Business Marketing

Word Up: Best and Worst Words to Use in a Business For Sale Ad

By Peter Siegel, MBA is the Founder And Administrator of BizBen.com

When it comes to selling your business, the right words matter. Using the wrong words can prevent or delay a sale, says Peter Siegel, Founder of BizBen.

When you’re selling a small business online, the first 30 to 45 days are critical. So Siegel says you want to fine tune your text before posting your business for sale online!

He offers a glossary of “Best Words & Phrases” and recommends using them in your copy, but only if they are true. And he also recommends avoiding the “Worst Text & Phrases.”

Best Text & Word Phrases To Use In Your Business For Sale Ads

Good Books And Records

Real Estate Included
SBA Loan PreQualified
Verifiable Financials
Owner Is Retiring
Great Location

Owner Carry Back Note
Health Forces Owner To Sell
Owner Will Carry
Owner Financing
Growing Sales
Growing Revenues
Consistent Earnings
Stable Revenues
High Adjusted Net Income
Provable Cash Flow
Staff In Place
Absentee Run
Semi-Absentee Run
For Sale By Owner
Relocatable
Home Based
Training And Support Provided
Long Established
Employees In Place
Management In Place
Easy Operation
Easy To Learn
Training Will Be Provided By Owner
Room For Growth
Steady Clients/Clientele
Computerized Operations
POS System In Place
Updated Client Database
Good Track Record
Owner Will Train
Owner Will Carry A Note – Help Finance The Deal
Long Lease In Place
Great Lease Terms
Will Cooperate With Brokers And Agents

Worst Text & Word Phrases in Biz for Sale Listings

Potential!
Owner Must Sell
My Loss Is Your Gain
No Training Provided By Owner
Don’t Let This Opportunity Slip Away
Will Sell Quickly
Moving Must Sell Quickly
Location, Location, Location
Must Check This Out
Act Fast Before It’s Gone
Priced To Sell
Will Not Last
Money Maker
In A A+ Location
Must Move Quickly
Don’t Lose Out

Dumb Advertising Strategies & Text Choices:

– Using All Capital Letters On Words
– Listing No Financial Information (Or Very Little)
– Giving No Selling Price or Price Range
– Not Giving A General Location
– Giving Very Little Information In Posting
– Using Multiple Exclamations – like !!!!!!!! to make a point, etc.

About The Author: Peter Siegel, MBA is the Founder And Administrator of BizBen.com (established over 20 years!) and is a Business Purchase Financing expert (SBA and Non-SBA financing) – see BizBuyFinancing.com. He consults daily with California business buyers, owner/sellers, business brokers, and agents regarding buying and selling California small businesses. Call him today regarding advise on finding, buying, selling, financing a business purchase/getting pre-qualified (ask about the BizBen ProBuy and ProSell Programs for business buyers and owner/sellers, and brokers). He’ll also give you referrals to the best resources on buying and selling businesses, brokers, etc and a FREE copy of his eBooks “How To Find And Buy A California Business Successfully” or “Valuing And Selling A California Business Successfully” with any personal consultation/service. Peter Can be reached direct at 866-270-6278 (if you get voicemail please leave some good times to reach you and a detailed message – thanks).

Marketing Strategist to Speak Aug. 21

Diane Conklin is an internationally known author, entrepreneur, coach, consultant, marketing and business strategist, implementation specialist and speaker.

Find out how you can harness a marketing strategy to grow your business when internationally known author, marketing and business strategist Diane Conklin speaks on Wednesday, Aug. 21,  to the Georgia Association of Business Brokers. The GABB is the state’s largest association of professionals dedicated to buying and selling businesses and franchises.

The GABB meets at the Georgia Association of Realtors at 6065 Barfield Road, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328, and the meeting will last from 10:30 a.m. to noon preceded by a free light breakfast networking session at 9:45 a.m. Rob Tamburri, CPA PFS, managing partner of Balog + Tamburri, CPAs, is the sponsor of the meeting.

Diane is a direct response marketing expert who specializes in showing business owners how to turn their businesses into money making machines using rapid profit acceleration, leveraged business growth and strategic implementation by integrating their online and offline marketing strategies, media and methods, to get maximum results from their marketing dollars with Complete Marketing Systems.

