As a Business Broker / M&A Advisor, I offer a hands-on, high-touch level of service to my business clients. My sell-side services cover the entire process of preparing your business for sale through closing. I’ll be with you and your trusted advisors at every step of the journey.
I offer a hands-on, high-touch level of service to my business clients. My services cover the entire process of preparing your business for sale all the way through closing and transfer of funds. I’ll be with you and your trusted advisors on every step of the journey.
I spent over 15 years in various corporate development roles in Silicon Valley early in my career. I held numerous positions in large software companies like Oracle, Siebel Systems, and Suse Linux. By my mid-30s, I got bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. I had the opportunity to take over and transform a commercial printing brokerage business. Over six years, my commercial print brokerage grew to become the 3rd largest in the country. We had a staff of 35 employees and contractual relationships with over 40 commercial printers across the country.
When it came time to sell the brokerage business, I tried to find a business advisor who understood how the software we created was an essential aspect of our business and was responsible for much of our success. The brokers I was able to find didn’t understand my software-based company. In the end, I finally sold the business myself.
After my experience, I realized there was an opportunity in the market to help other owners exit. I now use my expertise to understand your business and get you the best deal possible.
My typical clients are owners of companies with $3m-$20m in revenue and 20-50 employees. My extensive buyer network consists of Private Equity, Family Office, and SearchFund organizations. In addition, I reach out directly to corporate strategic buyers when appropriate.
I’m also a big believer in exit planning. Knowing what comes next is key for an entrepreneur who has built a business from the ground up. For that reason, I hold a CEPA designation. I maintain a network of other advisors to help my clients plan and execute their business exit. This network includes attorneys, CPAs, and Financial Advisors.
Working with a business broker allows your exit process to remain confidential. Confidentiality protects the relationships with customers, employees, suppliers, and competitors. In addition, an advisor well versed in the technologies, languages, and business requirements of building software products is key to creating credibility with highly technical buyers. Software companies can also be unique in achieving exceptionally high growth rates. The high growth rates of successful software companies can make valuations difficult using traditional methods. Your advisor should have specific experience valuing high-growth software companies.
Integrity and reputation are essential. A successful exit is a once-in-a-career opportunity for the business owner. Consequently, owners need to work with someone they trust and whose advice they’ll seriously consider.
It is a multistep process, the basic stages are valuation, packaging, marketing, screening the buyers, discussions with buyers, acceptance of offers, due diligence, and closing.
My approach to valuation is to follow industry norms. Typically, industry norms involve applying multiples from past, similar transactions. Valuation is more art than science, and getting into an appropriate range will attract multiple offers. Therefore, by attracting competing bids, we can understand what the business is worth and what deal structures and terms are possible.
As a professional advisor, I can protect the confidentiality of my clients’ exit plans from customers, employees, suppliers, and competitors.
Most opportunities require six months to find the buyers and close a deal. However, some transactions close faster; others take 9-12 months of effort.
Licensed California Business Broker for Software and B2B Service Companies — Predictable, transparent and orderly exits for business owners.
david.jacobs@linkbusiness.com
Phone: (415) 297-8562
440 North Wolfe Road
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
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