More... about ad/listing suggestions

We suggest that you avoid comments like ‘unlimited potential’ or ‘exciting opportunity’ or other unnecessary descriptors.  They will be meaningless to a buyer at this point and a waste of limited ad space. We suggest that ‘make an offer’ or ‘subject to negotiation’ is not an advantageous pricing strategy and suggest that you list a realistic fair market price.

(… if you don’t know what that would be, perhaps we can help.)

Your ad will be competing with others for the attention of ‘the right’ buyer.  At this early stage, the buyer doesn’t need to know the company name, the specific business or other details identifying the business. The way to get that buyer’s attention is to begin with the disclosure of information the buyer is looking for; commercial sector, business numbers, cash flow, price, terms and location. 

Think about what happens when your ad works; when you get the inquiries you’ve solicited.  What will be the buyer’s first question; ‘how much.’  Then, when additional information is requested, if you’ve already identified the business, how comfortable will you be turning over material financial information when you don’t know who the buyer is and what the motivations are?  This sets up a common early conflict between buyer and seller that often escalates into an absolute impasse and, it can be avoided. 

So, we suggest you do not lead with identity.  We suggest that you can release a great deal of the financial and other material information the buyer is looking for, safely and confidentially, without exposing the business, provided the owner and business remain anonymous during the preliminary analysis period. 

Of course, you cannot and don’t want to release all of that information in your ad, but you can release it all, securely and confidentially, through this web-site.
(see: on-line intermediary)

Acting as business brokers in the purchase and sale of business, we have controlled the release of much confidential information, through the exact same disclosure process we now offer on-line.  In order to maintain anonymity, we suggest and provide facility for the release of information in an appropriate, controlled and confidential disclosure process designed to provide the buyer with the information needed to substantially measure the fit potential. If and when it does appear to fit, then is the time for both sides to begin disclosing to the other, who they are and how the fit could work.

Of course, all sorts and sizes of businesses, enterprises, real property and ventures will be listed for-sale on this site, where confidentiality may not be such an issue. The above suggestions are directed largely at those preparing to advertise an established going concern business-for-sale.