Corporate Growth Strategies.
Exit Planning.
Buying a Business.
Selling a Business.

Summit has worked with business owners in 5 western states. Summit has developed its capabilities to help clients plan for growth based on over 30 years of experience with companies across many industries, geographies , markets and whose sales range from $500,000 to $50,000,000. Summit provides business clients with business advisory and planning processes to realize:

• More efficiency from existing operations.
• Assessment of leadership quality and development of key employees.
• Planning to realize that “Next Level” of business growth or opportunity.
• Capital planning to insure adequate funding of growth.
• Evaluate divestiture of underperforming products, lines, services or markets.
• Evaluate acquisition of new business or entry into a new market.

Summit Business Advisors is NOT an hourly fee based service provider. Summit is different from the traditional service providers (many CPA or Attorney’s) who “turn the clock on” as soon as they take your call and bill you for hours of time regardless of content and value. CPA’s and Attorneys are valuable providers of technical skills. Summit works closely and coordinates all necessary Audit, Tax and Legal reviews from these professional when it is needed AND only as it is needed.

Summit is a professional knowledge firm that provides value on a monthly flat charge or a fixed price contract with our clients. If you are interested in a knowledge based advisor who does not “punch the time clock” every time you call, then Summit is the right choice for you.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL EVENT OF YOUR LIFE?
Let's Work ON your business rather than IN your business to create your plan.
As a business owner who runs a successful business, you have many daily obstacles IN the business to overcome or find ways to work around. How much time do you devote or have you devoted to your long term goals FOR the business? What do you envision doing in two, five or seven years?

Summit Business Advisors is here to help you work ON your business not just IN your business.

We find that many business owners begin to express interest in creating a road map to help them achieve the maximum amount of money that they can obtain from the sale or transfer of their business, while minimizing taxes, when they start asking themselves these recurring questions:

• Do you find yourself thinking about getting out of your business?
• Are you wondering how to groom your successor?
• Is passing your company on to your children becoming increasingly unlikely?
• Are you getting tired of fighting alligators and looking for a new challenge?
• Does the whole idea of succession seem overwhelming?

Summit Business Advisors can help you gauge your exit plan preparedness and generate an exit plan analysis based upon your exit objectives. Both are complementary from Summit and the results will be a personalized analysis of where you should begin the exit planning process and what the next steps are for you in the process.

If you have an interest in exiting you business in style, then contact us!

ADVANTAGE
Buying an ongoing business provides you as the new business owner, with an immediate cash flow and an established customer base. You don’t have to build the business from scratch, you simply take over an existing, successful business (often with the present owners assistance) and make it even better.

FINANCING
Summit will assist you in obtaining the right financing that fits your needs . Summit has over 30 years experience in helping business owners obtain financing to acquire a business or expand a business.

Over 90% of small business purchases today are financed by the selling owners. This financing by the owners also demonstrates their confidence in the business they are selling.

Many banks are reluctant to finance business purchases because most small business attempt to minimize profits shown on income statements to reduce tax liability. As your intermediary, Summit is well versed in providing the banks with the information the banks will need and Summit has extensive working relationships with banks that do provide SBA loans and business acquisition financing.

CONFIDENTIALITY
Unlike the sale of real estate, the sale of an ongoing business is very confidential for both the seller and the prospective buyer. All inquiries and materials are held in strict confidence. Meetings are confidential and we are available after business hours and on weekends.

THINGS A BUSINESS BUYER SHOULD KNOW
Summit Business Advisors is your advocate in finding a business that you like and that you would be comfortable owning. You have a vision of being your own boss and guiding your destiny. A business must fit your vision to be successful.

In real estate it is commonly said “the three most important things a buyer should look for are location,location,location” For a business buyer, we advise that while location is very important, a good track record and management round out the three critical components of a successful business. A business with an ok location, poor track record and poor management, purchased at the right price and the right terms could become more successful with proper management, making it a good way to achieve your vision of being in business for yourself.

