Expert in purchasing/negotiating existing business

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Deleted member 277242

I’ve found a potential business and I’m looking to get an expert on board to help value the business and negotiate a deal.

Anybody use anyone they can recommend.
 
@Clinton is our resident expert. But he’s not interested in small businesses.

How big is this business?
 
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@R Alexander, the last time I did one of those, I charged in excess of £20K. That kind of fee is not economical for small deals! Further, if both parties cannot reach agreement on price and terms, the buyer is out £20K!

That's not a problem for your average £10m deal. The buyer could lose a £20K or two and it's still worth it as an experienced M&A player can save him a seven figure sum, negotiate much better warranties and indemnities and get him better terms in all the non-monetary parts of the agreement when he finally does do a deal.

There's a lot, lot more to these negotiation than just negotiating price!

So there's a reason why, as @fisicx says, I am not interested in small businesses. It's because it's not a good use of the client's money to hire someone like me to assist.

But there are business brokers who may be willing to work on something like this. It'll be a bit hit and miss though. Some are good, most are absolutely hopeless! I've got a directory here of a few hundred business brokers, almost every single business broker in the UK. Choose carefully. Talk to several, maybe several dozen, before you sign up with one of them.

Also, be aware that nobody but nobody who is any good will be willing to work on a contingency basis. You will need to pay in advance, none of that "I'll pay you when the deal completes" nonsense.

In the meanwhile, raise questions in the thread and I'll see what I can do to answer. You get that for free. ;)
 
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Thanks. The deal would be sub £500k. Will check out the website and make a few calls.
 
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@R Alexander, . Choose carefully. Talk to several, maybe several dozen, before you sign up with one of them.

Also, be aware that nobody but nobody who is any good will be willing to work on a contingency basis. You will need to pay in advance, none of that "I'll pay you when the deal completes" nonsense.
I'll throw in my own, oft-repeated advice here

Ignore all the claims & promises they make - instead listen carefully to the questions they ask. In particular whether those questions are challenging, designed to weed out issues, or loaded, designed to get you to sign.
 
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