Three year old 5 Star Yahoo ecommerce business markets over 400 products via one website; products offered include a large selection of supplements, vitamins, personal care, pet care, and beauty products. May 2009 Year-to-Date sales are up 26% and Pretax Profit up 41% vs. same period in 2008. During 2008 even in a down economy the Dietary Supplements Industry continued to grow at a healthy 5.9% pace. Currently inventory is approximately $5,000 . Approximately 20% products stocked in house and 80% are fulfilled via just in time delivery from major national distributors. Stocked items focus primarily on top sellers. Vendor contracts in place with top manufacturers in the industry and all accounts are in good standing. Business has solid search engine presence for key products driving a high volume of traffic organically to the websites. Average order size is $103 with sales in the U.S. and 34 other countries. Approximately 400 square feet and 1 person are necessary to run this business making the listing an ideal home based business. Major growth opportunities exist due to strong potential to expand product lines and expansion into paid and CPA marketing channels. Owner will provide strong transition support and is selling to focus efforts on other business interests.

]]> http://www.AcquisitionsDirect.com/listings/featured/nutritional-supplement-yahoo-merchant-store/feed/ http://www.AcquisitionsDirect.com/resources/buying-a-business-resources/why-some-online-%e2%80%9cregular%e2%80%9d-businesses-sell-for-huge-premiums/ http://www.AcquisitionsDirect.com/resources/buying-a-business-resources/why-some-online-%e2%80%9cregular%e2%80%9d-businesses-sell-for-huge-premiums/#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:01:28 +0000 admin http://www.AcquisitionsDirect.com/?p=88 When it comes to starting a successful online business, ordinary seems to be the way to go. In a struggling economy, it’s the everyday products and services— health and beauty products, sports and fitness products, IT and online marketing businesses, etc.—that outshine the novel ones.

In general, most online businesses usually sell for about 2.0 to 4.5 times the seller’s total discretionary income. But there is a certain section of the market—namely, businesses that provide common goods and services that command the higher range of these multiples. Why are these companies selling for so much? Here are a few reasons:

Wide customer base: Companies that sell everyday products and services like health and beauty products, sports and fitness products and service businesses such as online marketing companies, have an advantage of being appealing and easily understood by a wide range of potential customers. Most prospective buyers understand the basics of these products and services because they use them on a daily basis, which makes the idea of buying them more attractive.

Built-in revenue: If a company comes with an established revenue base, it will automatically generate a higher price. Companies with strong customer base create security for the business, unlike trend companies where the customers are one time buyers and the market may not be hot for long. Buyers of these companies know they have a customer base to work from everyday, which makes it easier to expand; it’s much more feasible to sell additional products or services to a customer who is already buying from you than to track down new business. However, reaching and establishing new customers is also enabled by having a strong financial foundation (Organic Optimization, Strong Paid Advertising or even a strong Affiliate Network). Exploring new marketing mediums to reach potential buyers is made possible when revenue streams are strong in other areas of the business.

Limited specialized knowledge: Any company that a potential buyer with general business knowledge can purchase and start running right away will command a higher price than a company that requires special knowledge. An office supply business, for example, will not require much experience or specialized knowledge; new buyers can easily take over and manage the product line with ease. With service industry companies, when there is a saturated market of companies offering the same service, it may take some specialized knowledge to stand out; however, it may only require basic knowledge to be competitive such as knowing basic marketing services for an online company or understand various facets of the IT business.

Customer loyalty: By virtue of the nature of some companies, it is easier to let go of an existing customer than to gain a new one. In the case of some service companies, for example, a website hosting company—it is more of a hassle for customers to switch to the competitor than it is for them to stick with their current company so it creates a great recurring revenue model. These types of businesses are very attractive to potential buyers, particularly the buyers with little business ownership or management experience.

Different prospective business owners want different things from a business. An entrepreneur with a degree in electrical engineering may be interested in a company that makes a particular type of computer chip, for example. But in general, companies that offer the above perks and sell products and/or services needed by a large base of customers command a higher price than companies with more of a specialized niche. If you’re currently shopping for a company, keep the above mentioned factors—and your individual experience and knowledge—in mind as you shop.

