Be Advised
Most people don’t know where to begin when buying or selling a business. At Murphy Business Sales, we guide clients through the complicated process so that they get to the closing table successfully. Jennifer Smith Broeckling has a bachelor's degree in finance and an MBA from Southeast Missouri State University, along with two graduate degrees in banking from Vanderbilt and LSU. She is also a Board Certified Intermediary (BCI) and a Certified Merger & Acquisition Intermediary (CMAI). Jennifer lives in Cape Girardeau and is married to John Broeckling. They have three kids (Madeline, Ben, and Emma) and one strange little dog. To learn more about business valuations and how Murphy Business Sales helps buyers and sellers with mergers and acquisitions, visit murphybusinessofcape.com. Jennifer can be reached at j.broeckling@murphybusiness.com or at 573.335.1885.
-
How Getting Your Business Valued Shapes its Future
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 11:00 AMThe journey of business ownership is an adventure filled with ups and downs. To navigate this path with more ease and clarity, understanding the true value of your business is akin to having a reliable compass. This process isn't just about numbers; it's about making informed choices that shape your future and the future of your business. ... -
Common Challenges to Selling a Business: Business Owner Insights
Posted Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 1:32 PMDeciding to sell your business is a significant milestone that requires careful planning and is often accompanied by mixed emotions and challenging decisions. Having a clear understanding of the overall process and what will attract or turn away quality buyers is key. Let’s explore some of the common challenges business owners can face when selling their business and what they can do to ensure a better outcome... -
Considering Selling Your Business in 2024?
Posted Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 4:36 PMSelling your business is a significant decision that requires careful planning and execution. Too often, a business owner waits until they are ready to sell their business to start planning their exit. While it can be done on the fly, a lack of planning often leads to an unnecessary decrease in value. If you’re thinking about selling your business in the next few years, here are the essential steps every business owner should consider taking in 2024 to sell for maximum value:... -
12 Ideas to Attract and Keep Employees
Posted Monday, November 13, 2023, at 3:40 PMThe job market is very competitive and one of the more challenging tasks a business owner deals with. Finding and keeping the right employee takes time and ultimately, it’s costly. But the cost of not getting the right employee or losing the one you’ve recruited, trained, and invested in, is even more costly. ... -
Hope is Not a Strategy…and Private Equity Isn’t Your Escape Route
Posted Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at 4:31 PMThis job is riddled with hard conversations. Recently we talked with a business owner who was making decent money the last few years and this year the train came off the tracks. He blamed all kinds of macro-economic factors, but the reality is that he didn’t adjust his business strategy to accommodate changing market conditions and now he’s in a real pickle... -
How to Successfully Sell Your Business to an Employee
Posted Monday, September 25, 2023, at 8:55 AMSelling your business to an employee or a group of employees, often referred to as a management buyout, can be a mutually beneficial arrangement because the employee is familiar with the business and its operations already and they are a known quantity. This is also a great way to preserve the legacy you’ve built and reward team members for their leadership abilities. Here is a step-by-step guide to successfully selling your business to an employee:... -
How We Help
Posted Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 8:51 AMAugust. Here in Southeast Missouri, that means sweltering heat and school starting back up. As families get back into a routine, we also see an uptick in business owners recommitting to their business goals. For some, that’s thinking about strategic growth. ... -
The Rhythm of the Deal
Posted Friday, July 14, 2023, at 1:37 PMSo much in our lives follows a natural rhythm – breathing, heart beating, asleep/awake, the rising and setting of the sun, the ocean tides, music. These rhythms are comforting – necessary even. They help us keep track of time. Occasionally they go completely wrong: We get short of breath, our hearts race or skip beats, we can’t sleep, there’s daylight saving time and tsunami and we can’t dance any more. These breaks in the rhythms are awful and sometimes deadly... -
What to Investigate When Buying a Business
Posted Friday, April 7, 2023, at 10:15 AMBuying an existing business is an exciting opportunity to leverage an already established brand and pay yourself on day one. It can also be less risky than starting a business from the ground up. But how can you be sure the business you want to buy is a good business? Doing your homework is essential and the list of things you need to look at can be quite daunting. ... -
7 Things You Need to do Now to Make Your Business Sellable
Posted Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 1:31 PMSomeday you will sell or transfer ownership of your business so you can move into the next chapter of your life. Too often, a business owner waits until they are ready to sell their business to start planning their exit. Unfortunately, this can lead to a decrease in value. Here are some best practices to follow long before you’re ready to sell:... -
Save Now, Pay later – A Cautionary Tale on Running Personal Expenses Through Your Business
Posted Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 3:09 PMNobody likes to pay taxes. We get that and we don’t like to pay taxes either, but many business owners have been known to blur the lines of “business” and “personal” expenses to save money on taxes. No one talks about it, or likes to admit it, but it happens a lot. ... -
Know Your Company’s Worth
Posted Friday, January 6, 2023, at 10:49 AMMost people know what a business valuation is (the process of figuring out what your company is worth), but not everyone knows the different reasons valuations are performed. Aside from the obvious need for a valuation when you’re ready to sell the business, valuations are preformed for many different reasons. Having an independent, unbiased valuation is key in making strategic and effective decisions for your business, no matter the reason for the value... -
5 Ways Businesses are Valued Incorrectly
Posted Monday, November 14, 2022, at 4:47 PMMost business owners have no idea what their business is actually worth. The reasons that business owners typically seek out a valuation are: 1) They are working on a financial plan with their financial planner; 2) they are going though a major life event (divorce, illness, etc.); 3) they are contemplating selling their business (or buying another business). ... -
Choosing the Right Advisors for Your Deal
Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 10:12 AMSelling your business represents more than just a significant financial event in your life. It’s the culmination of substantial time, resources, and years of sacrifice. To get maximum value for your business, you need the right people around you who will have your back and help you exit well... -
Selecting a Broker
Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 10:04 AMYou’ve decided you are ready to talk with a business broker about buying or selling your business. It wasn’t an easy decision; there is a lot to consider! You’re a little nervous about making the call and starting the process, but you’re even MORE nervous about making sure you select the right business broker for the job. The wrong person could spell disaster and this isn’t a trial-by-error proposition... -
Meet our new Broker!
Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 10:04 AMMurphy Business has added a new broker to their team. Welcome, Melanie Smollen! We asked Melanie a few questions so you can get to know her better... -
Killing a Deal
Posted Friday, July 15, 2022, at 11:41 AMLast month, someone asked a great question on our Facebook page: “Have you ever had a businessperson pull out of a deal because they thought it wasn’t in the best interest of their clients for the potential buyer to take over?” Our answer was “Yes – and we fully supported that decision and found them another buyer.”... -
When is it Time to Sell?
Posted Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 11:29 AMHow do you know when it’s time to sell your business? To some it might seem like a silly question, but for a business owner (and particularly for a family-owned business), the decision can cause some sleepless nights. Since we work with a lot of sellers, here is a list of some of the tell-tale signs that you might be ready:... -
One Answer to Labor Challenges Today
Posted Friday, May 6, 2022, at 10:55 AMRecently we were talking with a business owner who is in a tight spot. She’s trying to fill a linchpin position within her company and she’s extremely frustrated at the lack of quality candidates she is finding through sites like Indeed.com and industry-specific headhunters. ... -
Recommended Reading
Posted Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at 11:03 AMWe see a lot of businesses. And financial statements. And business models. And methodologies. Some good, some not-so-good. Because of that we’re often asked for recommendations and best practices to increase the value and sellability of a business. So, we thought we would dedicate this month’s newsletter to a few of our top recommendations that you might want to check out...
View all blog posts (92)