The Landscaping business is a people business.  The distinct lifestyle of working outside, creating beautiful spaces combined with the pride of a completed project make this a desirable business for many.

Landscape Trends

• Going green with all types of greenery
• Bringing ‘hygge’ outdoors
• Creating tech-savvy exterior kitchens
• Mixing up materials
• Prioritizing pollinators
• Growing ‘smart’ lawns
• Taking landscapes to new heights and unusual places”

Source:”Landscape Trends for 2017″ by Sally Benson, March 15, 2017, http://www.amerinursery.com/landscape/2017-
landscape-industry-trends/ (http://www.amerinursery.com/landscape/2017-landscape-industry-trends/)

7 Green Industry Trends

• Maintenance, such as lawn mowing, weed control and fertilization, is your moneymaker, but
design and build is catching up.
• Water management, such as irrigation and landscape drainage, is becoming more and more
important.
• Millennial employees will continue to shape your business in the year ahead.
• Technology and its impact on your green industry business aren’t going anywhere.
• A generational shift in attitudes about lawn maintenance appears to be underway, with the
younger demographic appearing more willing to pay someone else to care for their lawn.”

Source: “7 Green Industry Trends for 2017” posted on December 20, 2016 by Spring-Green, https://www.springgreen.
com/franchise-opportunity/blog-7-green-industry-trends-2017/ (https://www.spring-green.com/franchiseopportunity/
blog-7-green-industry-trends-2017/)

Expert Comments

Competition is fierce. Anyone with a truck and a lawnmower can start a business. Very easy to replicate.

A landscaping buinsess is solid once it reaches $1,000,000 in annual sales.

It has a defined piece of the market and has successfully set itself apart from the competition.

Building a $1,00,000 business is a challenging task and one that takes years of sweat equity. Buying an established business saves you money, substantially reduces risk and most importantly, it saves you TIME.

Level up faster and see a ROI in as little as 27 months!

The post Featured Business Profile – Landscaping appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.

Selling your business with a Business Broker

Selling your business with a Business Broker gets your business sold in less time, with less stress and for more money.

Understanding the sales process helps both the Seller and the Buyer. Each party will have responsibilities. With a Business Broker, these are clearly mapped out.

In Step 1, the Business Broker will identify, qualify and educate the Seller.

They will identify if the Seller is ready to sell, if their business is sellable and if the sellers expectations are realistic. The Business Broker will identify the goals and motivations for a sale. “Why are you selling?” is one of the most important questions and must have a reasonable and realistic answer.

The Business Broker will qualify the seller. Are the seller’s goals and motivations strong enough to make a sale happen?

And the Business Broker will educate the Seller.  Not only on the process and what they will be required to do and at what step of the process but also on what the Buyer will be facing when seeking financing. Usually, a specific type of Buyer will be identified as the most likely to make the purchase. Understanding that type of Buyer and what they are seeking will help sell the business in less time.

These are the initial steps a Business Broker takes before accepting a listing.

We will discuss Preparing and signing the Engagement Agreement next week.

For more information on how Larkspur Business Brokers can get you to the close, call now to book your free consultation.

The post The Business Broker Process appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.

The best strategy when selling your business is to eliminate doubt for the Buyers mind. By eliminating red flags early on in the process, the Buyer will see less risk.  Less risk will  equate to more value. 

Being ready will save you tremendous amounts of time and stress.  Being ready will set your business apart in the Buyers mind.

So, is your business Sale Ready?

