Helping Business Owners to Exit for Maximum Value

Maximise Your Exit Value with Expert Guidance

Considering a business exit? With over 30 years of experience, I specialise in helping business owners like you unlock the full potential of your company and maximise your returns. Whether you're ready to sell or just exploring your options, we’ll work together to navigate the complexities of the process, ensuring a smooth transition that aligns with your goals and delivers the best outcome.

about me

Experienced CEO With A Successful Track Record Of Starting Companies And Developing Them Through To Exit.

Benefit from an Experienced CEO with a Proven Track Record of Success
With 30 years of diverse sector experience, I’ve founded and developed businesses across multiple industries, including the acquisition, growth, and successful exit of Scotland's first easyHotel on Princes Street, Edinburgh. I built a wholesale food and drink business to tens of millions in revenue and successfully exited to a trade buyer. My experience spans e-commerce, distribution, manufacturing, environmental services, construction, and real estate, ensuring a deep understanding of various market dynamics.Unlock the Power of Expert Financial Modeling & Valuation
As a certified Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA®), I provide expert corporate finance advisory services to both intermediaries and business owners looking to exit. With a wealth of hands-on experience reviewing hundreds of businesses and supporting dozens of buyers and sellers, I offer tailored insights and solutions in areas like valuations, deal structuring, working capital analysis, forecasting, and funding options. My practical experience ensures that you receive clear, actionable advice and a strategic approach to achieving the best outcome.

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my why

What's My Motivation

Passion for Business, Committed to Your Success
Business isn’t just what I do—it’s my passion. I thrive on engaging with business owners, understanding what drives their success, and exploring how we can overcome challenges together. With a wealth of experience and a genuine enthusiasm for creating growth opportunities, I’m ready to partner with you to help your business reach new heights. Let’s work together to unlock your company’s full potential and drive long-term success.

• Business Valuation Tool

exit on your terms

Maximum Value For Your Business

Maximise the Value of Your Business with Transparent, Tailored Support
Selling your business, especially a family-owned one, can be an emotional and challenging process. I understand the importance of getting it right. By working closely with you to understand your needs and aspirations, I’ll provide a detailed, transparent valuation based on your financials. This will not only give you a clear picture of your business’s worth but also show exactly how the valuation is calculated, ensuring you’re confident in the value you’re getting.

• Business Valuation Tool

are you a good fit for us?

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frequently asked questions

1. How can I ensure I'm getting fair market value for my business?
We understand your concern about achieving full value for your business. Our process can begin up to a year before agreeing a deal, depending on your current exit readiness. We'll work closely with you to ensure thorough preparation, including a professional valuation. This comprehensive approach helps avoid undervaluing and maximizes your business's worth at sale.2. How will you maintain confidentiality during the sale process?
Confidentiality is paramount to us. We implement strict procedures and confidentiality agreements to protect your business interests. We won't engage with your employees, suppliers, or customers without your explicit consent. We're happy to enter into a non-disclosure agreement before we even begin discussions, ensuring your privacy from the outset.3. How do you ensure you are the right buyer for my business?
Finding the right buyer is about more than just making a sale - it's about ensuring a good fit. We prioritize building trust between all parties involved. We'll take the time to get to know you and your business, and we'll only work with sellers we're comfortable with. Our goal is to facilitate a transaction where both parties feel confident and satisfied.4. How can I minimize the tax impact of selling my business?
We recognize that taxes can significantly impact your sale proceeds. Our team collaborates with you and your professional advisors to structure the sale in the most tax-efficient manner possible. We'll help you understand the tax implications and work to minimize tax consequences within legal boundaries.5. How can I prepare my business for sale and know when it's the right time?
Preparation is key to a successful sale. We offer a "Deal Match Quiz" to help you understand your business's exit readiness. We'll guide you through updating accounts, legal records, and addressing potential issues. If your business is struggling, we can advise on improvements before agreeing a sale. Our goal is to acquire your business in the best possible condition.6. What should I consider about my life after selling the business?
We understand that disengaging from your business can be challenging. We offer a FREE course that covers post-sale life in detail, helping you prepare for this significant transition. We'll discuss your post-sale objectives early in the process, ensuring that the sale aligns with your future plans and prepares you for new challenges and opportunities.