Acquisitions Direct, formerly known as eBizMLS, is a business broker specializing in online business acquisitions. Contact Us if you are interested in learning more about the businesses listed with Acquisitions Direct, or if there is a specific industry you are looking to purchase in.

It’s true: starting a business is a huge undertaking, intellectually, emotionally, and financially. Not to mention the risk—70 percent of startup companies will have failed after only five years. But there is a way you may be able to have the luxury of being your own boss and living your dream without having to start an online company from scratch; you can buy an existing online business. The advantages of purchasing an existing company are numerous. They include:

Elimination of the cards stacked against you. If you start your own business, you will have to take out a loan, shape your business concept, develop a strong customer base, and fight the bad luck that goes along with owning an early-stage company. If you buy an existing established company, on the other hand, it will already have stood the test of time. Successful businesses have proven track records that usually continue after they are sold. By purchasing an established company you are acquiring a business that has a successful sales model, marketing mediums in place, and search engine history that can not be bought. These things can take years to establish, and some start up businesses go under before they get a chance to see the fruits of their labor.

The opportunity to make the company yours . Many entrepreneurs dream of owning their own business because they envision shaping it to be exactly what they want. Although you may not have as much control over the skeleton of the company if you buy an existing one, you will still be able to apply your own ideas, expertise, and passion once you purchase it. Most successful businesses already have an infrastructure in place that works. In most cases it is much easier to make adjustments to an existing process, than to start one from scratch. Learning from the history of a business will allow you to customize it and make it your own.

Immediate cash flow. Because the company has already been making money for years, you can start earning cash immediately after you purchase an established business. Forget struggling to attract customers—you will already have a customer base you can use as a building block for future growth.

The chance to finance the cost. When you start a company from scratch, you need a sizable lump sum to get the business off the ground; when you buy an existing company, on the other hand, in many cases, you can finance the cost. By making payments instead of having to plunk down a large sum of cash, you will be able to maximize your buying potential.

This is not to discount the challenges associated with buying a business; there are many. To successfully manage the process, you should first do as much research as possible on how to go about buying a company. Next, you should realistically assess the cost of the type of business you are shopping for and what you can afford. You will then have to negotiate the price, arrange financing, and actually transfer ownership of the company. All these tasks can be made easier with the help of an intermediary, who will be able to guide you every step of the way.

In general, you will be much more likely to succeed if you purchase an existing company than if you try to build one from the ground up; many more purchased companies are profitable than start-up companies. And it makes total sense: An existing profitable business has already proven that it can work; it has already defied the odds. So as long as you continue to run the company wisely, you should be as successful as the previous owner.

When you start the actual process of shopping for an online company, you should strongly consider using a business broker. Buying a company is a complex activity that requires a third party to coordinate the activities of the buyer and seller; business brokers have the knowledge and expertise to assume that role. A business broker is not a sales person, but a business professional that facilitates the transaction to the benefit of his or her client. Many transactions fail when the buyer tries to exclude a business broker from the sale process.

Also keep in mind that buying an online business is very different from buying a brick and mortar business. The internet channel utilizes very different skill sets for customer lead generation, order fulfillment, and customer service. The business broker you choose must have a detailed understanding of these unique skill sets in order to effectively facilitate the transaction.

Acquisitions Direct, formerly known as eBizMLS, is a business broker specializing in online business acquisitions. Contact Us if you are interested in learning more about the businesses listed with Acquisitions Direct, or if there is a specific industry you are looking to purchase in.

Buying or selling a company is a complex activity that requires one unbiased party to coordinate the activities of the buyer and seller; a business broker has the expertise and training to assume that role. A business broker is not a sales person, but a business professional that facilitates the transaction to the benefit of his or her client, be it the buyer or seller. Many transactions fail when the buyer and/or seller try to conduct the sale of a business without the aid of a business broker.

In order to help you sell your online company, maximize the selling price, terms, and net proceeds, and handle all the details, there are some things an intermediary needs from you. The better you understand these expectations, the more smoothly the sale of your company will go. Here are some of the things an intermediary will expect from you:

Your time. In addition to continuing to run your business while it is on the market, you will need to spend some time with the intermediary to assist with the sale. This will involve returning his or her phone calls and being readily available to handle any questions, requests, and details.