Here is a checklist to get you started:

1. Company records are complete and up-to-date
   • Notice to Reader financials are imperative to a sale. As a sole propieter, your tax returns and Notice of Assessments will be required.
2. Signed, up-to-date contracts with all my clients, suppliers and partners
   • Verbal contracts cannot be assumed by a new owner. Get it in writing to add value.
3. Employee contracts are up-to-date and include the appropriate non-compete and non-disclosure agreements where necessary.
   • Including provisions and contingencies in your employee contracts in the event of a sale will reduce stress for everyone when a transfer is complete.
4. The intellectual property belonging to the business has all been properly registered
   • This can include trade name. If they are not registered, they lose their value.
5. The shareholders agreement with partners is up-to-date and covers different business sale scenarios
   • If you are structuring the sale as a share sale, this step is imperative.
6. The business has been structured, or restructured, to maximize tax efficiency. These need to be implemented 2 years prior to a sale.
   • Consulting your accountant can save you thousands in taxes when you do sell.
7. I have selected a business broker to help me sell the business
   • Working with Larkspur Business Brokers facilitates the many phases of the deal and ensures the right Buyer transitions into the business.
8. The intangibles that can impact the sale of my business include documented policies and procedures, brand name and reputation, the quality of the website and social media, longevity of the business, the location and the phone number, and many others. Call Larkspur Business Brokers for a complete list of intangible assets of a business.
9. All the documents for the sale of the business are assembled in one place.
   • Organized documents speaks volumes to the Buyer about your business. Make a solid first impression.

To learn more about getting sale ready, contact Larkspur Business Brokers today for a free consultation.

We work hard to get your business sold for the most value in the least amount of time.

The post Is Your Business Sale Ready? appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.

Determining your lending capacity early on is equally important to you, the Buyer and to the Seller. Since many deals require the Seller to finance a portion of the sale as a secondary security to the primary lender, the Buyer needs to demonstrate a realistic and acceptable repayment plan.

Understanding your financial position before making an Offer on a business will greatly increase the success of a timely close. The number one cause of deals falling off the table is insufficient or inadequate funding. An educated buyer is the best buyer.

Here are a few sources of financing to consider early on:

• Buyer’s personal capital – It is an absolute must that the Buyer provides some of the capitol needed to purchase the business. 25% of total consideration is a good gauge to go by. Personal savings, home equity, love money from family and friends, these are general sources for personal capital.
• Seller financing or vendor take back – In most sales of operating businesses, the Seller will be required to finance a portion of the purchase price as a secondary lender. Many variables and circumstances come in to play to determine just how much a Seller will need to finance, including the Buyer’s financial position. Keep in mind the Seller will want to finance as little as possible.
• Commercial bank loans – The bank will always look at these considerations. 1. Is there Seller financing? 2. Is the Buyer a strong candidate to run the business? 3. What will the loan be used for and what is the track record of the business? 4. Collateral 5. What is the risk?
• Private Lenders – The BDC uses federal reserves to help stimulate economic growth in Canada.  A great source of lending, the BDC will look at all of the same consideration as a commercial bank but will have a higher tolerance for risk and will be a more patient lender.
• Community Lenders – Community Futures is a community driven, non-profit organization that is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors. They are people focused and offer both financials and technical support.
• Venture Capitol – It is important to understand what venture capitalists are seeking: Equity and high returns. They can be an excellent partner for high risk businesses with potential for accelerated growth and profits.

There are often 2 or 3 sources of lending in a business aquisition.  As a Buyer, it is in your best interest to shop around and compare your options.  You can sometimes use them as leverage to get a better rate or better terms.

Here are some websites to get your started:

Lethbridge Community Futures

http://lethbridgeregion.albertacf.com/business-loans

BDC

https://www.bdc.ca/en/financing/pages/default.aspx

Canada Small Business Financing Program

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/csbfp-pfpec.nsf/eng/h_la03133.html

List of Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists in Canada:

https://canadabusiness.ca/grants-and-financing/private-sector-financing/?it=eng/page/2735/

To learn more about types of lenders, contact Larkspur Business Brokers today.

The post Finding the Best Source of Financing appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.

Advantages of buying a business

Buying a business is generally less risky than starting your own business. You can buy a well-managed, profitable business for the right price. The advantages are clear:

• The difficult and expensive start up work is done.  This is a significant savings in time, energy and money.
• The business should have plans, policies and procedures in place.
• Buying an established business means immediate cash flow.
• The business will have a financial history, which gives you an idea of what to expect and can make it easier to secure loans and attract investors.
• You will acquire existing customers, contacts, goodwill, suppliers, staff, plant, equipment and sometimes, stock.
• A market for your product or service is already established.
• Existing employees and managers will have experience they can share.

