Timeline For Selling Your Company

Introduction to Sell Side Quarterbacks - Day 1

We like to have an introductory , no-obligation meeting that allows you to meet the Sell Side team member(s) you will be working with before you make any commitments. Our goal is to understand your goals for selling your business and share our process with you so you have a good understanding of the process and likely outcome.

Retain Sell Side Quarterbacks - Days 2 - 14

Determine timeline and consulting fees to sell your business based on the business type, availability of internal resources, your third party accounting firm and law firm and the robustness of your information systems.

  • Discuss potential price range a buyer might be willing to pay for your company (once the information gathering stage is complete, we will use a more formal valuation model).

  • Define options and exit strategies. There are a wide variety of transaction options to be explored with you and your management team, and/or board. Sell Side will guide you on the pros and cons of each option based on your company's specific circumstances.

  • Discuss fees in a fully transparent manner prior to signing a contract to sell your company.

Information Gathering, Data Collection and Presentation - Days 15 -45

Properly presenting your company's financial and business history and future projections along with a clear understanding of your company's SWOTs (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) is vital to the sale process. We will prepare the necessary reports and tools to put your company in the best possible position to achieve your goals.

At this stage Sell Side Quarterbacks will have sufficient data to refine the valuation analysis and provide you with a value based on comparable company sales transactions.

Buyer Research and Buyer Outreach Strategy - Days 46 - 120

Sell Side Quarterbacks will contact our extensive network of over 2,000 professionals from family offices, venture capital and private equity firms, law firms, accounting firms and others in addition to identifying and reaching out to potential strategic corporate buyers. This will be done with a teaser that highlights the value of your company without revealing the company name.

Qualification of Potential Buyers - Days 60 - 120

Potential buyers that express interest in buying your company may not be qualified to purchase the business or may be undesirable buyers. Sell Side Quarterbacks interviews each buyer and presents you with a complete picture of the pros and cons of each buyer allowing you to make the final decision on which buyers move to the next level of due diligence.

Negotiation Process - Days 60 - 150

Our goal is to create an auction situation with more than one acceptable buyer negotiating to buy your company. Our goal is to create the best possible sale price and terms to sell your company. During the negotiation process there will be an opportunity for you to meet one-on-one with each prospective buyer with a Sell Side Quarterback at your side.

IOIs, LOIs and Definitive Sale Agreements - Days 60 - 150

Buyers typically express interest in a company at three stages: an Indication of Interest (IOI), a Letter of Intent (LOI) and a Definitive Sale Agreement. Sell Side Quarterbacks will manage this process with input from you and your outside counsel.

While this is an ideal timeline, transactions occasionally move more quickly if an all cash buyer is found and more slowly for reasons varying from holiday periods to buyer approval for an SBA 7(a) loan. Regardless of the timeline, we are at your side as a trusted advisor and experienced professionals to make the process of selling your company as easy as possible. Call us today at 312.945.8511 or email us at bruce@rjmallc.com to set up an introductory meeting with Sell Side Quarterbacks.