Communication with your top employees. If you are planning to sell your company, you shouldn’t keep it a secret from your key executives and legal advisors. In fact, these people can provide crucial information and therefore should be working with both you and the intermediary from the time the company first goes up for sale through the transaction closing.

Networking. Developing a list of possible acquirers for your company will ultimately be the responsibility of the intermediary, but he or she can certainly use your help and suggestions. If you supply names of potential candidates and provide the intermediary with industry magazines and directories, it will speed up the selling process by increasing the number of possible purchasers. Plus, these extra tools will help educate the intermediary on the nature of your company.

Constant information. During the three to twelve months that it may take your company to sell, things will be changing within the business. As the seller, it is your responsibility to keep the intermediary informed of any changes that take place.

An open mind. Because it is your business, you may have a specific type of buyer in mind. But you may be limiting yourself. Your intermediary may have some suggestions of buyer types that you may not have thought of; keep an open mind and trust that the intermediary knows what he or she is doing given that the intermediary has facilitated the sale of many businesses like yours.

Your patience. It takes three months to a year or more to sell most companies, so you can’t expect your business to sell overnight.

Cooperation. When the company is actively for sale, the intermediary will schedule visits and conference calls with prospective acquirers. You may need to act as the middle man to communicate to management exactly what the intermediary requires and expects from such visits. For example, for an ecommerce business, a visit will most likely consist of a visit to the production and fulfillment areas of the business.

Updates. Once the deal is turned over to your lawyer, you may assume the intermediary’s job is done. But taking the deal out of the hands of an intermediary at this point can be a huge mistake, as he or she can be a huge asset as the final details are being worked out. After all, the intermediary is familiar with the business, the buyer, and all that led up to the sale, so he or she can help with final negotiations.

Keep in mind that selling an internet related business is very different from selling a brick and mortar business. The internet channel utilizes very different skill sets for customer lead generation, order fulfillment, and customer service. The business broker you choose to help you sell your online business must have a detailed understanding of these unique skill sets in order to effectively facilitate the transaction.

Acquisitions Direct, formerly known as eBizMLS, is a business broker specializing in online business acquisitions. To receive a FREE business valuation from Acquisitions Direct, please CLICK HERE and fill in the required information. We will respond to your inquiry within 48 hours. There is no commitment on your part and all information sent and/or discussed is confidential.

One of the most important parts of successfully buying an online business is finding your appropriate price level, but most importantly finding a company that is the right fit for you, your interests, and your experience. If you are a sales and marketing expert, for example, look for an online company that does lead generation. If you are great at customer service, look for an online company that will enable you to interact with and assist consumers within the service industry. And if you have always excelled at retail management, keep your eye out for an ecommerce opportunity that will allow you to apply your skill to marketing products on the internet. Overall, whatever you do best should be the most important driving factor of the revenue and profits of a company you consider buying.

Secondly, the company must have a strong online demand. A company that is a strong acquisition opportunity will exhibit characteristics that indicate strong future sales, not just a hot trend of the moment. Many consumers are looking to do more shopping online as personal schedules now are busier than ever. All consumers are not always looking for the lowest price. Healthy competition is a welcomed sign even in completely saturated markets. High demand allows businesses to showcase more to consumers than just a low price, it allows the consumer choices.

Keeping the above advice in mind, don’t get too focused on the “coolness” factor of the product or service offered, however. If the business is growing and you are enjoying the work, the uniqueness of the company becomes much less of an issue.

In addition, it is a good idea to look for an Internet company that has an established client base. The less work you have to do to pull in more business, the more time you can spend sharpening the product or service you offer. With many ecommerce sites, an established customer base will help sustain the business while additional product lines, marketing mediums and processes are explored.

Another key factor is to never lose sight of the bottom line: profits. Sure, it’s great if you love the product or service your online business provides, but that love isn’t going to put food on the table. So the money the business will yield should be the most important consideration.

Overall, realize that the search for a company for purchase can be a daunting task. There are a lot of companies for sale out there, and more than one of them may seem like the “right” one for you. When you are ready to make your final decision, in addition to all the information you’ve gathered on the company and whether or not it is a good fit for your skills, listen to your gut. When you picture yourself running the company five years down the road, are you happy? Do you feel like a successful business owner? If not, you may want to reconsider your offer.