Disadvantages of buying a business

Keep in mind that not every business on the market is a good prospect. Many owners sell unprofitable or under-performing businesses. While this can be a chance to buy and develop a cheap business and build an asset, it can also be a risky investment. The disadvantages are different from one business to the next. Here are some examples:

• The business may need major improvements to old plant and equipment.
• You may need to invest a large amount up front.
• The business could be poorly managed, with low staff morale.
• External factors, such as increasing competition or a declining industry, can affect future growth.
• Under-performing businesses can require a lot of investment to make them profitable.
• The seller’s personality and their established relationships may be a major factor for the success of the business.

Each business opportunity will have a different set of advantages and disadvantages.  Identifying them and how your skill set can contribute to growth will need to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Working with a Business Broker can help you find the best the business for you. A Business Broker will have access to Industry research, knowledge of the local business community and an insiders perspective.

To look at a business with a professional, contact Larkspur Business Brokers.

The post Looking at Buying a Business? appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.

Do you need a Business Plan, but just don’t have the time?

Larkspur Business Brokers now offers effective business plans that get you the results you need.

Fromm Cash Flow projections to a well documented marketing plan, we produce highly professional Business Plans that represent your business.

Contact [email protected]

The post Need a Business Plan? appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.

If you are a first-time buyer who has never owned a business before, the process will overwhelm you. Lets look at the key steps to prepare for your search. And prepare for the journey of a lifetime.

#1 – Align yourself with the right people

In our North American culture, we are brought up to fit the employee mold, to never take risks and to walk the path most traveled. The media is filled with the wrong information. It is conflicting – Don’t borrow, don’t spend, don’t take any risk.

Compound the media with the limited support and unbiased advice from friends and family, many Buyers drop out of the process because of bad information and lack of support.

Who can you talk to? Find the right person to seek advice. Find the right guide through uncharted territory.

#2 – Lack of education on the process

It’s fair to say, not to many people have bought a business before. Apparently, only 10% of Buyers ever do. And in my experience as a Business Broker, these Buyers have owned and operated businesses before.

If you have never owned a business, preparation is key.

There will many life altering questions you need answers to before embarking on the journey. Pack your suitcase wisely. You will face 100 decisions that will need to made, situations that will test your commitment to your goals, and countless people will be offering their unsolicited advice along every step of the way.

Buying a business is a process. Map it out.

#3 – Determine what business is right for you before starting your search for a business

This is the most important time and stress saver for the new Buyer. “What if’s” and “maybes” do not fit with buying a business. You need to know who you are, what your skills are and where your passions lay. This will target your search to viable businesses for you. And it will keep you focused on your DESTINATION.

A typical person will spend 2 to 3 hours preparing and searching for the perfect vacation online. Preparing for the journey of a lifetime, buying a business, merits at least that much time and energy.

I promise, it will be much more enjoyable if your know where you are going.

The post Buying a Business – Prepare for the Journey of a Lifetime appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.

Check out the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9AX-FMrAMU

The post Better with a Business Broker – IBBA launches National Education Campaign appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.

Please register to [email protected]

The post Join us May 17 for the Selling your Business Seminar appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.

Here is a Business Broker defined by the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA):

“A Business Broker is an intermediary dedicated to serving clients and customers who desire to sell or acquire businesses. A business broker is committed to providing professional service in a knowledgeable, ethical and timely fashion. Typically, a Business Broker provides information and business advise to sellers and buyers, maintain communications between the parties and coordinates the negotiations and closing processes to complete desired transactions”

At Larkspur Business Brokers, we uphold the canons of professional ethics and conduct and follow the highest IBBA standards of conduct.

We believe it is in the best interests of our clients and customers to be held accountable on how we conduct ourselves as professionals.

To learn more about the IBBA Standards of Conduct, please visit:

Business Brokerage Standards

The post What is a Business Broker? appeared first on Larkspur Business Brokers.