It is common sense that a business is worth more than its tangible assets, but appraising that extra, invisible value can be tricky. Elements such as reputation, customer base, existing networks, and brand recognition all contribute to the value of a business without ever showing up on the balance sheets. When a business is bought and transitioned, those nebulous, intangible assets are lumped together as something called “goodwill.” And, ironically, goodwill is often one of the largest components involved when calculating a business’s final market value.

Approximately 50% of physical therapy practices are known as “onesies” and “twosies.” This means that the practice is owned and operated by one physical therapist that runs one or two clinics. Although this business structure works very well for the physical therapist who owns the business, it also means the marketplace is fragmented, and many therapists are finding it more difficult to go up against big buyers.

If there is one industry that people can feel fairly safe entering, or starting a business in, it is technology. It is no secret that technology has come a long way in just the past 10 years, and that tech experts are only going to continue the upward trend by inventing new and exciting solutions every day. However, technology companies for sale come with some unique issues and if you do not know how to handle them, you could be setting yourself up for failure. Below are the four most common issues you will likely face when purchasing a tech company.

Buying a physical therapy practice can be a lucrative investment. However, regardless of the financial decisions you have made in your life, it is likely going to be stressful. It is easy to make any number of mistakes along the way, and any one of those errors could set you back, both financially and in opening your clinic. Below are the most common mistakes people make when buying a physical therapy clinic, and how to avoid them.

Certified public accountants (CPAs) have two choices when they want to start their own firm. They can start from scratch, purchasing or renting office space, and build their business from the ground up. Or, they can find an existing accounting firm for sale, purchase it, move in, and start running the business. Both options are attractive and hold many benefits for any CPA. However, below are four compelling reasons to buy an accounting firm, rather than start one up on your own.

Certified public accountants have two choices after earning their degree. They can strike it out on their own, or they can find a firm that is looking for qualified CPAs. The thought of starting a CPA firm and being in control of your own business may be too good to pass up, and it is true that this option has many benefits. However, there are also challenges that come with being independent, and it is important to understand what those are before you hang up your own sign.

A quick look at the statistics shows just how many accounting practices are going to be for sale in the next few years. In the United States, 10,000 people will be turning 65 every day for approximately the next 20 years. Additionally, approximately 60% of all CPA firm owners are over the age of 50 and therefore are starting to think about retirement and perhaps selling their firms. This means the competition for CPA firms is going to be aggressive in the coming years. Anyone thinking about selling an accounting practice must avoid certain pitfalls to give them the edge and sell their practice faster.

In speaking to countless business owners, we know that making the decision to sell your business is difficult. In large part, fear of the unknown can create analysis paralysis and, ultimately, lead to inaction. Yes, there is much that goes into selling a physical therapy practice, but with proper planning, and the right team, most of the heavy lifting will be done for you. With that in mind, consider these two main steps now to get the ball rolling: 1) value your business and, 2) identify qualified buyers that will help you realize that value.

For years lawyers could not sell their law practices because it was considered unethical. The prevailing theory behind deeming the sale of a law practice unethical was tied, in large part, to the client’s right to choose a lawyer and, in practicality, generally left single-owner firms with an asset they could not sell (while large firms were merging, acquiring books of business, etc.). Today, however, it is both ethical and common to sell a law practice, but the structure of the transfer of your law practice, and, thus, the documents you prepare must take the ethical rules into account. Below are some of the most important documents to have on hand once you decide to start the process of transferring your firm to a new owner.