To help you with all the analysis and decisions mentioned above, consider utilizing the services of a business broker. Buying a company is a complex activity that requires a third party to coordinate all the activities of the seller and the buyer. A business broker has the experience and training to assume that role and to make sure you get the most for your money during an Internet business transaction. Keep in mind that buying an Internet related business is very different from buying a brick and mortar business; the Internet channel utilizes very different skill sets for customer lead generation, order fulfillment, and customer service. The business broker must have a detailed understanding of these skill sets in order to effectively facilitate the transactions.

Acquisitions Direct, formerly known as eBizMLS, is a business broker specializing in online business acquisitions. Contact Us if you are interested in learning more about the businesses listed with Acquisitions Direct, or if there is a specific industry you are looking to purchase in.

If you are thinking about handling the sale of your company by yourself, keep in mind that the following are only some of the many actions you must take in order to coordinate the sale of your business on your own:

Prepare your company for sale : The sale of an online company involves making sure the business looks good on the outside and runs well and is profitable on the inside. A business broker can help you get your business records in order, as well as to recognize which improvements need to be made.

Establish a price: Naturally, you want to get the best possible price for your online business, but you must understand that the price is determined by the current marketplace. With the help of a business broker who will use industry-tested valuation techniques, you can make sure you get a competitive price for your business. Online business brokers have access to industry related data and also have the experience to make informed decisions about the listing price.

Market the company: Marketing your online company is one of the hardest parts of selling a business on your own. Not only do you have to develop a strategy, you have to find the best possible mediums through which to advertise. With the help of a business broker, who will use his or her networks of professional associations and buyer prospects, you can effectively spread the word about your company to the best possible buyers. One of the most effective mediums for marketing a new business for sale is a network of interested buyers. An online business broker has thousands of contacts that are looking for their next investment. By utilizing a business broker, you gain access to this network, along with the proper sales tools and presentations that are necessary to effectively sell an Internet business.

Maintain your privacy: When you are selling an online business, it can be difficult to maintain confidentiality. There are certain things you can do to protect yourself and your company, including using nonspecific terms, screening prospective buyers, and asking all parties involved to sign confidentiality agreements. A qualified business broker can help you with all of these things.

Present the company: Overall, business brokers have the best network of potential buyers, they know how and when to advertise, and they can get the best possible price for a company. They also know the right features to highlight, such as your sales generation model, if your business is driven from Organic Ranking vs Paid Listings and many other considerations. Different buyers may react negatively or positively to certain aspects of a business. The way the business is presented needs to reach all potential buyers not just one.

Choose a qualified buyer: Just like there is the perfect buyer for every house, there is the perfect buyer for every online business. You just have to find him or her. This is another aspect of selling your company that a business broker can help you with. Because of their knowledge of buyer behavior combined with their access to buyer databases, business brokers can be a real asset when it comes to finding the best buyer for your company.

Negotiating the sale: One of the most important parts of selling your business will be the actual business transaction. From negotiating the price to spelling out the terms to other aspects of the sale, there is a lot to it. A business broker will be able to assist you with every step of the process, including managing the paperwork and keeping track of minute details.

Overall, if you are planning to sell your company, a business broker can save you significant money, time, and general work involved with the sale. Although business brokers are not magicians, they will market your business only to qualified buyers, advertise the company in the right mediums, and do other things to ensure that you get the most for your business.

When you look for a business broker, search for someone who has a detailed understanding of the buying and selling of online companies so he or she can effectively facilitate the transaction. By choosing an online business broker that is performance driven, you will also ensure that you are working with someone who will fight to get you the highest return on your business.

Acquisitions Direct, formerly known as eBizMLS, is a business broker specializing in online business acquisitions. To receive a FREE business valuation from Acquisitions Direct, please CLICK HERE and fill in the required information. We will respond to your inquiry within 48 hours. There is no commitment on your part and all information sent and/or discussed is confidential.

Keep in mind that even if you take the proper steps, the sale of an Internet company can take from three months to over a year. Selling or buying an Internet company is a complex activity that requires one party to coordinate the activities of the seller and the buyer, and experienced business brokers have the experience and training to assume that role. In fact, many business transactions fail when the buyer and/or seller try to exclude the business broker from the sale. A business broker can help you with the selling process, every step of the way.

