Andrew Kent blog

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View > Debt or equity?: Thursday, 9 October 2008 Should you take debt or seek equity to grow your business? Given the current economic downturn, my answer has changed. Here’s why. ANDREW KENT

View > The danger of the earn-out clause: Tuesday, 9 September 2008 Although an earn-out clause may seem like a good idea, but there are real dangers that business sellers must be aware of. ANDREW KENT

View > Great time to buy – if you can find the cash: Thursday, 5 June 2008 We are currently experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy good businesses at a good price. But getting funding is not easy. ANDREW KENT

View > Volume up – values down: Thursday, 24 April 2008 Businesses are flooding the market, and prices are reflecting this. But it is the smaller end that has wet feet. ANDREW KENT

View > "For Sale" sign surge: Thursday, 10 April 2008 Nearly three times as many businesses were for sale in the March quarter and it's affecting prices. ANDREW KENT

View > Risk a factor in prices: Thursday, 3 April 2008 It’s nigh-on impossible for a business to plan when the market wildly throws the level of costs willy-nilly. ANDREW KENT

View > How to make the buyer's job easier: Thursday, 20 March 2008 These days, buyers may be thin on the ground, so if you want to sell you may have to work around the buyer's funding options. ANDREW KENT

View > Selling? Act now!: Thursday, 13 March 2008 If you’re going to sell, hurry up and do it, because interest rates are hurting your prospects. ANDREW KENT

View > Recipe for business success: Thursday, 21 February 2008 A good idea is no guarantee of a viable business. But an existing set-up's big selling point should always be as the vehicle for the next entrepreneur's grand plan.

View > To the brave will go the profits: Thursday, 14 February 2008 In an uncertain market, you can pick up a business bargain if you are prepared to put your house on the line.

View > Market attention needs to be converted to sales: Thursday, 7 February 2008 There are a lot of businesses for sale – and whoever buys will shape the make-up of the next generation of entrepreneurs.

View > Nervous time for business market: Thursday, 31 January 2008 It will be a brave person to switch investment strategies now, but it will be just this sort of person that will be Australia’s next generation of business owners.

View > Christmas – a time for change: Thursday, 20 December 2007 In the context of an increasingly difficult economy to navigate, the direction of business prices is a slippery fish.

View > Preparing for a quick sale: Thursday, 6 December 2007 In the case of quick sales, it is definitely a case of make haste slowly.

View > Decisions on hold: Thursday, 22 November 2007 The election seems to have put a brake on selling activity. The result could take the market either way...

View > Private equity funds try to pick winners: Thursday, 8 November 2007 Private equity funds are cashed up and looking to invest in private companies. How can you make your business a fore-runner in the race?

View > Strategies for Gen-X and Gen-Y: Thursday, 1 November 2007 Now that the tidal-wave of baby-boomer businesses have started to flood the market, what are the best strategies that Gen-X and Y can adopt? Here are some ideas...

View > Small business buyers stay close to home: Thursday, 25 October 2007 The big baby boomer sell-off has magnified earnings multiples (so they win again!). Can the next Gens ride the sales wave?

View > Plenty of ways to make a dollar: Thursday, 18 October 2007 When thinking about what your next business will be, it pays to think outside the square.

View > Volume up, prices stretched: Thursday, 11 October 2007 More businesses are being offered for sale, but owners are finding it harder to get the price they want.

View > After the sale: Thursday, 4 October 2007 After you've done the acquisition deal, don't think that all the hard work is over. Successfully merging each business is the next hurdle.

View > Growing through acquisition: Thursday, 27 September 2007 While acquisition is an effective tool for growth, a lot of SMEs don't really understand its value.

View > Growth by acquisition or franchise?: Thursday, 20 September 2007 Want to grow your business? You’ll have to spend money to make money.

View > Uncertainty fragments market: Thursday, 13 September 2007 The private business market is difficult to read at the moment, and the looming election only adds to the uncertainty.

View > Partial sale or merger – relationships are important: Thursday, 6 September 2007 Mergers, sales, partial sale – success in all is defined by one factor: a good working relationship.

View > Finding tomorrow’s money: Thursday, 30 August 2007 Potential buyers will analyse the level at type of revenue your business generates. Repeating revenue is worth more than ad hoc, one-off sales.

View > Hospitality – do the numbers stack up?: Thursday, 23 August 2007 Hospitality can be appealing, but ruinous if you don't have the knack.

View > Sale time jitters: Thursday, 16 August 2007 Private businesses are immune from sharemarket gyrations, but they get a taste of fluctuating value when it comes time to sell.

View > The X factor in buying a business: Thursday, 9 August 2007 Buying yourself a business is often a more successful way to start up. Here are the 'must-haves'.

View > Volume up, prices low but steady: Thursday, 2 August 2007 After successive falls in value in the last two quarters, business owners looking to sell will be pleased to know that prices have stabilised.

View > Smart shopping for a retail business: Thursday, 26 July 2007 There are so many retail businesses for sale. It may be a good time to fine tune your wish list.

View > Are some businesses not worth selling?: Thursday, 19 July 2007 It's a myth that professional firms, such as IT consulting and accounting and medical practices, get such low prices they are not worth selling.

View > More businesses for sale in June quarter: Thursday, 12 July 2007 There are more businesses for sale now than all year so far, and most of them are smaller concerns. It could be just seasonal, but you never know...

View > Are big retailers and franchisors eating Ma & Pa retailers?: Thursday, 5 July 2007 Small retailers are selling at fire-sale prices. Is this a time to strike while the iron is cool, or is it just that the franchise model is taking over?

View > Business and property – together or apart?: Thursday, 28 June 2007 Dividing the property from the business is impossible for some enterprises.

View > Investor interest on the rise: Thursday, 21 June 2007 Investors seem to be swelling the ranks for buyer inquiries – which spells some interesting trends for ownership.

View > Best business buys: Thursday, 14 June 2007 What makes a business a good buy? Here are a few essential items to put on every buyer's checklist.

View > Ten good reasons to sell: Thursday, 31 May 2007 If the business is so good, why would the owners sell? Buyers want to know, but they’ll skirt around the question. Here’s a list of plausible reasons.

View > Partial sale – the forgotten exit strategy: Thursday, 24 May 2007 It's a hard market out there, but I'm here to remind you... there IS wriggle room.

View > How much would you sell for?: Thursday, 17 May 2007 I've found that most people tend to overestimate what their business is worth.

View > Know when to fold ‘em…: Thursday, 10 May 2007 As the failed Qantas takeover bid demonstrated this week, not every deal goes ahead. Don't forget your goals in the rush of the sale process.

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