Sales Guru To Lead July 25 GABB Peak Performance Workshop
International sales guru Mark Antonio will lead a Peak Performance Workshop at the July 25 meeting of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers.
Mark Antonio is one of America’s leading authorities on sales training, social media marketing, and peak performance. He’s traveled the United States, Canada, and South America conducting workshops for the Who’s Who of the Corporate World: Bank of America, RE/MAX, Morgan Stanley, ADP, Nissan, Berkshire Hathaway, and Aflac, to name just a few.
The GABB is the state’s only association of professionals who work to facilitate the purchase and sale of businesses and franchises. The group includes business brokers as well as lenders, attorneys, business appraisers, insurance agents, environmental specialists and other professionals. GABB’s member business brokers work with businesses of all sizes to help them through all steps of selling their company: valuation, marketing, financing, and closing. Aspiring business owners also work with business brokers to purchase existing businesses at a fair price.
GABB meetings start at 10:30 a.m. at the Atlanta Realtors Center at 5784 Lake Forrest Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30328. The meeting will be preceded at 9:45 a.m. with a free networking session with coffee and pastries sponsored by Stuart Oberman of the Oberman Law Firm. Photographer Roger Easley will be at the meeting to take professional head shots of GABB members.
GABB meetings are free and open to the public, but we ask that you let us know you are coming by filling out this form.
Mark is a former Senior National Trainer for the leading authority in the personal development industry and a Certified NLP Practitioner. He’s traveled to over 35 different countries and is fluent in 3 languages. He advises and consults with executives, sales professionals, and entrepreneurs in the areas of sales, social media marketing, and leadership mastery.
Directions to the GABB meeting location at the Atlanta Realtors Center:
From the South: I-75 north to I-285 east or I-85 north to I-285 west. Exit at Roswell Road south and turn right onto Northwood Drive. Turn right onto Lake Forrest. The Atlanta REALTORS® Center on the left at the stop sign (intersecting Allen Road).
From the North: Take GA 400 south and change to I-285 west. Continue as above via Roswell Road.
From East or West: I-285 to Roswell Road. Continue as above.
There is no charge for parking.
For more information about the GABB, contact Diane Loupe at georgiabusinessbrokers@gmail.com or GABB President Mike Ramatowski at 770-634-0428.
Read MoreThe Deeper Significance of a Listing Agreement
Listing agreements are very common when it comes to selling a business. In order to sell a business using a business broker, a listing agreement is usually required. In this article, we will explore this essential agreement and why it is so critical.
Signing a listing agreement legally authorizes the sale of a business. The fact is that signing a listing agreement serves to represent the end of ownership, which for many business owners, means heading into new territory. Quite often owning a business is more than “owning a business,” as the business represented a dream and/or a way of life.
Walking away from the dream or lifestyle represents a significant change. For many owners this is the end of a dream. It is not uncommon for many business owners to have started a business from “scratch,” and it is also only human to feel at least somewhat attached to the creation. Phrased another way, walking away from a business that one has worked on and cared for is often easier said than done. Businesses become integrated into the lives of their owners in a myriad of ways. Walking away is usually easier in theory than in practice.
Now, on the flipside of the coin, a signed listing agreement is a totally different animal for buyers. It represents the beginning of a dream. The lure of owning a business may come from a desire to achieve greater personal and financial independence, a sense of pride in owning and building something, a desire to always be an owner or a combination of all three. Buyers see the business as the next phase of their lives whereas sellers see the business as the past.
The listing agreement may seem simple enough, but what it represents is an important bridge between the seller and buyer. It is the job of the business broker to understand and consider the situation of both the seller and the buyer respectively and, in the process, work closely with both parties.
The lives of both the buyer and the seller will change greatly once the sale is completed, but in radically different ways. No one understands this simple, but very important fact, better and with more clarity than a business broker.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
Read MoreAre You Sure Your Deal is Completed?
When it comes to your deal being completed, having a signed Letter of Intent is great. While everything may seem as though it is moving along just fine, it is vital to remember that the deal isn’t done until many boxes have been checked.
The due diligence process should never be overlooked. It is during due diligence that a buyer truly decides whether or not to move forward with a given deal. Depending on what is discovered, a buyer may want to renegotiate the price or even withdraw from the deal altogether.
