Why should I use a broker such as FE International?
Working with a broker will help you maximize the value of your business ahead of and during a sale. Brokers house a wealth of experience, expertise and knowledge which will ensure that your goals are met. A reputable broker will:
- Help you maximize the value of your business ahead of a sale
- Offer invaluable advise before, during and after the sale process
- Find the right buyer for your business
- Protect your interests by assisting in contract drafting
- Support and guide you through the sale execution and any post-sale obligations
- Adhere to industry standards/services (IBBA, Escrow)
Why is FE International better than other brokers?
FE International has been specializing in the sale of online businesses since 2010. Here are a few reasons why we are the best option for your business sale:
- We have the largest full-time team in the industry of selling online businesses. All of our team are formally educated and have years of combined experience in both running and selling online businesses.
- We complete the sale of more five-to-seven figure businesses than any other online business broker.
- We work as a team. Most brokerages allocate a broker to your listing and they are solely responsible for the deal. You are reliant on that one individual. At FE International, we work as a team so you benefit from our combined knowledge and experience.
- We are business owners ourselves. We run a number of websites which helps us give clients advice based on real experience rather than theory or second hand knowledge.
What type of online businesses does FE International sell?
We specialize in business sales in the mid-5- to mid-7-figure range. We have the largest and most experienced in the industry, and our advisers focus on specific business models and size ranges, so we will be able to assist you no matter how specialized your business is. Having completed over 425 transactions, we have a wealth of experience and will be able to assist you in reaching your goals. At this time, we only advise on websites in English.
How do I find out what my online business is worth?
A business valuation will take into account objective and subjective measures. A valuation will depend on the financial health, history and future trajectory of your business. A broker will supplement this with subjective topics based on precedent transactions and experience in specific niches. This is another clear advantage of engaging a broker during the sale process.
We provide free valuations to anyone interested in selling a suitable site so please fill out our form located at: https://feinternational.com/sell-your-website/ and someone from the team will be in touch with next steps. There is no obligation to sell with us and we often help clients plan for an exit in the future.
Do you have potential buyers lined up already?
We have a network of over 10,000 vetted buyers, ranging from funds and private equity firms to private wealth clients. Buyers are usually after pure ROI, or the right strategic fit for their current business or portfolio. We’ve made a conscious effort to amass a large and diverse buyer base with these specific focuses to ensure that when your business is listed, the right eyes are looking at it. Our dedicated team will work hard to find the right fit and a buyer that can execute on a deal. This is why 95% of businesses listed in 2015 sold successfully (85% were are sold in 60 days).
How do I keep the sale of my business confidential?
A good broker will tackle this head on. At FE International, we share your concern and our processes are designed to protect confidentiality. Through a combination of non-disclose agreements, know-you-clients procedures and third party background checks, we create full profiles on all individuals and companies involved to make sure each party is protected. Further, all marketing materials are censored and only delivered to qualified and selected buyers. As a seller, we offer you full transparency over these processes throughout the sale.
Do I need a lawyer and/or an accountant?
We provide accounting and legal drafting in-house for the sale of your business. However, it is advised that you seek external counsel to ensure you are comfortable before signing any documents. Our legal drafting will save you time and money and is based on over 425 precedent deals and the continually changing legislative landscape.
What do you expect from a seller in order to be able to accurately value and start marketing the sale of a business?
The process starts with a short consultation to evaluate your needs and see if we are the right partners for you. Following from this, we will start to gather information about your business, present our valuation and outline our terms of service. The next step is on-boarding, which requires further data gathering by FE International and completion of preliminary due diligence.
Beyond this, your role is minimal until you assist our team of advisers in analyzing offers for your business. FE International offers a full brokerage solution, so all your needs are taken care of – we deal with any and all inquiries, due diligence and execution on your behalf. This is all managed centrally in a custom and secure data room for your business, which is made available to you at all times.
You will always be in touch in your dedicated adviser should you need someone to talk to.
What are the terms of your representation/engagement agreement?
FE International is a contingency-based business — we only charge a fee when your business is successfully sold. We ask for a period of exclusivity in order to ensure that only our message is being disseminated in the market, which is important in order to maximize the sale value of your business.
Why do I have to sign a non-disclosure agreement?
This helps protect all parties through the transaction. The majority of businesses sales are kept private with the terms only known to relevant parties. Serious buyers generally expect a sale to remain confidential beyond the sale.
I may also want to buy an online business (I am a strategic, financial, and/or individual entrepreneurial buyer.) How do I become a qualified buyer and get to review the businesses you have for sale?
We always welcome new buyers. Many of our sellers become buyers and many of our buyers become sellers. The first step will be to get in touch with a member of the FE International team, who will guide you through the buyer on-boarding process. To ensure we protect our sellers, you will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement and pass a background check before viewing any information. By helping our team understand your needs, we will ensure you see the right businesses to meet your acquisition objectives. Should you wish to proceed to offer on a business, a further round of verifications are required.
Visit our buy a website page https://feinternational.com/buy-a-website/ and either request information on a listing or join our buyer network and one of the team will be in touch with next steps.
