involved in the valuation and can approach one with...
The internet has radically transformed numerous industries including music, publishing and retail. Middle market M&A has been slow to adopt efficiencies that online...
If you need an investment banking engagement letter, you need to know what to include and how to word it. Here are the critical terms of agreement you should have in...
Investment banks offer expertise and know-how that can add significant value to any transaction, but complicated fee structures can be daunting. In order to negotiate a...
In this Q&A, we learn from an entrepreneur who built his business from scratch, grew it the old fashioned way by taking care of his customers and employees, and finally...
Rarely is a mid-market business sold entirely for cash proceeds. The purchase price is usually comprised of cash and some sort of deferred payment such as a seller's...
In this article, we have a candid Q&A with John K. Paglia Ph.D. John gives us his thoughts on topics ranging from emotional preparation to the availability of private...
Just like unicorns, Loch Ness monster and Bigfoot, proprietary deals are mythical creatures rarely encountered. So, just how can a PE firms find the right deal flow?
There are some common objections about online deal sourcing, but it is an important tool for completing middle market M&A transactions. Here we debunk the four most...
The trend for online deal sourcing will continue to increase. Embracing this trend and employing these five online strategies will undoubtedly drive more high quality...
The best way to understand how a deal comes together is to hear it directly from someone who has done it before. In this article, Divestopedia interviews an entrepreneur...
This survey will assist us in drawing key conclusions during the upcoming Exit Planning Institute Conference occurring September 7 -9.
Selling your business will probably be the single largest transaction that you will ever be involved in. Don't take chances with hiring the wrong advisor.
Working capital is one of the most argued areas of selling a business, but there are a few key strategies for getting it right.
In our experience working with entrepreneurs before and after their sale, we've found the most important aspect to be their emotional...