This service is provided by Lighthouse Financial from their offices in Massachusetts.  Here's what they have to say about their program. Experience gained in the sale of more than 2,000 businesses has taught us that the process of selling a business must be divided into distinct phases if we are to:

• Maintain and Preserve Confidentiality

• Maximize the Value of the Company

• Sell Quickly and Quietly to a Competent Buyer

• Explore Your Options and the Timeliness of Selling

How the program began:
One of the country’s largest franchise companies became aware of our multi step process and were impressed with the methods we employed and the premium prices we obtained for more than thirty of their owners in New England. They asked if we could provide this deliberate service, starting with our "Buyer Identification and Summary of Values" Report and Advisory Service, nationally to their 2,500 franchisees? We developed a program to service their network and subsequently, hundreds of business owners from coast to coast and most points in between have benefited from this service.

The Program addresses the reality that business owners need and want realistic information upon which to make important decisions regarding the future of their businesses.  

Step One -- Exploration and advisory phase:                    
Documents are exchanged electronically or by mail, a comprehensive questionnaire is provided  the business owner followed by an extensive telephone interview to have questions answered and information gathering completed.  A visit to the business may be in order subject to the complexity or uniqueness of the situation.

We produce our "Buyer Identification and Summary of Values" Report  and present to the business owner and/or advisors  generally within 14 days of receiving complete information. The report includes the following: 

• Profile of ideal acquirer (Minimizes marketplace exposure, helps to maintain confidentiality and maximize value)

• Comprehensive financial and operational review (3 to 5 years of data)

• Identify areas of opportunity for increased business value and/or profits

• Determine the amount of third party financing available for a transaction

• Determine optimum value of company and probable transaction structure

• Identify action items to enhance Company 's value and salability

• Ratify opportunities and value using third party resources

• Develop a strategy and plan to obtain maximum value and minimize risk and taxes

• Ratify timeliness of going to market          

Results are generally reviewed via telephone with business owner or, a face to face meeting with owner(s) and Company advisors if situation warrants.  Should it be decided to sell the company we enter Step Two or preparation for the actual marketing and selling stage.

Upon completion of Step One you may elect to:

• Sell the business on your own with or without selling documents prepared by us

• Sell the business yourself with us as your coach and mentor

• Engage us to sell your business.  We will partner with the most qualified broker/intermediary in your market to complete the transaction. 

• Postpone sale in order to enhance Company value and sell at a latter time

• Choose an option other than selling

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  Sound reasons to develop a "Buyer Identification and Summary of Values" Report:

• When you already have a buyer for your business - Ratify the appropriateness of the buyer before divulging sensitive business information. Determine the optimum price for your business. Understand what and how much information to reveal before you have an offer

• To prepare your company for sale - Obtain the “Insider Information” on how to maximize the value of your business

• You have decided to sell your business - Identify the type of buyer willing to pay premium prices for your business - employ tactics designed to attract the best buyer, maximize value and maintain confidentiality

• Need to Establish Value for: buy/sell agreements, partnership disputes, estate or divorce settlements, insurance or tax purposes

• Other considerations: -- Take your company Public, Install an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), Private Placement, Refinance existing debt, Obtain new financing

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Step Two -- Final preparation for actual marketing and selling of the business
What we do and develop before selling or assisting in the sale of the company: 

• Lending Sources and Amounts Confirmed -- The level of Acquisition Funding and the profile or qualifications the buyer must posses are confirmed.  The lender's qualification criteria are an important element in the profile of your ideal buyer and must be established and ratified before exposing your business in the marketplace.

• Marketing Package or Prospectus -- Custom designed and written for the specific category or type of buyer identified in our earlier works.  A well written prospectus, positioning your firm as an exciting opportunity, dramatically increases your company's value and prevents it from becoming over-exposed in the marketplace.  

• "Due Diligence" Documentation Compiled -- It is imperative that everything your buyer and your buyer's advisors will want to review is prepared and ready before beginning the sale process.  Experience has taught us that your first buyer is very often the best buyer.  We do not want to loose that buyer because "buyer remorse" sets in while waiting for required documentation/information.

• Multi Stage Marketing Plan is developed to attract only those candidates who can be predicted to recognize the company's optimum value.

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Step Three --  Sell the business at the optimum price to the most appropriate buyer so that the business "Stays Sold"
Next step is to select the right buyer(s) for your business from the thousands of buyers in our database and, if  your buyer is not there, begin the marketing campaign.  The key elements of the sale process are outlined below.

Confidentiality -- Utmost confidentiality must be maintained throughout the process. Release of company information must be managed in a controlled manner.  You should know everything of importance about your buyers before they know your company is for sale.
Obtain the Best Offer -- We understand the best offer is not necessarily the highest price. It's not what you get that counts, it's what you get to keep!  
Negotiate -- In the emotionally charged atmosphere that surrounds every business transfer, our team will  maintain proper perspective and the forward motion required to consummate the transaction.
Problem Solving -- Most problems are prevented with proper preparation.  When problems do arise, our experience allows us to suggest resolutions to get everyone back on track, preventing costly delays or a lost sale.
Closing Procedures -- Our leadership throughout the process insures that events occur in the proper sequence so as to affect a smooth and timely transfer of the business.

Want to start by doing it yourself?  We have developed the "Business Selling System" for business owners who wish to explore selling their business themselves using our system.  The is the same system that has proven to be 4 to 5 times more effective than the process used by most business brokers and 15 to 20 times more effective than business owners and real estate brokers attempting the sale of a business. 

This service is designed specifically
for business owners who want to
create wealth from their business, either
for their own benefit or to advantage their children