Podcast: Why Start with the End in Mind when thinking of selling your business?

BusinessSuccessRadio

Denise Hall talking Why Start with the End in Mind on businesssuccessradio.com.au by Denise Hall on Mixcloud

The most important place to commence to “start with the end in mind” is “Why”…
Why did you go down the path of setting up your business?
For what purpose does it serve?
Why do you now want to move on?
Why should a buyer be interested in taking this off your hands?

With any “why”, there has to be two parts…
a) why the world is a better place as a result of doing business with you (the external driver of the business)
b) why you set up your business the way you did (the internal driver)

If your solo reason for setting up your business was so that you had more flexibility over your working hours for example, then that would not be nearly as attractive as say, solving world hunger at the same time (assuming that was the market the buyer is in).

Emphasis on the personal only ie “b)” is interesting in terms of your history but it only forms part of the story. It’s imperative that there is a larger story at play at the same time, so that the attraction to the business from the external continues whether you are part of the mix or not.

Podcast: Start with the End in Mind; regardless of how old your business is…

BusinessSuccessRadio

Denise Hall talking “Start with the End in Mind” on businesssuccessradio.com.au by Denise Hall on Mixcloud

Greetings fellow Business Owners on businesssuccessradio.com.au

My name is Denise Hall, of “the entrepreneurial mother®” fame, ex Business Owner turned Exit Strategist and Business Broker.

We are gathered here today to introduce how to Start with the End in Mind regardless of how old your business is!

This is the first in a series where I will be covering all things “I don’t want to do this business any more”.
Having someone like me to talk you through this thought process (and don’t I wish I had someone like me to talk to when I was selling my business!) will save you time, effort and money when working out the best way forward.

In order to do that, I pop on my Buyers Goggles and help you view the business you’re building through such a filter.

I also invite you to go through the “Sellability Score” questionnaire and where to find it.

The “Sellability Score” essentially works 2 ways:

  1. you get a line-in-the-sand starting point
  2. you get a list of activities to consider in order to raise the score, and ideally the value, should you choose to do so

And you can even do it for FREE and you can find it at www.sellabilityscore.com.au
Have no fear as I’m the one who contacts you once the questionnaire is completed and the report is produced.
Go forth and complete…

Podcast: Denise Hall talking Starting a Business vs. Buying a Business?

Podcast: Denise Hall talking Starting vs Buying a Business – businesssuccessradio.com.au by Denise Hall on Mixcloud

I know. The idea of owning your own business is becoming a more attractive and popular option for a lot of Australian women.

The idea of setting your own hours, having unlimited income potential and working in an area you are passionate about to bring value to the marketplace is an appealing alternative to an office environment, for a lot of individuals. Women are driven and great at multi-tasking, all great skills for a potential business owner.

Statistically speaking though, most businesses fail within the first two years.  Although there are many reasons why this is the case, a few common denominators exist around the initial set up and structure of the business. It’s not enough to have a good idea.  Or, to even be good at what you do.  This alone doesn’t necessarily translate to success at owning and managing your own business.

Getting your business off and running takes a little capital and a solid plan of action. Researching your potential market along with establishing the legalities can be a headache in and of itself.  Once you make a start, seeking expert advice, joining a trade association, and networking with your local chamber of commerce can be helpful launching steps.

In order to increase your potential success rate, you might consider some alternative options to starting a business from scratch.  Franchises, Direct Sales, or purchasing an already existing business are viable options with a little less risk, or at least a different risk, involved.

Franchises:
You can find information about starting a franchise in Australia at www.franchisebusiness.com.au. You might be surprised at some of the great opportunities you will find. There are hundreds of franchises to choose from in many different arenas. The benefits of a franchise are that there is already name recognition in the marketplace along with a proven track record and system for success. The downside can be the amount of capital necessary to get a franchise on its feet. Also, it might take a while before you realise the profits you are after. Depending on the franchise, expect at least two years before you see a true return on your investment.

Direct Sales:
For all of the reasons entrepreneurial women like to own their own businesses, network marketing, or direct sales, can be a great option. Start-up costs are typically very low and you have the benefit of setting your own pace for your business. Oftentimes, you can build it with discretionary time as you continue in your normal job. This provides more stability and less risk to the woman who is after more financial stability for her family. The downside to a business like this is that you must be highly self-motivated. All of the good products in the world won’t sell themselves if you are unwilling to get out there and push them. Also, many people avoid this type of business because you typically need to start up with friends and family or someone in your close network. You can check out the Australian Direct Selling Association’s website for lists of reputable companies and information about direct sales.

Buying an Existing Business:
This option is really great if you know what type of business you are passionate about, have some capital, and would like to have an already established client base or revenue stream. The potential to grow it or expand to new areas is appealing. The downside is that you might inherit existing problems with personnel, debt, or organisational structure. You also lose the chance to start from scratch and establish your own vision and mission. However, these can be developed over time as you implement changes. The Australian government lists some other things to consider on their website before purchasing an already existing business.

All in all, women have what it takes to be successful in business.  Eliminating all risk is unavoidable but if you are driven and passionate about your product, it might be worth the plunge.

 
Kayla Wilson, Editor of creditcarecompare.com.au
The Credit Letter Blog is dedicated to giving individuals financial advice in every area of life from credit cards to business and family.

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