Many business buyers are concerned as to why the business owner wants to sell. Business owners sell for a variety of honest reasons. Besides the obvious reasons of retirement, bad health or re-location, many sellers simply tire of doing the same thing and want to move on. If it is a good business fit for you, the reason for the sale is not as important.

Finally, most businesses sell for less than the seller’s asking price. So, if it is a good business fit for you, don’t be afraid to make what you consider to be a low offer. Remember, Summit Business Advisors is a professional , well trained firm that knows how to buy a business. Whatever you do, DO use the talents of a business intermediary to represent you . Call us whenever you need assistance or have a question.

Selling your business is a time consuming process and sometimes packed with headaches. Having a written Exit Plan prepared and in place prior to taking your business to market is a proven method to make the process easier, saves time and reduce the headaches. Summit Business Advisors provides our clients with the help they need:

KNOWLEDGE
Deciding to sell your business is not easy but once you have , then how to go about it is another process all together; Determining a most probable selling price range, preparing a marketing summary and book, finding the buyers, creating an auction , selecting the “right” buyer, negotiating with the buyer and the maze of tax, legal and financial details to work through. Summit deals with these issues every day on your behalf while you continue to maximize your day to day business results.

CONFIDENTIALITY
We market your business without your employees, customers or competitors knowing that it is for sale. This is critical for the smooth continuation of your business during the selling process.
Have you ever seen the “For Sale” signs that many Realtors place prominently out in front of a business? We can only imagine the negative impact this has on the employee’s morale, customer confidence and the competitor’s sales pitch! Summit will never place a sign or a place local MLS real estate listing to market your business.

TIME
While a formal exit plan is not required by Summit to sell your business, it is a huge time saver when preparing a business for sale and in efficiently closing the sale with the maximum benefits to the seller.

As the business transition experts, we sell business. Many times a seller will ask; “What do you know about my industry?” Our reply is that we will spend as much time as it takes to become very knowledgeable about your industry. In addition, we have found it’s more important that we are an expert in OUR industry- Representing sellers and helping them sell the most important asset they own. Our expertise and experience gained from helping business owners achieve their financial objectives, directly correlates to saving you time in selling your business.

MARKETING
It is estimated that 2 of 10 businesses in the USA are for sale at any given time. Selling a business is very competitive and the number of businesses expected to be for sale is ever increasing as the “boomers” are entering retirement age. With Summit Business Advisors as your intermediary, you are directly linked through our network of International and Nationwide Business Intermediaries.

How does Summit help you differentiate your business in a very competitive market?

• Listing on the four different “businesses for sale” internet sites utilized by Summit, your business will be seen by hundreds of international and nationwide business brokers who represent potential buyers. Most business brokers will only list in the local MLS and perhaps one other internet site.
• Summit also maintains a data base of all business buyers from inquiries received. These buyers are reviewed and screened for a match to your business.
• Summit uses a targeted buyer identification process and direct marketing approach to buyers that you approve in advance. We can expose your business to prospective buyers not only in your local area but also to buyers nationwide and the emerging worldwide market of buyers of US based business.

NEGOTIATIONS
The right price is critical and we will arrive at the most probable selling price for your business based on prices paid for similar businesses and trends in the market. We screen all inquiries, then schedule interviews with serious buyers. In this process, you receive the combined benefit of confidentiality and convenience.

We will handle negotiations in an “auction style” or in a direct negotiated sale based on the appropriateness for your business and discussions with you. All negotiations are conducted in a professional manner that keeps the business issues in focus, rather than clouded by emotions or personalities.

SUCCESS
Summit Business Advisors is a professional source for successfully selling your business. Whether you are ready now or just beginning to think about the possibility of a sale, call us for a confidential, no cost appointment. Hiring Summit Business Advisors can make selling your business a successful experience, from the day you first meet with us to the day you hand over the keys to the new owner.