Unlock Hidden Potential and Exit Your Business with Confidence
Growing a business demands grit and perseverance. But eventually, a moment arrives – you’re ready to move on. The question is how? Exiting a business is never simple, especially if you’re an owner-manager who is deeply entrenched in its operations.
It can also be hard to accept this moment, particularly when you’re keenly aware that the business still holds potential, and you have an interest in seeing what it can achieve– whether for your own satisfaction or for your employees.
As a Private Investor, this is where I come in.
I invest in businesses with owner-managers who are ready to exit but feel stuck because they haven’t found a suitable buyer and closing the business is starting to seem like their only option.
By acquiring your business, I allow you to walk away immediately – or within a time frame that works for you – and ensure your business not only continues to operate but also to thrive.
INVESTOR Profile
Name: Clayton Bennett
Location: South East, England
Focus: Exit Strategy
Status: Distressed or high growth
Is your business ready for a Private Investor?
For me, it doesn’t matter if a business is trading profitably or in a turnaround position as I have a robust background in finance, and a proven track record of transforming the financial prospects by renegotiating debt and unlocking potential.
Clayton Bennett, Private Investor
Why companies get into trouble
Getting a business off the ground takes blood, sweat and tears – and a hell of a lot of passion. But when unexpected events happen and it feels like the hits just keep coming, it can begin to feel impossible to sustain the level of stamina and drive needed to get things back on track. The truth is, businesses become unstuck for a variety of reasons.
Constant change
Technology is currently evolving at record pace, and if your competitors develop new innovations or upgrade their customer experience and you don’t, even your most loyal customers will move on.
Internal challenges
Inefficient systems and processes mean a slight change in the economic landscape could lead to increased material and delivery costs, wiping out profit making you less nimble than your competitors.
GROWING TOO FAST
Sometimes things go too well and we find we’re unable to keep up with demand and build the internal structure to handle it. Before long the cracks begin to show and we burn out, and it can feel there is no way out.
When your business is in distress it can be hard to see the path ahead – especially since your attention up until now has been on growing your business and survival. Selling your business or inviting in an investor to help transform it is a great next step.
The truth is, many companies still have plenty of potential to grow, but without a new perspective, one that can see things through fresh eyes, opportunities can be hard to spot, especially if inefficiency have built up around the business model making it hard to take action
The Opportunity
A Private Investor is someone who will either acquire your business immediately and let you walk away, or who will work with you – bringing valuable resources such as capital, expertise and perspective – to transform the business. They will either buy your business for what it is worth today, or better than that, buy the business for what it will be worth in 5 years once they’ve completed the transformation and increased its valuation.
Walking away from your business doesn’t have to mean ‘game over’ or even that you ‘failed’ – in fact there are many ways to leave a business without having to officially close its doors or let your staff go.
IMMEDIATE ACQUISITION
TRANSFORMATION
EXIT/RETIRE
The truth is, most businesses are not started by entrepreneurs, but rather by owner-managers, who, despite having earned a good living from their business, will struggle to retire or walk away from their business. For all your years of hard work, it can seem the only logical next step is to wind up the business, but with many employees depending it, some of whom have been with the company for a long time, this can feel like an impossible decision.
No matter what your situation, there is a solution. And the right solution for you might be to find a Private Investor.
how it works
Recent studies show that only 2% of businesses put on the market sell, and it takes an average of 3 years for a company to find a suitable buyer. The reason for this is that most companies are not structured correctly to achieve an outright sale, or big enough to attract an investor.
Sell on potential
With a Private Investor, you don’t sell your business for what it’s currently worth. You sell it on its future potential value i.e. what it’ll be worth once transformational work has taken place. And what’s better, you don’t have to do the work.
TRANSFORMATION
Once the sale is agreed, the Investor will take on the burden of delivering the transformation; whether that’s updating technology, streamline processes, or renegotiating finances. You’ll have the option to stay on in a consultative role, or exit the business immediately.
Tax Smart
Accepting a higher offer with deffered payments is also tax smart. Instead of paying 52% tax on the full amount, you’ll only have to pay 10% because you’re receiving the agreed sale price over 5 years.
Partnerships can be structured in a variety of ways, including carrying out the work in exchange for a stake in the business, a cash investment to transform internal processes or buy-out options that reward you once the transformation has been completed. You also have the option to buy back shares from the investor once things are running smoothly.
It is important that the right deal is found, and that it is structured to meet your needs. After all, you’re the one whose put your heart and soul into the business. It’s also important to select the right person to work with! Someone you like and feel comfortable bringing into your family, at home and work!
Could Common Cents be the right partner for you?
Clayton Bennett
Common Cents Investments
Who am I?
From my first role in finance, I have never been one to accept that status quo. I always challenge the financial position of the companies I work with and created strategies to amplify growth and untap potential.
For me, it not about how a business is doing now, but rather what it could be doing – and making it happen. It’s one thing to spot opportunities, but another thing to drive through the changes and make it happen.
This is where I excel.
I have a proven track record in raising investment, implementing expansion plans, restructuring debt, and undertaking feasibility analysis to deliver transformations.
Why me?
I don’t purchase companies for what they are worth today, I strike deals for what they will be worth five years from now once I have implemented changes.
When selecting an opportunity, I always look for what’s possible. I look at the business as it is today and at what it could be. My first step is to always ask the employees for their ideas, as who knows the business better than those closest to it?
I believe every business plays an important role in people’s lives, whether the owners, the employees, their families, the community, and every person the business touches. This is why, any changes I make, are always done with the best interests of those involved at the forefront.
I believe every business plays an important role in people’s lives, whether the owner, the employees, their families, the community, and every person the business touches. Any changes I make is always done with the best interests of those involved at the forefront.
Clayton Bennett, Common Cents UK
AREAS of Focus
Every Private Investor will have their own area of focus. Some investors like to specialise in a particular industry, buying companies of a similar type to create a bigger, more profitable company. Some will create eco-systems by buying the supply chain of a company they own. And, others will simply buy a business because they know they can use their skill set to quickly increase its valuation.
I typically invest in companies with a turnover of £500k+ per annum or above, with businesses with owner-managers who are ready to exit. They are either trading profitably or in a turnaround position, with significant untapped potential and plenty of scope to grow.
If you’re someone looking to exit your business but not sure how, I invite you to get in touch. I’ll be happy to review your business and identify its untapped value. Together, we can create a plan for how to move forward in the best interest of everyone involved.
Get in Touch
If you’re currently questioning what’s next for your business, I invite you to get in touch. I’ll be happy to perform an audit of your business to identify exactly what will be required and whether we’d be a good fit.
All conversations will be held in the utmost confidence. Together we can explore the right next step for you, your clients/customer and your family.
Clayton@Common-Cents.co.uk