For more than 25 years Diane has been leading small businesses to bigger profits through her coaching, consulting, marketing funnels, systems, live events and by providing done-for-you services to clients all over the world.  As the founder of Complete Marketing Systems, Diane has been involved in many campaigns grossing over $1,000,000.00 several times in her career, and she routinely helps people grow businesses to six figures, and beyond. Diane was voted Glazer-Kennedy Marketer of the Year for her innovative marketing strategies and campaigns and was nominated for Atlanta Business Woman of the Year.

The monthly meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. and is preceded at 9:45 a.m. by a free light breakfast and networking session. There is networking with coffee and pastries from about 9:45 to 10:30 and the meeting will last from about 10:30 to somewhere between 11:30 and noon.

The GABB is the state’s largest and oldest association of professionals who specialize in brokering the purchase and sale of businesses and franchises. Broker members help owners determine the asking price of their business, create marketing plans and strategies for selling their business, identify and qualify buyers, and have the knowledge, experience and skills needed to help maintain the confidential nature of the process. The professionals of GABB relentlessly pursue professional development so they can provide superior, ethical services for all customers and clients. Affiliate members include bankers, lawyers, appraisers, insurers and other professionals who work closely with brokers to help owners and buyers get to the closing table.

For more information about GABB, please contact GABB President Dean Burnette at 912-247-3209 or dean@b3brokers.com, or GABB Executive Director Diane Loupe at diane@gabb.org or 404-374-3990.

Five Industries with Great Growth Potential for Small Business Buyers

By Peter Siegel, Founder of BizBen.com (California Businesses For Sale), the BizBen Network

When you buy a small business, you want to be successful. But to do that, you must be able to look objectively at the company and determine whether or not it is a business that will be able to grow into the future. Many small businesses have succeeded by being on the cutting edge at one time or another. Businesses that survive long term, growth industries, are those that can change and grow along with the changing needs of their consumer. Regardless of what the financials say, a business that is not adaptable may be at the end of its life cycle.

As you look at potential business opportunities, think about where the business is in terms of its life cycle and try to find a vision for future growth if the current owner doesn’t have a plan in place. If you’d like to know that the small business you are buying is going to be in demand for a while, consider buying one in an industry that is projected to grow. Here is my list of small business opportunities in industries that are expected to grow.

#1 – Green Construction

The construction industry was hit hard by the recession. The industry has had to suffer through consumer’s pulling back on doing large home improvements and from building new homes because they couldn’t afford to and because there was a level of uncertainty around what the future would hold.  As the economy starts to improve, many consumers are still focused on ways to save money and live more efficiently so going green is becoming a priority.

Consumers aren’t the only ones interested in going green. Business owners are also following this trend as a means of being more efficient and spending less. With that, I anticipate that companies certified in creating green spaces will be in demand in the future. As more and more consumers go green, they will want their homes and their businesses to follow and the demand for companies that can provide green spaces will increase.

If you are considering buying into this industry, I recommend you know something about construction. Experience will be beneficial in running a successful business. Consider buying include construction companies certified in green building, companies that install solar panels or a green consulting company which evaluates a space and make recommendations on how to improve its efficiency. You can find businesses that are either franchises or independently owned in this category.

#2 – Fast Casual Dining

While fast food franchises still remain a popular option for meals on the go, a new trend in on-the-go eating has emerged over the last several years and I anticipate it will continue to grow into the future. The movement to fast casual dining is taking the restaurant industry by storm.  Chains such as Panera Bread and Chipotle have grown tremendously since entering the market. Consumers seem to like the ability to be able to sit down for a casual meal that is better quality than fast food but not as time consuming as a restaurant.

Another trend in this industry is the birth of the food truck. We’ve been hearing about them for a while now and some food trucks have really gained quite a large following of loyal customers. Small business opportunities in this industry for you to consider buying include food trucks and restaurant franchises.  Even though fast casual dining is a bit different than a full blown restaurant, you should still understand what you are getting into before you buy into this industry so do your due diligence before making any decisions.

