After years of work in a business, it can be quite profitable to sell it. Being acquired by a larger company is something that many hope for. The sale can be complicated, however. There are Federal and North Carolina laws concerning mergers, acquisitions, negotiations and securities exchanges that must be followed.

How Do I Sell a Business?

The first step in selling a New Hanover County business is soliciting an offer. A purchase agent can help you find prospective buyers, as well as advise you concerning whether offers that you receive are worth consideration. Preparing financial records to comply with North Carolina and Federal law is essential and will help determine the proper value for the rights you are selling. As a final step, an agreement for the purchase will be reached, normally in the form of a written contract. It should be reviewed by all parties to ensure that what was agreed upon is accurately presented.

What Will I Give Up in the Business?

The sale of a business is simply the transfer of a right known as "control". The party with control of a business directs its operations and can use the business property as it sees fit. The buyer of a business in New Hanover County may be interested only in control of the business, and other rights within the company may not be as important. Buyers are normally looking for the cheapest route to control, and this may allow the seller to retain other rights such as the right to future earnings. Negotiations become vital in light of these particularities, and each party should use negotiations as an opportunity to make plain their intentions and concerns.

How Can an Attorney Help?

Parties who want to sell businesses must meet the requirements of North Carolina law. Ensuring that the sale is proper is much simpler with the advice of a local Attorney practicing in New Hanover County.