Seller Services

We are often Asked, "what makes your firm different from others?" In one word; "Results". The next logical question is why is Trinity so much more successful at closing deals and deriving value for the seller. When you retain Trinity, you are hiring a team of Professional Transaction Advisors, not a salesman. No one prepares a business to "Go to Market" better than Trinity. Here is our approach.

Preparation

If you believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, than having your business properly prepared to go to market is vital to the overall health of the process. Our preparation goal is to help you maximize value with one eye on the finish line at all times. The following is a list of preparation task that are all included in our engagement with your company when you retain Trinity:

• Complete Financial Recast - we know that the tax returns of a small business owner are typically the worse indicator of how well the business is actually performing. A full and complete recast of the financial statements, including normalized and discretionary adjustments, are the only real way to determine the economic reality in your business.

• Certified Appraisal - Once the recast has been performed, we order a Certified Appraisal. Don't be fooled. Anyone can purchase valuation software for $100. Valuation software can produce a myriad of values depending on the software, inputs, weighting, risk analysis and an in-depth view of value drivers. A professional team of CPA's that have performed 1000's of commercial appraisals will help you determine the true fair market value of your business and provide transaction justification to back up findings.

• Solvency and Liquidity Testing ' Solvency testing helps us determine the amount of risk a bank is willing to take to fund your transaction. Solvency testing help to avoid devastating surprises near the finish line. Brokers routinely have cases fall apart before closing due to the lack of attention to solvency issues. Don't let that happen to your transaction. Liquidity testing helps to determine what an owner carried note could be sold for in the open market. By testing these two factors, it helps us determine how much flexibility we have in structuring and negotiating the sale. This also helps us determine how to position the business for sale.

• Tax Analysis- One of the key elements in distinguishing us from the pack is our "Advance Tax Planning" component. The analysis helps us determine what the tax implications might be from the sale of your business and how to plan the transaction structure to address and minimize tax implications. The tax savings derived from proper structuring, alone, could pay our success fee. Trinity engages the premier transaction CPA firm in the country to assist you. If we are going to negotiate a higher value for you, we want you to keep it, not the IRS.

• Confidential Business Review - This is not your typical 1-2 page document full of local colloquialism and fragmented sentences that is produced by most brokers. This is a complete review of your business designed to position your business to sell. The review includes historical data, demographics, marketing area, industry information, description of equipment, facilities, management, personnel, operations, M&A considerations (for Businesses $1.0mm+) and photos.

Positioning
"Positioning" your business properly is critical to attract the right type of investors. Why do we routinely sell businesses for almost double the amount over rival brokerages? We understand the different buyer groups that currently exist in the marketplace and focus on placing your business in the right environment to attract those entities. Then we package your business accordingly.

Marketing
Getting the message out to your target audience is essential. Depending upon the positioning of the business, we then aim your business towards the right type of buyer groups for maximum exposure in a confidential manner. Our marketing also involves networking with other brokers, buyers, private equity placement, print media and internet saturation.

Screening and Interviewing
If you had time to meet with every "Tire Kicker," you wouldn't need us. We screen and interview every buyer/investor for matching criteria with your business. No Owner wants to waste time with investors who are financially unable to consummate a deal or incapable of running your business, so proper screening becomes essential in this process.

Additionally, during the screening process all buyers are required to execute a confidentiality agreement with Trinity and our clients. Business owners can not afford for their employees, suppliers, or customers to learn about their intent to sell. When you meet a potential investor they will have undergone 3 stages of screening for confidentiality and investor qualifications.

Negotiating and Structuring
The most common mistake business brokers make, in completing a deal, is the inability to understanding the primary factor in determining whether a business transaction will make it to the finish line; structuring and negotiating. Many brokers default to one strategy for getting the business sold; lowering the price. There is no need to compromise price and value to sell your business.

We get results. The structural implications of a transaction are every bit as important as the price. Unlike other firms that try to "low ball" your business, we negotiate contracts and structure compensation schedules to get our clients top dollar. In an attempt to meet the objective of the client we are especially adept at negotiating value into consulting agreements, non-compete covenants, royalty agreements, and other compensation schedules.

Ultimately, you should not hire a broker to simply introduce you to buyers, you should hire a transaction team to get your deal to the finish line.

We are so confident in our service, we are the only firm to put a performance guarantee in writing.

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