Ratios or key performance indicators are used to measure key business activities so you can tell whether the business is heading in the direction you had planned. 

When you start a business you may be able to manage the business effectively by taking control of everything the business does.  As the business grows however, this becomes a very ineffective way of managing.  

Sometimes decisions are made with respect to the succession of a business without clarifying the goals of the key stakeholders.  These decisions can ultimately work against the true goals once they are established. 

One very important aspect of planning for the exit from your business is to put a plan in place that will increase the odds that you, the business owner, and your spouse will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement.  

We all hope we can leave our business at a point in time we are ready to leave, we can transfer or sell the business to whom we want, and it occurs at a value that is consistent with our wealth objectives.  Unfortunately it doesn’t always happen this way.   

More than 80% of business owners believe that the money they receive from the sale of their businesses is very or somewhat important in meeting their financial retirement goals.  The sad reality is that when most small to medium sized businesses are sold, money is left on the table.  

As a business owner, you are accustomed to, and perhaps even thrive upon, solving today’s pressing and pushing on tomorrow. But have you looked beyond this week, this month, or even this year?

When’s this economy ever going to break? Two years after the recession was officially announced to be over, the question still painfully lingers for many small and medium-sized businesses. The question I am often asked is, “What steps should I be taking?”

Peu de gens peuvent constater l'étonnante activité qui frappe depuis peu le marché des fusions et acquisitions.

Plusieurs sociétés, qui avaient imposé un moratoire sur l'activité de F&A en raison de la turbulence économique des dernières années, refont surface en cette période de calme relatif de lente reprise de l'économie.

Few can appreciate how surprisingly busy the market for mergers and acquisitions has recently become. Many companies, who put a moratorium on M&A activity as a result of the economic turbulence over the last several years, have re-surfaced during this period of relative calm with the slow recovery of the economy. 

Tax planning should be part of a holistic, coordinated strategy Individuals with significant assets encounter many obstacles before they can fully enjoy, grow and retain their wealth. At the same time, there are many opportunities to help avoid and get around the various obstacles and landmines for those prudent enough to take the proper precautions. It all comes down to advance planning.

The first quarter of 2011 has come and gone!  We have seen a noticeable uptick in deal flow and deal quality at the end of Q1 and into Q2. The owners that we have spoken to seem to be relatively happy with their 2010 results, current business momentum, and the 2011 outlook. In particular, with these economic tailwinds, buyers are once again active and are eager to buy.  Are you ready to sell?

Le premier trimestre 2011 est déjà dernière nous! Nous avons observé une hausse appréciable du nombre de transactions et de la qualité de celles-ci, à la fin du 1er trimestre et au début du deuxième. Les entrepreneurs contactés semblent relativement heureux de leurs résultats de 2010, du dynamisme commercial actuel et des perspectives pour 2011. Avec ce vent favorable, les acheteurs ont notamment retrouvé leur niveau d'activité et sont désireux de faire des acquisitions. Êtes-vous prêts à vendre?  

Management-by-walking-around and gut checks may help you initially, but their effectiveness diminishes as your business expands and you delegate responsibilities. As your decisions shift to strategies from tactics, you must use accurate data to make data-based choices.

Yesterday, stung by the recession, thoughts had been about protecting business assets and survival.  After a tough two years of hanging on, as a business owner, your thoughts now shouldn’t be about “hanging on” and waiting for things to change. Business owners must understand the environment they face and be prepared for the magnitude of potential political and economic changes they may face.  Growth and success is possible, but businesses should plan on an extended period of slow growth.