Unlock The Door To Exit Your Business For Maximum Value With Your Free 30 Minute Discovery Call

Are you a business owner contemplating the next chapter for your enterprise? Unsure about where to begin with the sale of your business? Don't navigate the complex world of business succession alone! I am here to guide you through the process, providing clarity on valuation, timelines, and the intricate steps involved.On the call we will discuss:

Confidentiality Assurance: Your business matters, and so does your privacy. Rest assured, all discussions and information shared during the call are strictly confidential.

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Exit Your Business Successfully for Maximum Value:
A Step-by-Step Guide

Exiting your business can be one of the most significant financial decisions you’ll ever make. Whether you’re looking to retire, pursue new ventures, or capitalize on a profitable market, selling your business for maximum value requires careful planning, strategic marketing, and expert negotiation. In this guide, we’ll cover everything from preparation to completion, with actionable insights to help you secure the best possible deal.

1. Exit Strategy Planning: Laying the Groundwork Early

Exiting your business doesn’t begin with the sale itself; it starts with building a strategic exit plan. Planning your exit 3-5 years in advance allows you to position the company to achieve the highest possible valuation when the time comes to sell.
a. Define Your Objectives
Why are you selling? This is a critical question to answer before embarking on an exit plan. Different motivations lead to different exit strategies. Are you seeking retirement? A shift in focus? Or capital to fuel a new venture? Defining your personal and financial objectives helps guide the decision-making process.
b. Decide Between Full or Partial Exit
A business owner might not want to sell 100% of the company. Some entrepreneurs choose to sell a portion of their business while retaining a stake for potential future growth. This can be attractive if you believe the company has long-term potential but want to reduce your daily involvement.
c. Timing Your Exit
The timing of your exit will significantly impact the sale price. Factors such as the economic environment, market demand, and industry trends all play a role in maximizing value. For instance, selling during an industry upturn or when your business is demonstrating strong revenue growth can lead to higher offers.
Key Tip: Be patient and plan ahead. Don’t wait until you need to sell; sell when the business is performing well, and market conditions are favourable.

2. Preparing Your Business for Sale: Setting the Foundation

a. Understand Your Business’s True Value
One of the first steps is to conduct a thorough business valuation. Potential buyers will look at key metrics such as EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization), revenue growth, and profit margins. Aside from financials, factors such as your business’s market position, competitive landscape, intellectual property, and customer base will influence its value.
Hire a business valuation expert who specializes in your sector. They’ll be able to assess both tangible and intangible assets and provide a clear, defendable valuation range.
Key Tip: Don’t base your valuation solely on market sentiment or personal expectations. A well-researched valuation adds credibility during negotiations.
b. Maximize Value through Growth Initiatives
To get the highest value for your business, consider implementing growth initiatives in the lead-up to the sale. Whether expanding your customer base, launching new products, or improving operational efficiencies, showcasing growth potential is a key driver in securing higher bids.
For example, if you're in a tech company, focus on increasing your recurring revenue base, or if you're in manufacturing, boost productivity to demonstrate scalability.
c. Clean Up Financials and Operations
Buyers will expect clean, well-organized financial statements. This includes preparing audited financial statements, cash flow reports, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets. Working with an accountant to fix discrepancies or shore up margins will increase the business's appeal.
Operationally, ensure the company can run smoothly without your constant input. Delegating responsibilities to management and automating routine tasks increases business stability and attractiveness to potential buyers.
d. Legal and Compliance Review
Before you list your business for sale, ensure that all legal and compliance matters are in order. This includes any pending lawsuits, intellectual property disputes, or unresolved regulatory issues. Buyers will scrutinize these areas during due diligence, and unresolved issues could delay or kill the deal.

3. Marketing Your Business: Attracting the Right Buyers

a. Identify Potential Buyers
The type of buyer interested in your business will depend on several factors, including industry, size, and market position. The most common types of buyers include:
- Strategic Buyers: Companies that may pay a premium for your business because it offers synergies, such as new markets or products.
- Private Equity Firms: Interested in businesses with growth potential, stable cash flow, and experienced management teams.
- Individual Investors: Entrepreneurs looking for profitable, turnkey operations.
Tailor your marketing efforts to reach these types of buyers based on your business’s profile.
b. Craft a Compelling Story
Your business isn’t just a balance sheet—it has a unique story. Present it in a compelling way that highlights your growth story, key achievements, and vision for the future. Include an Information Memorandum (IM) or Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) that provides buyers with:
- Business overview and history
- Key financials and growth projections
- Market opportunities
- Strengths and competitive advantages
- Risks and mitigation strategies
c. Confidentiality and Professional Representation
Confidentiality is crucial to avoid alerting competitors, suppliers, or employees that a sale is in progress. Work with a business broker or M&A advisor who can manage the process discreetly and ensure buyers are vetted before any confidential information is shared.