#3 – Professional Services — Accounting, Healthcare, Consulting

As the world that we live in gets more complex, the need for professional services increases and I’m seeing a particular demand in accounting businesses, consulting, and private healthcare practices.  Accounting may not be the “sexiest” occupation, but accountants and their services are in demand.  As people’s finances become more complex we are seeing less do it yourself accounting and more individuals turning to a professional to help with everything from monthly accounting to annual tax preparation. Most businesses use a professional accountant in one way or another but again, as the complexity of our global economy increases, more businesses are requiring additional services from professional Accountants.

As Baby Boomers continue to age, they are creating a demand for more healthcare-related professional service businesses. This includes everything from private healthcare practices to healthcare specialists like physical therapists to home healthcare aides.  The population is going to continue to age and need these services.  On top of that, with the introduction of the Affordable Healthcare Act more Americans will have access to health insurance so the demand for healthcare professionals may again increase as a result.

Let’s not forget about Consultants! Starting a business and staying open is becoming harder and harder as the economy, consumers and technology continues to change. Businesses are hiring Consultants to help them navigate this unique business environment and you can find a Consultant that specializes in just about everything these days. This increasing demand for professional guidance in specific areas of business is causing this to be a growing segment of the professional services industry.

While buying a professional services practice may sound like a great idea, these are three areas where I’d definitely recommend you have experience before buying. So what I am saying is if you are a restaurant owner looking for change, buying an accounting practice probably isn’t going to be the right fit but if you’ve just become a CPA and the practice you interned at is up for sale, you should consider buying it because it is likely to be a business that will be around in the future.

When it comes to the professional services industry, many of the small business opportunities that are available for you to purchase are likely to be independently owned.  Also, be aware a lot of professional practices don’t get sold on the open market.  Many change hands by being passed down to family or employees so finding one for sale may be more difficult than finding other types of businesses.

#4 – Repair Services

Consumers are hesitating to buy new. Instead of replacing it, they are repairing it. For millions of Americans who are still recovering from the recession, repairing has become a way of life.  Repair businesses from home improvement companies to car repair businesses have seen an improvement in their business when other companies were slowing down.

Small business opportunities in this industry for you to consider buying include home repair businesses, auto repair shops, a clothing repair or alterations business and computer repair.

#5 – Self-Help and Individual and Family Services

We have become a nation of people who are constantly trying to better than themselves. A group of people trying to do more, be more and live better, Americans are looking for help in finding out how they can be the best they can be. The result is that the self-help industry is booming, and I anticipate its growth to continue well into the future. Self-help and self-improvement initiatives started gaining momentum as early as the 1930s and today Americans spend around $11 billion on this industry. Falling into this category is everything from motivational speaking seminars, networking and wealth-building instructional DVDs, guidance books and more. This segment of the industry presents an opportunity for a solopreneur to write a book, produce a DVD or become a speaker so if you have experience and are successful in an area of life that many people struggle in, you may have an opportunity to create a small business out of it.

Also growing in popularity is the individual and family services industry. In my opinion, self-help and this industry go hand in hand because they are both focused on improving lives. When it comes to individual and family services, more and more people are going to start hiring professionals to help them get through whatever is plaguing them; drug addiction, marital problems, mental issues, etc.

This presents an increasing demand for another branch of professional service businesses that are going to grow into the future.  As I said before, these are businesses that you should really have some experience in before buying one.

About The Author:  Peter Siegel, MBA, is the Founder of BizBen.com (California Businesses For Sale), the BizBen Network, and is the Director of the successful BizBen ProBuy Program (90% success rate) for business buyers. He has recently published an eBook on How To Buy A California Small Business that is available online. If you need assistance in your search to buy (or finance the purchase of) a California business and would like to speak with Peter Siegel, phone him direct at 866-270-6278.

Georgia’s Business Climate Tops in the Nation

ATLANTA – Georgia’s business climate has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for the sixth consecutive year by Site Selection, a leading economic development trade publication, according to Gov. Nathan Deal. According to Site Selection, Georgia is the first state to hold this ranking for six consecutive years under leadership by the same governor.

‘For six years now, Georgia’s business climate has been ranked No. 1 in the nation, as people from all over the country have come to our communities to find opportunity, jobs, hope and prosperity,’ said Deal. ‘Earning this distinction six consecutive times speaks to the immense strength of our business-friendly environment and the value of the strategic investments we’ve made across our state. Today’s announcement is the result of exceptional collaboration between public and private sector partners who create economic opportunities in Georgia’s communities, as well as conservative policies that attract more and more business to our state each year. I appreciate Site Selection once again recognizing Georgia with this honor and we are proud of the foundation that we have built and maintained for over half a decade.

