Our job is to find buyers and sellers and to put deals together. Let's face it, few business owners have ever sold or bought even one business in their lifetime. A company with expertise in the process can be a very important asset to bringing the process to a successful conclusion.
Advantages of Merfeld & Schine
No Upfront Fee
Although many brokers charge upfront fees, we do not. We are paid a commission upon the closing of a sale. What's more, we will prepare a complete selling memorandum (typically 30 to 50 pages) to position your business for sale at the best price possible. You are never required to accept any offer.
Protect Confidentiality
We can present your business to prospects without their knowing which business it actually is! For example, suppose you own a service related company and decide to sell it. If you phoned one of your competitors and asked if he wanted to buy your firm, there goes the confidentiality. We can make the call without releasing the company name. Further, we can discuss the fundamentals of the business and of the proposed buyout deal, still without releasing the name of your company.
Screen Prospects
Screening prospects is an important and difficult part of the selling process. We know how to screen the tire kickers from the serious prospects. We don't want to waste your time (or ours) with prospects who don't really want to buy or who don't really have the cash needed to buy your company.
Pool of Prospects
We keep a detailed record of every active prospective buyer that has passed through our screening process. Such records will include the prospect's financial status and the kind of business each is looking to buy in terms of type, size, geographic area, etc. It is possible that we will have one or more good prospects ready as soon as you list your company with us.
We also maintain a proprietary database of private equity groups that are looking for acquisitions, both of platform companies and add-ons to existing platforms.
Range of Services
We can help with the valuation of your company, putting together a presentation, and providing other related services toward selling your business at the best possible price.
Know The Process
Probably the best argument in favor of using Merfeld & Schine is simply that we know how to sell a business. We have been through the process many times so we know the pitfalls and potential problems that can be encountered. We know how to spot the strengths and weaknesses of a deal, how to capitalize on the strengths and, how to minimize the weaknesses. Simply stated, we know how to make a deal happen and we're willing to work on a commission only basis to prove it.
