Small Business School infrastructure
The Case Study Guide
updated: 02/05/2005 | go to the homepageSmall Business School infrastructure
Small Business School infrastructure
nothing is forever
Overview Transcript Case Study Video
Small Business School
Think Now About Later

Start thinking now about how you will leave your business because it is your baby and it will grow up. Like all of us, businesses have a life cycle. They are embryonic (remember when you first had that great idea?), are born, grow to maturity (oh, the challenge of those early years!), live the adult life, age, and finally, pass on. If you create a business with a longer life cycle than your planned working period, you'll have something of value to hand over to someone else! As you build your business, you are creating an annuity.

Topic for Discussion: What should you be doing now, even though your desire to sell may be twenty years down the road?

Small Business School infrastructure Small Business School
WATCH TELEVISION THAT TEACHES
Small Business School
Small Business School infrastructure Small Business School
Small Business School infrastructure Small Business School infrastructure Small Business School infrastructure
Key Ideas of this episode Small Business School infrastructure
Small Business School infrastructure
Introduction: Think Now About Later
1. Walk Away
2. Give It Away
3. Sell To Someone Close To You
4. Sell To Someone Like You
5. Sell To The Highest Bidder
6. Sell To Your Employees
7. Sell Through A Direct Public Offering
8. Sell Into The Private Equity Capital Market
Small Business School
Small Business School

Answer: Think strategically and document, document, document. Start now to capture the story of your business as it unfolds. Go to your favorite search engine and do a search for "scrapbooks." Get the right supplies and do the book right. Include lots of photos, every piece of press you get, every mailer you send. By the way, this is a great way to get a parent, aunt or uncle involved in your efforts. Explain to them the importance of documenting your business' evolution, equip them with the right supplies, and pass on to them all the materials you want in your book.

In addition to the scrapbook, commit to quality bookkeeping. Hire a CPA to create financial statements and always pay your taxes. Keep this thought in the back of your mind: If I wanted to run for Mayor, what would a curious press discover about me if they got a hold of my business records?

Take the time now to educate yourself about succession planning. Learn the difference between price, cost, and value. Read books, attend lectures, visit with business brokers at Chamber luncheons, etc. Be confident that someday, you'll need this knowledge.

You think about it: Is there anything about your business about which you are embarrassed or ashamed? If yes, what can you do now to fix the things that cause you to feel this way?

go to this transcript...
Small Business School

The Small Business Index of Learning Companies
Click here to be listed and linked from within this site
.