How We Help

Sell Your Business

Selling your business starts with deciding what you want from the sale. Owners who settle that question first are able to focus on preparing candid answers to buyers’ questions and talking with more than one buyer. As a result, those owners tend to get to closing faster and on better terms.

The steps below come from the questions we work through with owners before a sale begins.

Decide what you want from the sale

Your transaction objectives shape every decision that follows, and no two owners have the same ones. Some want to sell 100% of the business. Others want to sell a portion, then stay on to help the company reach larger goals.

Decide which describes you, and decide how much the sale’s impact on your employees matters to you. The buyer, the deal structure and the advisors you choose all depend on those answers.

Tell buyers about the weaknesses before they find them

Every business has shortcomings, and buyers will ask pointed questions about yours. The more candid you are from the start, the faster the deal moves and the lower the chance that a buyer walks away late in the process.

Buyers dig into your company’s inner workings during due diligence, so prepare for it early. Our guide to navigating the due diligence process explains how to organize the information buyers will ask for.

Create interest from more than one buyer

Talking with several possible buyers or investors at once gives you options and a stronger negotiating position. Most buyers fall into two groups:

Financial buyers, such as private equity funds, take a controlling interest in a business with a promising future. They plan to hold the company for about three to five years.
Strategic buyers are already active in your market and plan to hold for the longer term. They include competitors, large customers and companies that want to expand their capabilities or customer relationships.

Each type values your company in its own way and will play a different role after closing. We compare them in detail in strategic vs. financial buyers.

Settle the business questions before the legal work starts

Once you’ve answered the questions above, your attorney can prepare the sale documents around decisions you’ve already made. That keeps the transaction focused on the deal instead of on renegotiating the fine print.

How Oaklyn Consulting helps you sell

We help owners set their objectives, prepare for buyers, identify and approach the right buyers, and negotiate the sale. We bill for time and charge no success fee, so our advice stays the same whether you sell, wait or decide not to sell at all.

You can hire us for the full process or for one part of it. Essco Calibration Laboratory brought Oaklyn Consulting in on a limited scope, from letter of intent to closing, on its $84 million sale to Transcat.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to sell a business?

In our experience, a sale takes 10 to 12 months on average when nothing unexpected gets in the way. Setting your objectives and preparing for due diligence before you go to market keeps that timeline from stretching.

What’s the difference between a financial buyer and a strategic buyer?

A financial buyer, such as a private equity fund, takes a controlling interest and plans to sell the company again in three to five years. A strategic buyer already operates in your market and buys to expand its capabilities or customer relationships over the longer term.

Should I sell all of my business or just part of it?

That depends on whether you want to leave the business or stay involved. Selling a portion lets you keep working toward larger goals with a new partner, while selling 100% lets you step away.

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Experience the Oaklyn Consulting Difference

Oaklyn Consulting brought senior-level attention and analytical rigor to every stage of the process. They understood my business, ran a thoughtful and disciplined sale process and helped me make sound decisions when it mattered. I couldn't have asked for a better team in my corner.”

Jarod BuschFounder, 911 Custom LLC

(If) you've never been through this before, you've never done it before, frankly you're out of your depth and you're lost, you need someone that's going to pilot this through with you, as sort of the copilot, and your mentor and advisor. I absolutely feel very strongly that that's the role that Oaklyn Consulting played for me, and I would always recommend them.”

Eric FulmerCEO, ShotFlow

Oaklyn Consulting did a great job for us on Axial. The unfortunate outcome there had everything to do with the company's situation and the market environment. The board and investors all agree on what a thorough, professional, top-notch job Oaklyn Consulting did for us. I wouldn't hesitate to work with them again and in fact will look for opportunities to do so.”

Board MemberAxial Exchange

That was the real value of Oaklyn Consulting, being able to add them to the deal midstream. If you’re in that situation, I think Oaklyn Consulting is a great fit.”

Mike WalshCEO, Essco Calibration Laboratory

If you’re on the fence, I would say meet Frank and his team. I would recommend him to anyone who is considering selling their company, even if they’re just exploring their options.”

Al HemondCEO, Professional Disability Associates

Without him, I wouldn’t have gotten these deals done. There’s no question in my mind.”

Janet ElkinCEO, IMN Enterprises

Eighty years of family history does not get sold in a hurry. Oaklyn Consulting understood that from the first conversation.”

Jamie SemprebonCalmont Beverage

Oaklyn Consulting told us to pause when everything in me wanted to keep moving. Six weeks later, we closed clean. That advice was worth more than the process itself.”

Jeremy GrenierCEO, Calmont Beverage

I know they had other clients, but we felt almost like we were their only one at the time just by how much attention they paid to us. They’ve got a good team that can walk you through the process step by step, and they’re going to give you the attention you deserve.”

Devan WelchSenior VP and General Manager, Powell Construction

We really appreciated your willingness to adapt to the unique nature of our engagement — i.e., advising both sides — rather than forcing us into a typical approach.”

It was a very helpful professional experience. You are very knowledgeable and explained how you work transparently, even offering that you were probably not a good match. That is rare. Most people try to force-fit their model to every opportunity.”

As I stated many times during our conversations, I so appreciate you and your team for interceding throughout this transaction. It made such an incredible difference!”

Excellent setup and organization of data as well as business-level guidance for transactions.”

Candidly — I appreciated that you were thoughtful about when and where to engage knowing that we had sensitivities to fees. It often felt like you’d give us tools we could use to work through things on our own and then jump back in as needed to add value where you uniquely could.”

You continue to be my go-to for business owners thinking about their business options. I appreciate your approach and everyone I have sent you has said good things.”

We Help Clients Succeed At Their Most Complex Transactions

When running a business, making the right and crucial capital decisions can be the difference between success and failure. With Oaklyn Consulting by your side, you can confidently make the decisions that will shape the future of your business.

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