‘Here in Georgia, we have truly cultivated an economic environment that rewards hard work and innovation, generates investments in local communities and improves the overall quality of life for families. We have not been content to rest on our laurels, as we’ve cut taxes and made even deeper investments in our workforce since first earning this distinction. We are proud to be the No. 1 state for business and as we look to the future, Georgia will continue to take the steps necessary to attract industry leaders from around the world and help homegrown small businesses succeed. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve Georgia as governor as we’ve led the nation in economic development and I look forward to Georgia retaining its position as an exceptional place to do business, work, learn, and call home for many years to come.’

Each November, Site Selection releases rankings for the top states in which to do business. Site Selection’s business climate rankings are based on a survey of corporate real estate executives and site consultants and an index consisting of tax burden criteria from the Tax Foundation and KPMG’s Location Matters analysis and qualifying projects resident in the Conway Projects Database, which tracks new and expanded business facility activity worldwide. Georgia has been ranked among the top 10 states throughout the last decade and has held the top spot for the last five years.

‘A six-year top business climate winning streak is highly unusual,’ said Mark Arend, editor-in-chief of Site Selection. ‘But it stands to reason, given Governor Deal’s commitment to making Georgia a competitive location for business early in his administration and every year since. Capital investors tell us the state delivers the fiscal soundness, logistics infrastructure, competitive business costs and workers they require today and in the future.’

Deal was joined at the news conference by Arend, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Commissioner Pat Wilson, and former GDEcD Commissioners Attorney General Chris Carr and Chris Cummiskey.

‘Being recognized by Site Selection magazine for having the best business climate in the nation for the last six years is a testament to the leadership of Governor Deal and the General Assembly, and will certainly be among the many accomplishments remembered by Georgians of this administration,’ said Wilson. ‘The last eight years have been unprecedented for our state in terms of economic development from job creation to located projects and investment. We celebrate this accolade with all of our economic development partners across the state who have played an important role in helping Georgia earn and maintain this ranking.’

Economic development highlights:

• In the past eight years, Georgia has seen the creation of roughly 750,000 new, private sector jobs.
• At 3.7 percent, Georgia’s unemployment rate is now at its lowest point since 2001.
• In October 2018 alone, Deal and GDEcD announced the creation of more than 2,500 jobs and over $215 million of private sector investment in Cobb, Emanuel, Fulton, Hall and Troup counties.
• Since 2011, GDEcD has worked on more than 2,900 economic development locations and helped to bring roughly 214,000 jobs and $39.6 billion in investment to Georgia communities.
• GDEcD’s Global Commerce Division helped to bring in $5.56 billion in new investments for Georgia during the last fiscal year.
• Since 2010, overall exports from Georgia have increased by 28.8 percent.
• Since 2012, 74 percent of GDEcD location projects were outside of the metro Atlanta area.
• When state tax cuts passed earlier this year are fully implemented, Georgia’s corporate and individual income tax rates will be reduced from 6 percent to 5.5 percent. State tax reforms will also double the standard deduction for hardworking individuals and families from $3,000 to $6,000.
• As a result of federal and state tax reforms, Georgians could save up to $5 billion over the next five years. These reforms are together estimated to lead to a $4,200 increase in wage and salary income for the average household.
• The percent of Georgia’s population living below the poverty line has decreased by 2.1 percent since January 2017 and is at its lowest point since 2006.
• Monthly initial claims for unemployment insurance in Georgia recently fell to their lowest level since 1974.
• Georgia has maintained a AAA bond rating for 21 consecutive years.
• The state’s Rainy Day Fund, which was once almost empty, has now topped $2.5 billion, ranking it the highest in the Southeast and one of the top ten highest in the nation.

About Site Selection
Site Selection, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 48,000 executives of fast-growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection is also available via Site Selection Online. The publication also publishes or co-publishes e-newsletters, including The Site Selection Dispatch, Life Sciences Report, Aerospace Report and Energy Report, Site Selection International, The FDI Report, TrustBelt.com and the OnSITE Travel blog