The course for a successful sale should be set before the actual sales process begins. In doing so, an M&A advisor draws on a variety of measures to prepare the sale of your company in the best possible way and to determine the optimal time for the sale.

Involving an M&A advisor is not necessarily required, but it offers a number of benefits, especially if this is your first business sale. For example, a consultant provides support in the preparation of all documents relevant for approaching interested parties, in the due diligence carried out by buyers or in the purchase price negotiation, thus significantly reducing the workload in your company. Furthermore, an M&A consultant will market your company in a targeted and discreet manner without generating attention that could damage your reputation.

The value of your company is based on a number of different factors (market and competitive environment, growth prospects, profitability) and can be determined using different methods. The determination of the value of your company should be carried out by an experienced M&A advisor. In this process, a consultant calculates the value using different valuation methods commonly used in the market (e.g. discounted cash flow, transaction multiples).

The length of the sale varies greatly and depends on a variety of factors. As a rule, mandating an M&A advisor leads to a faster sale of the company and usually takes 4-6 months.

Find out in advance from your tax advisor or auditor about tax optimization options. An experienced M&A advisor will address the tax structuring options in the sales process and include them in his transaction structuring.

In many cases, a transition period is agreed in which you remain in your company after the final handover and continue to work there to ensure a smooth handover.