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If you’re a startup founder looking to the long-term, you’ve probably thought about selling your business.
Selling your business is a huge decision. It’s not something that happens over night, but takes years of strategy, planning and of course, an understanding of the process.
What Were Some Of The Biggest Company Sales Of All Time?
Over time, there have been some record-breaking buyouts for companies.
Some of the top, according to DealRoom, include:
- Vodaphone and Mannesmann: $373 billion
- Shenhua Group and China Guodian Corp: $354 billion
- AOL and Time Warner: $325 billion
- ChemChina and SinoChem: $309 billion
- Gaz de France and Suex: $259 billion
- Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham: $197 billion
- Verizon and Vodaphone: $173 billion
- Dow Chemical and DuPont: $166 billion
- United Technologies and Raytheon: $147 billion
- AB InBev and SABMiller: $138 billion
Whether you’re looking to retire, start a new challenge or simply looking to cash out on years of hard work – getting to grips with how to sell your business is important way ahead of when you plan to.
Luckily, some of the best in the business have put pen to paper to explain exactly what you need to think about, how to navigate the process and what selling entails.
Here are some of the best…
The Exit-Strategy Playbook: The Definitive Guide to Selling Your Business
Adam Coffey, author of The Private Equity Playbook, explores how businesses can find, entice and draw in prospective buyers.
The book explores how to implement a ‘buy-and-build’ strategy, drawing on his own experience of selling more than 100 companies.
Buy the book here
The Exitpreneur’s Playbook
Buy the book here
Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game
While this book is more about buying businesses, it gives business owners insights into what prospective buyers look for in an acquisition.
Understanding this from the buyer’s side can help sellers position their companies in the right way.
Buy the book here
Finish Big: How Great Entrepreneurs Exit Their Companies on Top
Bo Burlingham, esteemed journalist and author of Small Giants, explains how business leaders can exit their companies well.
The book explores 8 key factors from business owners that impact how happy they are after selling their businesses. From these stories, business owners can understand how best to navigate this difficult but very rewarding journey.
Buy the book here.
Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You
This book is all about how to build a company that is attractive to potential buyers.
Whilst it’s all well and good building a business that you are central to, it doesn’t make it an appealing option for those looking to take it over.
Through his book, Warrillow talks about how to build a business that can thrive and be profitable without the owner’s involvement.
Buy the book here
The Art of Selling Your Business: Winning Strategies & Secret Hacks for Exiting on Top
A follow-up to Built to Sell, this book goes even deeper into the selling process.
Warrillow gives tips on how to find the right buyer, negotiate and get the best price for your business. It’s a great book for those embarking on their business journey, allowing them to build companies with long-term value.
Buy the book here.
Buying and Selling A Business
This book by Jo Haigh talks business leaders through how to build companies that are built to sell from the start.
With easy-to-follow steps and advice on how to implement them, Haigh helps business owners understand how they can close life-transforming deals.
Buy the book here.
