Category Archives: Business Valuation & Appraisal

A discussion of the issues involved in valuation / appraisal of a business by William Bruce, president of the American Business Brokers Association.

The Condition of the Private Business-for-Sale Marketplace

The William Bruce Report: The Condition of the Private Business-for-Sale Marketplace is a disclosure of the condition of the national market from insiders who are professional advisors to business buyers and sellers.  Because the small to medium size business-for-sale marketplace is … Continue reading

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Why Some Small Businesses Don’t Sell

As a business broker for over 35 years, I’m often asked why some small businesses don’t sell.  It’s a sad situation when a business owner reaches retirement and can’t find a buyer for their business.  Too many times, they just … Continue reading

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Seven Reasons to Retain A Business Broker When Selling Your Business

You’ve probably spent years building your business.  And so, when it comes time to exit, how can you increase the chances of a successful transition? Retaining an experienced business broker is a good place to start. Our friends at Hatchit.us … Continue reading

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Small Business Valuation Multiples and Formulas

In the confusing area of small business valuations, are you confused about which earnings valuation multiple to use?  There are at least six earnings computations, including: SDE – Seller’s Discretionary Earnings EBIT – Earnings Before Interest and Taxes EBITDA – … Continue reading

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Should You Sell Your Business Now or Wait?

We’re living in strange times with the pandemic, a record number of hurricanes and a change of residents in the White House.  So if you’re considering exiting your business, it’s natural to wonder if you should sell your business now … Continue reading

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What Are the Differences Between EBITDA and Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE)?

The differences between EBITDA and Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) cause confusion.  Sometimes the two terms are incorrectly viewed as interchangeable, but there are important differences. First, some definitions.  Both are business performance benchmarks that are widely used in valuing a … Continue reading

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Considering Buying a Business? Here Are the 6 Most Frequently Asked Questions.

The most frequently asked question by individuals who are considering buying a business and answers by William Bruce, President, American Business Brokers Association. Continue reading

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The Best and Worst Franchises Ranked by SBA Loan Default Rates

This is an article by William Bruce containing a list of the best and worst franchises as ranked by SBA loan default rates. Continue reading

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Buying or Selling a Business? Use These 7 Negotiating Tips.

Once an initial and contingent written offer to buy or sell a business has been made, the transaction usually enters the negotiation phase. The negotiation phase is really not complicated. Most likely you’ve already bought a car and/or a home. The negotiations over the price of a business are similar. Here are seven suggestions to help.
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Here’s How to Write an Offer to Purchase a Business.

Let’s say you have looked at several businesses for sale and narrowed it down to the one that you want to pursue. You think you might want to make an offer on this business, but you’re not quite sure. You have a little anxiety about the unknowns. You wish you had more in-depth details on the business. This blog post shows you how to handle the situation like a pro. Continue reading

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