In short, it is key that both sides in the transaction understand the importance of the due diligence process. Stanley Foster Reed in his book, The Art of M&A, wrote, “The basic function of due diligence is to assess the benefits and liabilities of a proposed acquisition by inquiring into all relevant aspects of the past, present, and predictable future of the business to be purchased.”
Before the due diligence process begins, there are several steps buyers must take. First of all, buyers need to assemble experts to help them. These experts include everyone from the more obvious experts such as appraisers, accountants and lawyers to often less obvious picks including environmental experts, marketing personnel and more. All too often, buyers fail to add an operational person, one familiar with the type of business they are considering buying.
Due diligence involves both the buyer and the seller. Listed below is an easy to use checklist of some of the main items that both buyers and sellers should consider during the due diligence process.
Industry Structure
Understanding industry structure is vital to the success of a deal. Take the time to determine the percentage of sales by product lines. Review pricing policies and consider discount structure and product warranties. Additionally, when possible, it is prudent to check against industry guidelines.
Balance Sheet
Accountants’ receivables should be checked closely. In particular, you’ll want to look for issues such as bad debt. Discover who’s paying and who isn’t. Also be sure to analyze inventory.
Marketing
There is no replacement for knowing your key customers, so you’ll want to get a list as soon as possible.
Operations
Just as there is no replacement for knowing who a business’s key customers are, the same can be stated for understanding the current financial situation of a business. You’ll want to review the current financial statements and compare it to the budget. Checking incoming sales and evaluating the prospects for future sales is a must.
Human Resources
The human resources aspect of due diligence should never be overlooked. You’ll want to review key management staff and their responsibilities.
Other Considerations
Other issues that should be taken into consideration range from environmental and manufacturing issues (such as determining how old machinery and equipment are) to issues relating to trademarks, patents and copyrights. For example, are these tangible assets transferable?
Ultimately, buying a business involves a range of key considerations including the following:
- What is for sale
- Barriers to entry
- Your company’s competitive advantage
- Assets that can be sold
- Potential growth for the business
- Whether or not a business is owner dependent
Proper due diligence takes effort and time, but in the end it is time and effort well-spent.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
Read MoreDo You Really Know the Value of Your Company?
It is common for executives at companies to undergo an annual physical. Likewise, these same executives will likely examine their own investments at least once a year, if not more often. However, rather perplexingly, these same capable and responsible executives never consider giving their company an annual physical unless required to do so by rule or regulations.
Most Business Owners Don’t Know
Recently, a leading CPA firm undertook a study that was quite revealing. In particular, this study concluded that a whopping 65% of business owners don’t know the value of their company and 75% of the surveyed business owners had their net worth tied up in their businesses. Phrased another way, 75% of business owners don’t know how much they are worth! Perhaps most striking of all was the fact that a full 85% of business owners have no exit strategy whatsoever.
Having Recurrent Valuations is a Must
Business owners should know what their businesses are worth at least on an annual basis. Situations, both personal as well as in the economy at large, can change very rapidly. A failure to have a valuation leaves one exposed if issues suddenly arise involving estate planning or divorce or even partnership issues. These are just two examples of potential problems.
It is also vital to understand how your business compares to last year and previous years; after all, valuations should be increasing not decreasing. A valuation can also help you understand how your business compares to other businesses. Perhaps most importantly, an annual valuation can help you spot and fix problems.
“Buy, Sell or Get Out of the Way”
If you don’t know your valuation, then you truly don’t know where you are headed. As former Chrysler CEO, Lee Iacocca once stated, “Buy, sell or get out of the way.”
Standing still isn’t an option. You need to know your valuation in order to take full advantage of opportunities. You may feel that an acquisition isn’t the right move at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be ready! Having a current valuation means you’re ready to go if opportunity does, in fact, knock!
You never know when a potential acquirer may enter the picture. Imagine missing out on a tremendous opportunity because you didn’t have a valuation in place. Often hot offers and hot opportunities depend on speed. The time it takes to get a valuation could mean that the opportunity is no longer available. An accurate annual valuation of your business provides a valuable option whether you choose to exercise it or not.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
Read MoreIRS Regulations for S Corp vs LLC: a CPA Explains
By Greg DeFoor
One of the questions I get asked by aspiring or new business owners as a CPA and Business Broker is about S Corporations vs LLCs. Before deciding whether to form an S Corp or an LLC, there are a number of issues to consider. Assuming there is only one owner or a few owners and that all owners are qualified to own their respective shares or member units, here are factors to consider.
