Selling Now vs. Waiting for the "Perfect" Year
Every owner thinks this. Here's an honest look at when waiting makes sense and when it doesn't.
The thought goes something like this: \"One more good year and I'll be in a much better position to sell.\"
Sometimes that's true. Often it isn't. Here's how to think through it.
When Waiting Makes Sense
Revenue is currently depressed for an identifiable, one-time reason (a natural disaster, a construction project blocking access, an unusual staffing disruption) and you have clear evidence recovery is underway. One more year of numbers can tell a cleaner story.
You're mid-investment in a capital improvement that will demonstrably increase bookings or pricing power. Waiting until it's complete and reflected in results can be worth it.
Your current story is complicated to tell. Simplifying that story over the next 12 months is a legitimate strategic choice.
When Waiting Doesn't Make Sense
You're healthy and motivated now but worried you might not be in two years. Sale processes are energy-intensive. The middle of a deal is not the time to be running on empty.
You're hoping for a better revenue year that may or may not materialize. That's a bet, and the cost of being wrong isn't just a lower sale price. It's another year of running the business.
Market conditions for small business acquisitions are favorable today. Interest rates, buyer availability, and financing conditions change. **Waiting isn't free.**
The 'One More Year' Trap
We've had conversations with owners who said 'one more year' three years in a row. By the fourth year, they were burned out, the business had softened a bit, and they sold for less than they would have at the start.
The mental energy required to prepare for and execute a sale is significant. It's better to start from a position of strength.
What We'd Suggest
**[Have the conversation before you're certain.]{.underline}** Understanding what your venue might be worth today, and what a realistic process looks like, is free information.
Most owners are surprised at how much clarity a single honest conversation can provide.
Stonecrest Weddings \| Charlotte, NC \| www.stonecrestweddings.com