leverage your legacy emelea plan ahead to sell your business for what it's worth business by jonathon angell jonathon angell jonathon angell executive officer of angell investments which helps owners acquire capital for growth and maximize company value owners will sell or bequeath over 12 might be your only source of income and your ensure your and your family's future financial support need safeguarding smart owners who prepare their business for sale can expect a comfortable retirement past business results by compiling revenues costs and profits for the last few years of ing practices so your financial statements audit or review the financial statements able assumptions to create a future forecast crisp financial information may also help you third party to extend credit into your marketing materials to show- case your business's unique and interesting approach to providing products or services potential buyers become interested when they see a pathway to high sales and profitability who is in a position to buy and who under- your buyer should be excited about the pros- doesn't grow or succeed with an acquired business will not pay the best price for it earn-outs-payouts occurring after the sale based on agreed-upon milestones-and to pay ers may want a large portion of the buying help bridge these two goals into one mutually to ask for help at any point along the way keep it tight think "less is more" when it comes to creating your have to fit everything your potential buyer needs to know into a one-page marketing often all the time you'll have to hook a buyer's attention before you sit down to talk an interested buyer will be as excited to hear about your business successes as you simple story in your marketing presentation.-ja