The first thing you should do to get your online business ready for sale is get a realistic idea of what it is worth. Many business owners mistakenly think the value of the company is based on revenue; instead, it is the cash flow and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization that determine the price. The future potential also plays a role in determining a company’s worth. You can get an assessment of your company’s worth from a number of sources, from local accounting firms to investment banking firms to regional business brokers. If you are selling an online business, it is best to get an evaluation from an Internet Business Broker. Business Brokers that specialize in the online industry can provide additional guidance and also consultations to help prepare the business for sale. From there, take the following steps:

Get your books in order . Buyers usually like to see at least three years’ worth of financial statements, and the more solid information you can provide (such as CPA compiled or audited statements), the more likely a buyer will be interested in your company. Pay specific attention to accrued expenses, depreciation and inventory, the balance sheet, and contracts with customers, vendors, partners, and employees. This is the most important step in the process for both the buyer and the seller. Having this information correct and buttoned up will speed up the selling process.

Make sure you have a clear understanding of the true profitability of your business . Provide clear documentation for all your expenses, including nonoperational expenses and expenses that you incur on an infrequent basis.

Look at all your contracts . Examine your supplier and customer contracts to make sure the terms and conditions will not expire or require renegotiation right after the sale goes through. If there are any contracts that serve little purpose or cause unnecessary stress or strain on the company, terminate them.

Record company policies and procedures. Ideally, you should create a policies and procedures manual that will help the incoming owner know exactly how to best run the company. This should include unspoken and undocumented techniques.

Review your leases . If you have real estate leases that tie your business to a specific location, make sure they do not require renegotiation or expire over the time you are planning to sell your company.

Solidify your workforce . If you foresee any personnel changes, try to make them before the sale goes through. A company with a stable employee base will be more attractive to potential buyers.

Prepare for the sale . Once you have gone through all the above steps, make sure you have a strong advisory team in place. In addition to an accountant and an attorney, hire a business broker. These advisors will guide you during every step of the sale, and they will help determine the type of buyer for your online business. These experts will also help you maintain confidentiality during the transaction.

When you look for a business broker, search for someone who has a detailed understanding of the buying and selling of online companies so he or she can effectively facilitate the transaction.

Acquisitions Direct,formerly known as eBizMLS, is a business broker specializing in online business acquisitions. To receive a FREE business valuation from Acquisitions Direct, please CLICK HERE and fill in the required information. We will respond to your inquiry within 48 hours. There is no commitment on your part and all information sent and/or discussed is confidential.

Overall, keep in mind that buying or selling an Internet related business is very different from buying or selling a brick and mortar business; the internet channel utilizes very different skill sets for customer lead generation, order fulfillment, and customer service.

In general, buyers seeing Internet businesses are concerned with the following factors. These characteristics can affect both the future earnings potential and risks involved with owning an online business.

Growth prospects: If the company for sale is in a growth industry, it will immediately be more attractive to buyers. If the potential buyer is from the same industry as the company he is interested in buying, the potential buyer will probably have a better idea of the growth prospects. If he or she is from a different industry, on the other hand, the potential buyer will have to closely examine the growth prospects before he or she makes a decision of whether or not to buy.

Although the Internet makes it easier for potential buyers to assess the growth prospects of businesses than ever before, unless the buyer has a crystal ball, he will not be able to exactly predict the growth prospects for the business and the industry as a whole. But if the buyer’s research points to the company being in a growth industry, he will immediately place the company at a higher value.

History of earnings: They say the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, so an online company’s historical earnings are one of the most important elements to a potential buyer. A buyer looks for a long history of increasing and stable earnings when shopping for a company, and he will probably steer clear of a company that has a short history and/or inconsistent earnings. Even when a start-up company has done well, its short track record will be seen as a negative to a potential buyer. A positive to start up companies is that there may be huge hidden growth potential that a new buyer may be able to quickly capitalize on.

Overall, the longer an online company has been in business and the more the company has earned, the higher its value. The Internet companies with the strongest track records will have been in business for at least five years, the companies with moderate track records will have been in business for at least three years, and the businesses with the shakiest track records will have been established for less than two years.

