Time your negotiations by understanding owner psychology.
Everyone wants to talk about price in mergers and acquisitions. It’s often the number one focus of buyers and sellers…but for opposite reasons. Both are likely to say they are looking for a “good deal,” but this can have a completely different meaning depending on the perspective.
Buyers often tell me they are considering an acquisition, and if a “good deal” appears, they will buy the company. And by “good deal” they mean a cheap deal. On the other hand, sellers are usually hoping to offer their business to the highest bidder. This disconnect between buyers’ and sellers’ expectations is further emphasized when they put price as their top priority and use it to qualify a deal as good or bad. The truth is there are many nonfinancial factors to consider when you’re contemplating a purchase. The key is to understand owner psychology and what a huge part this plays in the decision to sell. Continue reading this post on AMA Playbook.
*This post was originally published on AMA Playbook. Visit David Braun’s author page to read all of his articles.
