• Resources that will help you test your business concept against the current market place.
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  • The nine major steps in starting a new business.
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  • Resources to help your business grow and expand.
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  • Tips and tools to help your business stay successful.
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  • Options for when you've reached your business goals and are ready to move on.
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Find a valuation for your business

No matter how you’re planning to get out - whether going public or selling or passing the reins - your first step should be to prepare a valuation of your business. Finding out how much your company is worth is integral to your exit.

No matter how you’re planning to get out - whether going public or selling or passing the reins - your first step should be to prepare a valuation of your business. Finding out how much your company is worth is integral to your exit.


Business Valuation Calculator   
Create a possible market value for your business today with this Dinkytown Business Valuation Calculator. Just enter some basic financials to find your Net Present Value (NPV).

Business Valuation Formulas   
This site from the Business Owner’s Toolkit provides an introduction to the various methods employed in valuing a business. While it won’t directly help you come up with a sale price it will describe how valuation methods vary based upon their focus.

Inc.com Valuation Guide   
This valuation guide organizes businesses that have been recently sold into industry sectors and gives information on annual sales and average business sale price. Tip: This seems to work best when one Searches by Sector. Doing so will give both an annual sales figure and a sale amount so you can start to compute a ratio.

Go public

Going public involves selling shares of your company to public stockholders. Find resources here to help you stay on top of filing requirements, registrations, and everything else you need to know if you decide to go public.

Going public involves selling shares of your company to public stockholders. Find resources here to help you stay on top of filing requirements, registrations, and everything else you need to know if you decide to go public.


How-To Guide: IPOs   
The IPO process can be a bit daunting without some sound advice. Learn the basics with this collection of articles from the small business team at Inc Magazine.

IPO Scorecard   
The Hoover’s IPO Scorecard tracks recent public offerings. Find the value and number of IPOs in the last quarter, or in a particular industry. Keep track of average prices and the top performing recent IPOs, too.

SEC for Small Business   
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) monitors publicly traded companies. This site offers information on SEC rules and regulations about going public, and provides guidance to small business. If you’re thinking about taking on public shareholders, check out this site.

Succession planning

If done properly, transferring your business to a friend or family-member can make for an easy transition. Find all you need to know about succession planning here.

If done properly, transferring your business to a friend or family-member can make for an easy transition. Find all you need to know about succession planning here.


Succession Planning from Entrepreneur.com   
This collection of articles is designed to help a small businessperson think about, strategize, and follow through on succession planning.

Sell your business

Selling your business can help provide a clean break and get you a financial payout for all your hard work. Find the best places to list the sale of your business here.

Selling your business can help provide a clean break and get you a financial payout for all your hard work. Find the best places to list the sale of your business here.


BizBuySell   
Search for business opportunities, businesses for sale, of all types and sizes. Also featured at Inc. and WSJ Startup Journal Web sites. Under "Sell your biz" and "Buy a biz," find a free business valuation calculator, information about valuing and appraising a business, financing a purchase, and more.

BizBuySell Business Valuation - Seller Resources   
Segment of BizBuySell site on selling your business.

Selling Your Business   
This guide from the Business Owner’s Toolkit will walk you through the major issues to be considered if you’re thinking about selling your business. Learn more about finding a buyer, structuring the deal, and how to deal with typical financial issues.

Transferring Ownership from the SBA   
Use these resources from the Small Business Administration to plan for tax and management issues when transferring ownership of your business.

Keeping it in the Family

Is your successor also your heir? Family businesses have their own issues. These sites will help you address them.

Is your successor also your heir? Family businesses have their own issues. These sites will help you address them.


Family Business Center at UMASS Amherst   
Every family business is unique, facing specific organizational and personal challenges. The FBC has free articles, an advice column, forums, and presentations.

Family Business Magazine   
While much of the content isn't available online, selected features are--as are lists such as the oldest & largest family -owned companies.

Family Business Network   
The Family Business Network is run by family businesses, for family businesses, with the aim of strengthening success over generations. It strives to share best practice and knowledge; support the next generation of business-owning families; and promote family business to policymakers.

Family Business Quarterly   
This quarterly publication of Northeastern University's Center for Family Business combines center news with practical, advisory articles geared toward the family business owner. Topics range from legal and regulatory issues to conflict avoidance and much more. Whole issues are presented in PDF format, with no search engine to locate articles on specific topics. However, each PDF issue has a table of contents.

Family Business Wiki   
An online community and forum for family businesses. Read blog posts, asks questions in the forum, or attend networking events.

Family Firm Institute   
Family enterprises play a leading role in the social and economic wealth creation of communities and countries. FFI is the leader for professional education and academic research in a field that is a driving force in the global economy.