More Formal vs Less Formal
S corporations are more formal and require a little more in terms of documentation. When you form a corporation and elect S Corp status, you are required to elect officers and hold annual shareholder meetings. You need corporate bylaws in writing when you establish the corporation. You need to prepare minutes no less than annually that document decisions made during the year. It would be wise to get an attorney to help you with a form or template for completing these minutes.
LLCs are less formal. Once you form an LLC and prepare an operating agreement, there is no requirement for minutes or annual meetings.
Net Income and Distributions
Net income and distributions are not necessarily treated the same in S Corps and LLCs. In an S Corp, net income must be allocated based on ownership percentage. Distributions must be made by ownership percentage. In an LLC, there can be a disproportionate allocation of net income and unequal member draws. When there is only one owner, there really won’t be a difference. However, when there is more than one owner, S Corp shareholders are treated equally in terms of allocated items, and LLC members are treated based on how the operating agreement says they will be treated.
If you need an entity that allows for owner treatment that varies from ownership percentage, an LLC will allow that whereas an S Corp will not.
Guaranteed Payments vs Salary and Self-Employment Tax
In an LLC, you should not pay yourself a salary. Instead, you should take guaranteed payments. Guaranteed payments are subject to self-employment tax but are not paid as W-2 wages. They are treated more like a draw than as payroll. In an S Corp, you need to pay yourself a reasonable salary.
The net earnings from an LLC, except for earnings from the net rental of real estate held for investment, are subject to self-employment tax. The net earnings of an S Corp are not. One of the primary benefits of being a shareholder of an S Corp is the ability to take distributions that are not subject to self-employment tax. You are taxed on the net income of the S Corp. You pay yourself a reasonable salary, and any other net income may be distributed as a shareholder distribution.
Disregarded Entity and Tax Returns
If you are a single member LLC, you are a disregarded entity for tax purposes and the LLC income and expenses flow through your personal tax return on Schedule C. If there are more than one member of the LLC, the LLC files a partnership return. An S Corp files a corporate tax return specifically for S corporations. Both a partnerhip and S corporation are flow through entities. Neither pays income tax at the entity level; rather, both pass taxable income and other tax items directly through to the owner’s individual tax return.
To further complicate matters, an LLC can be an LLC for legal purposes but can also elect to be taxed as an S corporation for tax purposes. If an LLC elects S Corp status for tax purposes, tax matters have the attributes of an S corporation.
Distributions of Property
An S Corp is not necessarily a good entity to hold appreciating property in. That is why S Corp owners who also own the business real estate usually own the business real estate in a separate entity that is an LLC. The reason is usually a tax reason. You can’t distribute appreciated property, such as real estate, out of an S Corp to the S Corp shareholders without triggering a taxable event as if the real estate had been sold. With some restrictions and limitations, you can distribute appreciated property, such as real estate, out of an LLC to the LLC members without triggering a taxable event. In an LLC, the members assume the basis of the distributed property and there is no realizable gain or loss until the property is disposed of.
Elections
In order to be an S Corp, you form a corporation and then you file an election to be taxed as an S corporation with the IRS. The election is filed on IRS Form 2553. You must file the election within 75 days of the start of the year you want to elect S Corp status, or within 75 days of forming the entity if you want to elect S Corp status from the beginning.
If you file an LLC for legal purposes but want it to be taxed as an S Corp, you file the same type of election for the LLC you do for a corporation, with the S Corp election for an LLC also having the 75 day requirement.
The catch is, once you elect for either your corporation or LLC to be taxed as an S Corp, you cannot revoke the election. The S Corp election can only be terminated by filing a request with the IRS and receiving permission from the IRS for the S Corp status to be terminated. For this reason, electing S Corp status needs to be entered into carefully, as it cannot be easily undone.
S Corp vs LLC
In deciding S Corp vs LLC, seek advice of a tax professional and an attorney, and find out both the legal and tax reasons for electing one entity over the other. There is certainly more involved than what this article can cover, but this article should be enough to let you know there are a number of things to consider before choosing choice of entity for your business. Make sure you use an advisor that is familiar with business transaction services.
Greg DeFoor, CPA, CFE, has been a CPA for more than thirty years and is also a licensed Business Broker and Past President of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers.
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