4. Negotiating the Sale: Structuring the Best Deal

a. Deal Structure Options
Negotiating a business sale can involve more than just setting a price. Consider various deal structures:
- Earnouts: A portion of the sale price is paid based on future business performance.
- Vendor Financing: The seller finances part of the sale and is repaid over time.
- Equity Swaps: Particularly in mergers, you may exchange part of your business for equity in the buyer's company.
Understanding these options can help you structure a deal that suits your financial goals and minimizes risk.
b. Navigating Buyer Concerns
During negotiations, buyers often raise concerns about potential risks such as employee retention, customer churn, or industry changes. Proactively address these concerns by providing detailed plans for transitioning employees and customers and demonstrating how your business can weather industry challenges.
c. Use Experienced Advisors
Negotiating directly with a buyer can be emotional and fraught with challenges. Using an experienced M&A advisor to facilitate the negotiations will help you maintain leverage, keep discussions professional, and avoid common pitfalls.

5. Due Diligence: Preparing for the Buyer’s Scrutiny

Once you have accepted an offer, the buyer will begin the due diligence process. This phase is critical, as it involves an exhaustive review of your business’s finances, operations, legal obligations, and more.
a. Financial Due Diligence
Expect buyers to scrutinize financial records in-depth. They may request detailed reports and historical data that cover several years. Ensure that these records are accurate and readily available to avoid delays or last-minute hitches.
b. Legal and Operational Due Diligence
Buyers will review contracts with customers, suppliers, and employees. They may also inspect intellectual property portfolios, licenses, and any potential legal liabilities. Be transparent and ready to provide full documentation during this phase.
c. Address Red Flags Early
Red flags such as undisclosed liabilities, outdated contracts, or reliance on key individuals could give buyers leverage to lower the purchase price. Address these issues proactively to prevent last-minute surprises during the due diligence process.

6. Tax Considerations: Minimizing Liabilities

A successful business sale isn’t just about maximizing the sale price—it’s about minimizing your tax liabilities to ensure you keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Tax planning should be an integral part of your exit strategy.
a. Capital Gains Tax
In most countries, the proceeds from selling a business are subject to capital gains tax. However, there are tax planning strategies, such as Entrepreneur's Relief (now called Business Asset Disposal Relief in the UK), that can reduce the amount of tax you pay.
b. Structuring the Sale for Tax Efficiency
Work with tax advisors to structure the sale in a tax-efficient manner. This might involve structuring payments in instalments, selling shares versus assets, or taking advantage of any tax incentives available to business owners.
Pro Tip: Start your tax planning early, as restructuring your business in a tax-efficient way can take time.

7. Legal Considerations: Closing the Deal and Transferring Ownership

a. Drafting the Sale Agreement
Once due diligence is complete, a formal sale agreement will be drafted. This document outlines the terms of the sale, including the purchase price, payment terms, contingencies, and any warranties or indemnities. Work closely with an M&A lawyer to ensure that the agreement is watertight and protects your interests.
b. Warranties, Indemnities, and Liabilities
The buyer may request warranties (promises about the condition of the business) and indemnities (cover for specific risks). Be cautious about the scope of these, as they can impact your future liabilities post-sale.

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Business

a. Lack of Preparation
One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is failing to prepare adequately for the sale. This includes poor financial record-keeping, unresolved legal issues, and a lack of strategic planning.
b. Overvaluing the Business
Setting an unrealistic price can deter serious buyers. A well-researched, defensible valuation is critical to maintaining credibility during negotiations.
c. Rushing the Process
Selling a business is a complex process that takes time. Rushing to close the deal without conducting proper due diligence or negotiating the best terms can lead to regrets down the road.