The type of business: Businesses have varying degrees of risk depending on the type of industry. An online company that was easily started required fewer skilled workers, and therefore reduces the overhead costs associated with wages and benefits. Most online companies do not required specialized knowledge about that specific industry, but those who do not become quickly adaptable will be less valuable when it is resold. In addition, some industries are more popular than others.

Management team: When it comes to an online company’s management team, both the number of the company leaders and the degree of their training and skills will help determine the value of the business, but it is not the only factor. In general, the smaller an Internet business, the less its depth of management, and vice versa. The more a company relies on a single owner or manager to run smoothly, the less revenue it takes to achieve a higher margin. An online company that has a strong management team in place, will positively impact the business to be valued higher. And some potential buyers prefer a company that has more than one layer of management in place when they make their purchase. For a single buyer who intends to purchase the business to run themselves, there are many suitable options for turning a company who was run by one level of management into several, and vice versa.

Employees: If a company comes equipped with well-trained and highly skilled employees who are happy in their jobs, it will be more valuable. Prospective buyers know that if a company does not come with stable employees, they will have to spend money hiring and training new employees. Therefore, a company that is staffed with an established, reliable workforce will go for a premium price. That being said, most online businesses come with a scalable infrastructure that allows for new employees and management to be easily trained and transitioned, making this premium not always applicable to every online business.

Flexibility: If a company is limited, either in its geographic location or its products and services, it will be less valuable than a company whose products are relevant on a national level and can be readily changed or expanded.

Competition: The Internet has redefined competition. It is no longer about having the lowest price, it is about the entire customer experience. Factors such as website design, customer reviews, brand credibility, price, shipping timeline and fees are not all factors of consideration for consumers, opening up the competition to offer an advantage in any or all of these areas. Markets and Industries that are “hot” will have the most competition, but that will not necessarily devalue the company. Because of the number of factors that influence a consumer online, “hot” or saturated markets are worth more online since they are in high demand with consumers.

Location: Companies located in a desirable geographic areas command a better price, as do businesses that have well-maintained facilities. This is true for online and offline businesses. Online the “well maintained facilities” translate to the website, inventory processing systems, infrastructure and customer database.

Terms of the sale: The terms of the company sale can also add or detract from its value. For example, if a company is stable enough to support debt financing rather than equity capital, or if it is a privately owned company that is willing to help finance the acquisition, it will be more valuable. In the online industry business headquarters are easily moved, which also makes the company more valuable since relocation, in most instances, is not required to purchase the business.

When it comes to the sale of a company, both buyers and sellers should be aware of the above factors that can affect the value of a business. The better both parties understand these characteristics, the more smoothly the acquisition will go.

Buying or selling an online company is a complex activity that requires a third party to coordinate the activities of the seller and buyer. Many transactions fail when the buyer and/or seller try to exclude the business broker from the tail end of the transaction. A business broker has the expertise and training to assume that role. A business broker is not a sales person, but a business professional that facilitates the transaction to the benefit of his or her client, be it the buyer or the seller.

When you look for a business broker, search for someone who has a detailed understanding of the buying and selling of online companies so he or she can effectively facilitate the transaction.

Acquisitions Direct, formerly known as eBizMLS, is a business broker specializing in online business acquisitions. Contact Us if you are interested in learning more about the businesses listed with Acquisitions Direct, or if there is a specific industry you are looking to purchase in.

Five year old ecommerce business markets over 3,000 products from major brands. Since inception, the owners have successfully increased their product portfolio with strong sales and profits. Product categories offered include: Hair Care, Skin Care, Cosmetics, Tanning, Hair Loss/Removal, and Discontinued Products. All supplier contracts in place are domestic and are in good standing. Targeted market is age 30 to 40 females with middle to upper income. Just about all sales are generated from search engines; the owners since inception of the business have successfully focused on highly optimizing their website. In addition word of mouth advertising greatly contributes to the low cost of this business. Contact information is available for approximately 50,000 customers, to date the owners have not performed any email marketing campaigns; this is a substantial growth opportunity for the new owner(s). In addition expansion into paid and CPA marketing channels is an additional major growth opportunity. Approximately 15% of orders are fulfilled from in-house inventory and 85% from drop shippers. Approximately 500 square feet is necessary to run this business making the listing an ideal home based business. Owners will provide strong transition support and are selling to focus efforts on other business interests.