[co-author: Frank A. McGrew IV - McNally Capital]*

If last week’s post summarizing the third panel from the Transitions in the Family Business: A Conversation with Family Business Owners and Leaders event piqued your interest in selling a family-owned business, you may have more questions about the sale process. As part of the Transitioning to a New Owner panel, Frank A. McGrew IV, managing partner of McNally Capital, shared his top 10 questions that family business owners and leaders should ask before pursuing a sale of their business.

1. Is your business ready to sell? Any buyer’s due diligence process requires a thorough evaluation of the seller and the seller’s business. Is your business ready for this examination?
2. Are you personally and mentally ready to sell your business? It is easy to be consumed by the immediacy of the sale process. Before exploring a sale, ask yourself: What would I do next and for how long? How much money do I truly need to live on if I sell my business?
3. When is the right time to sell? How will you know when the time is right? What are the trigger points to watch for, and how do you measure those?
4. How much is your business worth to you? How much will another buyer want to pay? What is the likely range of these values?
5. Who is the best and/or the right buyer? Are there certain buyers you do not want to approach or sell the business to? This could include competitors.
6. How can you increase the odds of success in your favor during a sale and transition process?
7. How can you maximize the purchase price and net proceeds from the sale?
8. How can you quantify and better understand the principal risks for your business and a transaction process before you begin?
9. What issues must be addressed before beginning a sale process?  For example, these could include legal, environmental or customer/supplier issues.
10. Who and what are the most appropriate outside experts and resources you need to utilize for a successful outcome? Frequent players include a transactional attorney, a banker, a wealth management advisor, and a trustee. Perhaps most importantly, who will “quarterback” this process as your client consigliere?

After reflecting on and answering the questions above, potential sellers will be better equipped to succeed in a sale transaction.

*This blog post was co-authored by Frank A. McGrew IV of McNally Capital. Frank is a Managing Partner and leads the Merchant Banking efforts at McNally.