Privacy Policy

This policy sets out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, whether via this website or otherwise, will be processed by us. Please read the following carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we will treat it.
For the purpose of UK and European data protection and e-privacy legislation (Data Protection Legislation), the data controller is Ased Iqbal, Our office address is 272 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JR.INFORMATION WE COLLECT FROM YOU
We will collect and process the following data about you:
Information you give us
• This is information about you that you give us by filling in forms on our website www.asediqbal.com (our website) or by corresponding with us by phone, e-mail or otherwise. It includes information you provide when you use part of our website, subscribe to any of our updates or newsletters, search for a service, make an enquiry, engage us to provide services, and when you report a problem with our website. The information you give us may include your name, position, company, contact details (such as address, e-mail address and phone number), your personal preferences, choices and requirements specific to particular requests or services.
• Where you are our client, you may give us certain special categories of personal data. This includes information about your personal and company finances, health, relationships and information about any personal criminal convictions or offences or company litigation's (past or present) and any other personal issues.
Information we collect about you
With regard to each of your visits to our website we may automatically collect the following information:
• technical information, including the Internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the Internet, your login information, browser type and version, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform;
• information about your visit, including the full Uniform Resource Locators (URL), clickstream to, through and from our website (including date and time), products you viewed or searched for page response times, download errors, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information (such as scrolling, clicks, and mouse-overs), methods used to browse away from the page and any phone number used to call our client service number.
Information we receive from other sources
• We are working closely with third parties (including, for example, business partners, accountants, lawyers, finance providers, tax providers and other professional service providers) and may receive personal information about you from them.
• We may obtain your name, address, telephone number or email address from publicly available information such as on the internet.
We may receive technical data from the following parties:
(a) analytics providers such as Google based outside the EU;
(b) third party acquirer networks inside or outside the EU; and
(c) search information providers such as Google based inside or outside the EU.
• Identity and Contact Data from M&A and/or Company Data providers or aggregators such as Bureau van Dijk or Preqin based inside or outside the EU.
• Identity and Contact Data from publicly available sources such as Companies House based inside the EU.
• Identity and Contact Data from referral partners based inside the EU.
• Identity and Contact Data from Data Contractors using publicly available sources such as directories or websites based inside or outside the EU.COOKIES
Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our website. For detailed information on the cookies we use and the purposes for which we use them see our Cookie Policy.LEGAL GROUNDS FOR COLLECTION AND USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
We will only collect, use and otherwise handle your personal information when:
We have your consent for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes;
It is necessary for our legitimate interests in connection with operating the website and our business, in particular:
• responding to your queries;
• carrying out marketing activities;
• providing services and/or information to you;
• keeping in touch with you and/or your business;
• hosting and maintaining our website;
• providing technical support to you;
• using in the investigation and/or defence of potential complaints,
• disciplinary proceedings and legal proceedings;
• preventing and detecting fraud and other criminal offences;
• ensuring network and information security;
as long as, in each case, these interests are in line with applicable law and your legal rights and freedoms;
Where this is necessary to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract.USES MADE OF THE INFORMATION
We use information held about you in the following ways:
Information you give to us
We will use this information:
To fulfil your requests: to carry out our obligations arising from any contracts entered into between you and us, respond to your queries and to provide you with the information, products and services that you request from us;
Marketing and updates: to provide you with information about the services we offer in the form of email newsletters or about services we offer that are similar to those that you have already purchased or enquired about. Or where you have provided us with your contact details, to provide you with information about the service you are interested in.
Marketing Opt-Out – you are entitled to opt-out of marketing communications at any time by using the “unsubscribe” option included in any marketing e-mail or other marketing material received from us.
Changes: to notify you about changes to our service;
Website content presentation: to ensure that content from our website is presented in the most effective manner for you and for your computer.
If you choose not to provide personal information requested by us, we may not be able to provide you with the information and/or services you have requested or otherwise fulfil the purpose(s) for which we have asked for the personal information. Aside from this, your visit to the website will remain unaffected.
Information we collect about you
We will use this information:
• to administer our website and for internal operations, including troubleshooting, data analysis, testing, research, statistical and survey purposes;
• to improve our website to ensure that content is presented in the most effective manner for you and for your computer;
• to allow you to participate in interactive features of our service, when you choose to do so;
• as part of our efforts to keep our website safe and secure;
• to measure or understand the effectiveness of advertising we serve to you and others, and to deliver relevant advertising to you;
to make suggestions and recommendations to you and other users of our website about goods or services that may interest you or them.
Information we receive from other sources
We will combine this information with information you give to us and information we collect about you. We will use this information and the combined information for the purposes set out above (depending on the types of information we receive), where those purposes are compatible.DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION
Some services that we provide require the involvement of third parties. We have carefully selected these third parties and taken steps to ensure that your personal information is adequately protected.
You agree that we have the right to share your personal information with the following third parties:
i). Google Analytics
This website uses Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google Inc. (“Google“). Google Analytics works using cookies.
Google Analytics cookies collect your IP address, however because IP anonymisation is used on this website, your IP address will be shortened (and therefore anonymised) as soon as technically possible and before it is stored or otherwise used in connection with Google Analytics.
The anonymisation process takes place within the European Union or the European Economic Area, except in exceptional cases, where your full IP address may be sent to a Google server in the USA and shortened there.
We use the information collected by Google Analytics cookies to find out about how visitors use our website.
The IP address sent by your browser in connection with Google Analytics will not be combined by Google, with other data.
You can prevent Google Analytics cookies from being stored by setting your browser software accordingly (see our Cookie Policy for further information). However, please note that you may not then be able to make full use of all the website’s functions.
ii) Sharing with our service providers
We may share your personal information with our third-party service providers based in the UK or the European Economic Area (“EEA”) who we engage to process the information that we collect from you on the website or otherwise, and/or to host and maintain our website, content or services, on our behalf and in accordance with this privacy policy.
We will let you know if we need to transfer your personal information to any third-party service providers located outside of the EEA.
Where we employ third party companies or individuals to process personal information provided by us (and not collected by them), they only use this personal information on our behalf and in line with our instructions and this privacy policy.
iii) Sharing with other selected third parties
We may share your personal information with selected third parties including:
• business partners and other professionals for the performance of any contract we enter into with you, for example (but not limited to) lawyers, accountants, finance providers and other professional service providers.
• analytics and search engine providers that assist us in the improvement and optimisation of our website;
• our website offers the possibility to share content on social media channels e.g. Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. The respective social media provider will directly gather personal information only after you click on the corresponding sharing button. Please refer to the privacy policy of the social media providers to learn more about what personal information is collected and used.
We will disclose your personal information to third parties:
• In the event that we sell or buy any business or assets, in which case we will disclose your personal data to the prospective seller or buyer of such business or assets.
• In the event of ased iqbal being engaged by you/your company as a client to provide our services: training, the appraisal, sale or valuation of your company or business assets or the acquisition of a third-party company or its business assets or for the provision of consultancy services or business advice specific to company sales and mergers and acquisitions.
• If we are under a duty to disclose or share your personal data in order to comply with any legal obligation, or in order to enforce or apply our terms of use or our terms of business and other agreements; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of ased iqbal, our clients, or others.
Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we will do our best to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted to our website; any transmission is at your own risk. Once we have received your information, we will use strict procedures and security features to try to prevent unauthorised access.HOW LONG DO WE STORE PERSONAL INFORMATION
It is our policy to retain your personal information for the length of time required for the specific purpose or purposes for which it was collected.
Where you are a client:
The hard copy file for your matter (including your personal data) will be retained for the period of time required in order for ased iqbal to fulfil its services to you.
If requested in writing at any time, ased iqbal will immediately destroy or permanently erase all Confidential Information supplied to it or made by it.WHERE WE STORE YOUR PERSONAL DATA
All information you provide to us is stored on our GDPR compliant software and third party administered, encrypted cloud storage.
Hard copy files may also be stored in our secure offices.CONFIDENTIALITY
We acknowledge that the information you provide may be confidential. We will maintain the confidentiality of and protect your confidential information in accordance with all applicable laws.YOUR RIGHTS
You have the right to ask us not to process your personal data for marketing purposes. You can also exercise the right at any time by managing your preferences through unsubscribing from our marketing emails or by contacting us at [email protected]
Our website may, from time to time, contain links to and from the websites of our partner networks, advertisers and affiliates. If you follow a link to any of these websites, please note that these websites have their own privacy policies and that we do not accept any responsibility or liability for these policies. Please check these policies before you submit any personal data to these websites.
If you wish to:
• Access, confirm, correct, rectify, update, supplement, anonymise, block, restrict or delete your personal information;
• Object to our use of your personal information;
• Withdraw your consent;
• If you have any questions about our processing of your personal information; or
• If you would like to transfer your personal information from us to another person or business,
Please contact us at [email protected]
Where you request access to your personal information, we will fulfil your request by sending your copy electronically, unless the request expressly specifies a different method. For any subsequent access request, we may charge you an administrative fee. In order to comply with your request, we may ask you to verify your identity.CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY
Any changes we may make to our privacy policy in the future will be posted on this page and, where appropriate, notified to you by e-mail. Please check back frequently to see any updates or changes to our privacy policy.CONTACT
Questions, comments and requests regarding this privacy policy are welcomed and should be addressed to [email protected]