The gradual shift in population here in the United States is anticipated to benefit the Southeast region. The low cost of living, mild climate, and exceptional fundamentals for small businesses in this region, has created a tremendous amount of interest from entrepreneurs, private equity groups, and corporations seeking to expand. While the national economy is still coming out of a recession and the majority, if not all markets, still sluggish, it is projected by many that the Southeast region will be a strong performer for decades to come. The state of North Carolina is forecasting that nine of the State's 11 economic sectors will experience increases during 2010. The strongest forecasted sector is services with a projected real increase of 5.7 percent. Neighboring Tennessee is also anticipating positive growth. According to the Tennessee Business and Economic Outlook "By 2011 the employment situation will have stabilized and the year will produce job growth of 1.8 percent. Even the state manufacturing sector will have new-found life in 2011 with employment advancing 3.0 percent-the first gain since 1997."
There has been a lot of press over the last 18 months talking about a large-scale baby boomer exit creating a glut of small businesses for sale as these baby boomers seek to retire. Depending upon the source, I have seen some numbers as high as 750,000 companies owned by baby boomers coming on the market, a fifteen-fold increase from 2001. With fewer buyers available in the X Generation, proponents of this phenomenon project that selling a business at a good price will be more of a challenge.
This scenario will in fact have an impact on the market but not necessarily across the board. Owners of successful and profitable businesses with a track record of growth and earnings, with clean and well organized financial statements, will be better positioned than most. Advance planning with an exit or succession strategy will be necessary to maximize the value of these transactions and therefore it will be critical for owners to consult with a business intermediary or experienced transaction team at an early stage. Buyers in today's market are very sophisticated, placing even more emphasis on advanced planning and obtaining the appropriate representation from a firm that is able to properly value the business, develop a comprehensive marketing plan, and pre-qualify buyers, all in the strictest of confidence.
About this Author
Michael Fekkes is a Senior Broker at ENLIGN Business Brokers. Michael is a Certified Business Intermediary CBI, a member of the International Business Brokers Association IBBA, as well as a former business owner. ENLIGN Business Brokers http://www.enlign.com/ is a Professional Services Firm that is headquartered in Raleigh, NC providing confidential business intermediary services to buyers and sellers throughout the Southeast region.
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