Guidelines For Selling A Business...Overview

ABMI Business Owner/Seller Services

Business owners are our clients. ABMI generally works for business owners (sellers) with whom we have a Listing Agreement, authorizing ABMI to market the business assets to a ready, willing and able buyer.

ABMI usually charges no front fees to most small or medium size business seller clients, and is paid a commission when the business sells.

When ABMI lists a business for sale, we invest the money and energy needed to professionally package the listing, confidentially advertise it in various media and on the internet (without divulging the name of the business nor any other confidential information until/and/unless each buyer provides us with a promise of confidentiality), and we service the listing until it is sold, including regular consultations with the business owner during the marketing process.

Having successfully brokered the sale of thousands of businesses over the last almost 30 years, ABMI has developed a unique multi-media “Buyer Discovery System” that is very successful at finding qualified business buyers.

In addition to initiating an aggressive, confidential media marketing effort, ABMI also immediately searches ABMI's proprietary data base of presently active buyers, totaling over 10,000 pre-screened prospects who have previously contacted ABMI, looking for a business to purchase.

ABMI also accepts special consulting engagements by business owners whereby ABMI receives a retainer for it's services, against a commission when the business sells. However, most engagements with small business owners are on a commission only basis.

ABMI's Middle Market/Mergers & Acquisitions Division also accepts special fee based engagements from buyers or sellers of larger businesses.

Accomplishing The Business Owner's Goals
We begin the process by consulting with the business owner about their “ideal exit strategy”, helping the owner identify not only the price they wish to achieve for the business assets, but also, structuring the marketing so that the seller receives the confidentiality and the terms they prefer. Also discussed, including consultation with the seller's advisors, are the seller's preferences for after-the-sale-involvement in the business (when applicable), the seller's long term financial goals and the taxable consequences of the sale. Then, ABMI works with the seller and his/her advisors to make those goals a reality.

Confidentiality
We are keenly aware of the importance of the maintenance of high standards of confidentiality in business representations, and have developed a unique Buyer Promise of Confidentiality System, which gives business owners a satisfactory comfort level.

Business Buyers, too, demand confidentiality in the managing of their acquisition search and ABMI understands the importance of protecting the buyer's confidentiality needs.

Low Risk For All Parties
Our goal is for business buyers and business owners to be able to engage in the Great American Dream of owning, buying, selling and financing their own businesses, with low risk for all parties. ABMI has developed ultra professional, effective systems and processes that not only greatly facilitate successful transaction completion, but, just as important, guides those projects to a low risk conclusion.

Full Disclosure
ABMI is a full disclosure company, which means that we encourage all parties to cooperate to provide all the facts needed for buyers and sellers to be able to consummate transactions with low risk and maximum chances of mutually satisfactory results.

Management of the Offer To Purchase/Letter Of Intent Process
ABMI volunteers to manage the entire process of generating Offers To Purchase/Letters Of Intent from buyers, including negotiating with buyers, providing and assisting with the filling out of the Offer documents needed, delivering Offers to the seller and handling counter offers when needed, identifying contingencies/conditions of the Offer that the buyer or seller might want included in the Offer, arranging to get the Offer "signed both ways", counseling with the buyer's and seller's attorney, accountant or other advisors, and moving the transaction toward closing in an orderly way.

Financing For the Transaction

ABMI has specialized in providing financing assistance on the transactions we've brokered for almost 30 years, and we've arranged hundreds of millions of dollars in loans for those transactions, on thousands of different businesses, of all types, all sizes, all prices. We provide that valuable service at no extra cost to the buyer and seller, including ABMI creating the buyer's preliminary loan request package, presenting the project to ABMI's extensive lending contacts, obtaining loan approval from at least one lending institution, and assisting the buyer and lender with the filling out of the final loan application. Then, ABMI keeps in contact with the lender, the SBA (when applicable), and helps assemble any of the elements needed to complete the financing process, including ABMI assisting in the inventory taking, final purchase document preparation by an attorney, closing statement and settlement arrangements, working with the seller's creditors, etc., all at no additional cost to the buyer or seller.

Managing The Due Diligence Process At No Extra Charge
ABMI volunteers to manage the due diligence process, including working with the buyer's and seller's attorneys, accountants and other advisors; assisting the seller in the clearing of accounts payable and other obligations; assisting the parties with equipment inspections, EPA surveys, appraisals, etc. (when applicable); and the other important details leading up to the buyer's take over, including coordinating the final arrangements for financing with the lender, the buyer and seller. ABMI's unique and ultra professional due diligence/closing services are provided to the parties at no extra charge, and are provided as an accommodation to the buyer and seller.

Free Consultation
Entrepreneurs (business buyers and sellers) who are considering buying, selling or financing a business acquisition should register with this ABMI web site to arrange to receive information which can help you investigate how you might buy or sell a business enterprise with minimum risk and maximum benefit to you.

ABMI will then provide you with information and a free, no cost, no obligation consultation, including a free evaluation of your project.

"When it comes to handling an event as important as buying or selling your business, you should always go with the best."

6201 College Blvd., Ste 385
Overland Park, KS 66211
Phone: 913-341-6300
Fax: 913-381-5978
info@abmi.net