M&A and Business Broker activity is very high due to a number of reasons.  The revenues and profits for most business have increased and therefore the valuation for these businesses has moved upward.  Business owners who put off selling their business due to the “great recession” are now contemplating a sale.  Another, even more significant trend, is the Baby Boomer generation who want to retire.  It is estimated of the approximately 700,000 Baby Boomers, about 12 million own privately held businesses.  These 12 million businesses are likely to change hands over the next 10-15 years.

Before a business owner, whether a Baby Boomer or not, sells the business, he or she needs to get an estimate of what the business will bring on the open market.  A formal Valuation can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 depending on the size and complexity of the business.  If a seller wants to know if his perception of the value of his business, he should either do a formal Valuation or ask a Broker to do a Broker Opinion of Value.

Before putting a business on the market, a seller (or a buyer) should get an idea of the worth of the business.  There are several ways to value a business but most are based upon the re-cast cash flow of the business.  One way is to value by “rule of thumb”  which is a shortcut analysis of a business’s value, usually expressed as a multiple of the annual re-cast earnings of the business or Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE).  In general,  a small business with a full-time working owner is worth from 1 to 3 times its annual SDE, with businesses producing SDE under $50,000 falling closer to the “1x” and businesses producing SDE of $100,000 or more valued closer to the “3x.”  The value must be tempered by the risk assessment which can either increase or decrease the valuation.  Another way to value a business is to compare the cash flow of the business to the sales price of other businesses that have sold.  This market comparison approach will reveal the multiples of SDE on past business that have been sold which can then be applied to the business being sold. A good Broker will have sources to access to these “comps”.  The market comparison approach is more likely to yield a more accurate valuation.

Empire Business Solutions is offering a Free Broker Opinion of Value to all qualified business owners.  Empire believes you should have an estimate of the value of your business BEFORE you make the decision to sell.  Call us at 714-374-6430 to discuss the details.

Empire Business Solutions has been a leading Business Broker and M&A Specialist since 2005 in the Orange County and Los Angeles County area.  Empire specializes in representing sellers in Southern California who want to maximize the value of their business.

Here is last months “hot” business list courtesy of data from a leading website.  These business types based on the number of “hits” on their site. This ranking is not based on the actual sale of businesses.

TOP CATEGORIES BY HITS

Top Ten Businesses for August 2014:

1. Restaurants
2. Bars
3. Cafes & Diners
4. Convenience Stores
5. E-Commerce Businesses
6. Marketing Businesses
7. Fast Food – Non Franchises
8. Card & Gift Shops
9. Aquatic & Marine Related Businesses
10. Advertising Businesses

Top Ten M&A Businesses for August 2014:

1. Distribution Businesses
2. Car Wash & Valet
3. Gas/Petrol Service Stations
4. Mining Businesses
5. Manufacturing Businesses
6. Wholesale Businesses
7. Fabrication Businesses
8. Food & Drink Wholesalers
9. Main Contractors
10. Construction Businesses

Empire Business Solutions, a leading Business Broker and M&A Specialist in Orange County is please to announce it has been retained to represent and bring to market this business in the specialty trades space.

Commercial Flooring Dealer

Long established full service design and commercial contract flooring dealer which services all of Southern California.  One of the main assets the company enjoys is a very experienced staff, many with over 25 yrs experience in the industry.  Company enjoys an enviable reputation for providing high quality product and service.  The company has excellent relationships with General Contractors, Hospitals and Property Management companies.   Company has access to all the major carpet mills and flooring manufactures.

Owner wants to retire and will stay on for a short time through a transition period.

If you or anyone you know is interested in more information on this opportunity, please contact Roy Moss at 714-374-6430

Empire Business Solutions, a leading Business Broker and M&A Company in Orange County, California is please to announce that Acquisitions International, Inc has awarded Empire Business Solutions its 2014 “Best Solutions Provider of the Year-USA.”

Acquisitions International Magazine, has since 2010, been selecting and recognizing excellence in various categories.  They have been celebrating excellence, innovation and performance across the business, legal, financial and investment communities.

Each award series is designed to reward those most deserving in this global and very challenging business space. They give a comprehensive analysis of the industry and a complete run through of the best of the best in terms of industry experts.

Acquisition International prides itself on the validity of its awards and its winners. They are given solely on merit and recognize leaders in their respective fields.

Methodology

According to AI, the award winners are determined through a rigorous process, which starts when we open the ballot boxes and distribute the voting forms through our partners within the industry.

They combine the votes received – alongside supporting evidence – with their own in-house research to arrive at the final winners list. This comprehensive

selection process ensures that the awards are a true representation of the market and that our winners are truly at the cutting edge of their fields.

AI understands that bigger does not necessarily mean better. Our awards are broken down first by region and then into wider categories, ensuring that every firm has an equal chance – from local to global, niche to full-service.

About Acquisitions International

 “Acquisition International is a monthly magazine brought to you by AI Global Media Ltd, a publishing house that has reinvigorated corporate finance news and reporting. As an editorially driven magazine, its topical news articles make it a highly enjoyable read, and this readability ensures that advertisers will benefit greatly from their investment.

AI works alongside leading industry analysts to ensure we publish the most up to date figures and analysis. Through our regular features our regional, sector and specialist reviews, we thoroughly research and  publish today’s corporate finance news in cooperation with the leading professionals in the industry.

AI is global which brings together all parties involved in deal making and in an increasingly global deal market we are uniquely positioned to reach the deal makers that matter. We communicate to our readers not just through the magazine but also through a number of alliances.

AI also recognizes and honors the leading dealmakers in our awards supplement, in which we combine votes alongside in-house research data and industry expertise to finalize the shortlists and the overall winners. AI’s awards are given solely on merit and not handed out like confetti.”

Empire Business Solutions is a leading Business Broker and M&A Specialist in the Orange  and Los Angeles Counties since 2005.