BizBuySell.com, the Internet's largest business for sale marketplace, recently released a new report on business sale times, which found that small businesses are selling faster than ever in today's market. The data offers a new perspective for analyzing trends in the small business market. BizBuySell.com reviewed its database of businesses sold from 2007 to 2Q 2015 and analyzed the median length of sale, which is based on the time a business is listed for sale on BizBuySell.com to the date it is reported as sold.
According to the report, the median business sale time declined 23% from its peak of 200 days in Q2 2012 to just 153 days in 2Q of 2015 - the lowest of any quarter since BizBuySell.com first began tracking sales data in 2007. While there was the usual seasonal increase in sale times in Q1 2015 (likely due to carryover from the holidays each year), the overall trend over the last three years is clearly downward.
"While it's likely a combination of factors that are driving faster business sale times, the steadily improving economy and an overall growth of buyers on the market has undoubtedly played a key role," Bob House, Group General Manager of BizBuySell.com and BizQuest.com, said.
Sunset Business Advisors' experience has been the same as BizBuySell's reports. We have recently been experiencing record sales here along the Gulf Coast. This has been great news especially since 2008 through the beginning of 2013 were some tough tough times due to the recession and the BP oil spill that played a significant impact in the downturn of our local economy
BizBuySell.com reports that overall, the data of small businesses sold from 2007 through 2Q 2015 revealed that business sale times often parallel broader changes in the economy, and offers useful insight into the current and future state of small business transactions.
With recent surveys of buyers, sellers and business brokers pointing to an increase in the number of Baby Boomers supplying quality listings and younger buyers ready to pull the trigger on business ownership plans of their own, it's likely the sales timeline remain short. "The shorter sales cycle should hold, if not drop even further, through the rest of 2015" House said. "There have been few social or economic fluctuations that would indicate otherwise. For sellers anxious to exit their small businesses and move on to the next chapter of their life, or buyers itching for a new opportunity, there's no better time than the present."
According to the report, the median business sale time declined 23% from its peak of 200 days in Q2 2012 to just 153 days in 2Q of 2015 - the lowest of any quarter since BizBuySell.com first began tracking sales data in 2007. While there was the usual seasonal increase in sale times in Q1 2015 (likely due to carryover from the holidays each year), the overall trend over the last three years is clearly downward.
"While it's likely a combination of factors that are driving faster business sale times, the steadily improving economy and an overall growth of buyers on the market has undoubtedly played a key role," Bob House, Group General Manager of BizBuySell.com and BizQuest.com, said.
Sunset Business Advisors' experience has been the same as BizBuySell's reports. We have recently been experiencing record sales here along the Gulf Coast. This has been great news especially since 2008 through the beginning of 2013 were some tough tough times due to the recession and the BP oil spill that played a significant impact in the downturn of our local economy
BizBuySell.com reports that overall, the data of small businesses sold from 2007 through 2Q 2015 revealed that business sale times often parallel broader changes in the economy, and offers useful insight into the current and future state of small business transactions.
With recent surveys of buyers, sellers and business brokers pointing to an increase in the number of Baby Boomers supplying quality listings and younger buyers ready to pull the trigger on business ownership plans of their own, it's likely the sales timeline remain short. "The shorter sales cycle should hold, if not drop even further, through the rest of 2015" House said. "There have been few social or economic fluctuations that would indicate otherwise. For sellers anxious to exit their small businesses and move on to the next chapter of their life, or buyers itching for a new opportunity, there's no better time than the present."