Over the next 10 years, 4.5 million businesses with over $10 trillion in value will transition into new hands via mergers and acquisitions. A major source of this shift is the retirement of baby boomers - 10,000 of whom turn 65 every single day. It is therefore more important than ever that business owners keep a pulse on their valuation, and to value their businesses annually. This can help business owners identify weaknesses in their business, make better financial decisions, and provide them with an opportunity to implement informed strategies for improvement moving forward (among other benefits). Not only will valuations help business owners run their business better in the short term, understanding the value of their firm will help them be prepared to sell the business and understand what it is worth when the time comes.

Selling your business is not only a difficult decision to make, but it can often be a costly one if not done correctly and objectively. And while the particular path you choose for your exit will inevitably vary, it is important to understand who will help you in that process, in what capacity, and what responsibilities you have as an owner. If you are thinking of selling your business or planning to sell in the future, here are the costs you should consider.

The market for advisor practices was set to be a record year in 2020 based on closing 2019 out on a high note, with valuations and deal terms as good as they have ever been. Fast forward three months and COVID-19 has eroded all these gains and left many advisors reeling and re-evaluating. As an advisor thinking of phasing out over the next few months or years, you are probably thinking, “Great, now what?”

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