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This is a question we are constantly being asked, especially by business owners who have been contemplating selling their businesses. The short answer is : It’s a bit like the ‘curate’s egg’ – good in parts. To be more precise, there are more prospective buyers than we have ever known currently looking for quality businesses in the market sectors in which we specialise – industrial, commercial an…

Advice to business owners is always – plan your exit from the business well in advance. Groom the business to maximise its saleability. Choose the timing with care. 

Unfortunately, while most people accept the sense of this, in practice it usually doesn’t happen, often because the decision to sell is made quite suddenly and once it is made there is a desire to sell as soon as possible. This mean…

Since late 2016 there has been a general reduction in the number of businesses coming onto the market. It is generally understood that business owners, who in principle would like to sell, have been demonstrating a reluctance to commit to taking the necessary decision to do so. They have been citing all sorts of reasons for this, including the current state of the economy (national and global), g…

If I had been answering this question during the early part of 2012 then I would have said “yes, but not that many”. However, since then the situation has changed significantly and during the second half and, in particular, during the final quarter of 2013 the business transfer market picked up markedly. Moreover, between October and December we at Beardsley Theobalds sold more businesses than we…

Beardsley Theobalds, the specialist business transfer agency, has, over the last few months, brokered the sale of four niche market businesses showing that there is demand for businesses that are not ‘run of the mill’.  

Some business owners, who are looking towards retirement or who simply fancy a change, think that they have a business that is so specialist or unusual that nobody would want to…

During the last few years there has been a very noticeable increase in enquiries for businesses being offered for sale in the West Country from prospective buyers living abroad. Moreover, growing numbers of these people are seriously pursuing their interest in acquiring businesses in the South West as is demonstrated by them flying to the U.K. in order to meet business owners and take an in-depth…

The impact of Covid-19 related Government guidelines and restrictions have caused a lot of people to review their working lives. Many employees have been furloughed whilst others have already lost their jobs and, sadly, significantly more will undoubtedly join the latter’s ranks! Even those currently working – either from home or at their employers’ business premises – are feeling somewhat fearfu…

If you are thinking of selling your business in the relatively near future – say later this year or within the next year or two – now is a good time to consider your options. You most certainly need to carefully plan your exit from the business and thoroughly prepare it for disposal before offering it for sale. If you should fail to do this it will almost certainly take longer to sell (if indeed …

The vast majority of small business owners who have sold their enterprises since April 2008 have benefited from being able to take advantage of Entrepreneurs’ Relief and thereby paid Capital Gains Tax (CGT) based on a rate of just 10% (compared with individual seller’s income tax rates which can be as high as 45% and which would otherwise apply). Consequently, this has been a highly discounted …

They say that the business transfer market has fluctuated for some time, but is now undoubtedly much better in certain sectors than in others. Since the financial crisis and ensuing recession took hold in late 2007 this has certainly been the case and there are certain sectors of the market which have definitely suffered more than others. Conversely, we at Beardsley Theobalds appear to have weath…

Well that’s an easy question to answer I hear you say. It’s obviously the fantastic scenery, wonderful countryside and impressive coastline. It’s the leisure facilities and the more favourable climate. It’s also the slower pace of life and lower crime rate, etc. Oh, and (of course) the benefits and satisfaction of having one’s own business. Yes, with its very attractive environment and the qualit…

It may be surprising, but nevertheless true, that the vast majority of small business owners have little to no idea what their businesses are worth. This, of course, must be a significant weakness from both strategic and exit planning perspectives. However, how can they, as well as those who are currently considering the idea of selling, obtain realistic and reliable valuation advice?

There are …