Key Performance Indicators and Valuation Enhancement
When the goals are to improve performance or enterprise value Key Performance Indicators, or KPI’s, are one of the first places to look.
How do owners measure progress? Besides the big 3 indicators of revenue, profit and cash flow, one should look at how the departmental goals contribute and are connected to the big 3. The key here is that “What gets measured gets improved”.
When developing KPI’s, they need to be to be closely related to the primary activities which drive revenue, profit and cash flow. They should also be easily reportable and objective.
For revenue, most companies will look at how many customers they get, or new sales for the week. The challenge is that these are not activity-based indicators. My recommendation is usually built around the sales activities. Sales rep calls per day or meetings per week would work better as these are controllable activities. These are easily measurable and can be influenced quickly. They also help focus the coaching between the manager and the sales rep.
Operational KPI’s are the profit drivers besides price. Businesses need to get to the core operational drivers of cost. For a service company, it is usually the productivity of the staff. A cleaning service or landscape service would have expected total hours per job. How did the company perform against expected productivity? For a manufacturing company, labor is important, but we will also give the use of raw product a close review. How much waste is there in rework, failed testing of product, recalls, complaints. Indicators and tracking in this area are critical.
Good cash flow is critical to the success of any company. Days cash on hand, days sales outstanding, and inventory turns are all great KPI’s to review. Depending on your business, you may only need to track 1 or 2. Day’s cash on hand is an indicator of how long you can go without getting paid. This was severely tested in 2020 with the Covid shut downs. The old benchmark was 2:1 – twice as much cash as current expenses. I believe this will go up for some businesses going forward. Day’s sales outstanding – DSO – for a business which does not collect full payment at the time of service – this is a critical number. In the medical world, this is the biggest measure besides productivity. Nothing steals your breath faster than when your DSO goes up by 10 days. The third is Inventory turns. Each business which sells product, should evaluate inventory turns. Inventory is cash on the shelf. Check this against industry standards and work with your vendors to improve this.
If a company does not have Key Performance Indicators for their sales, operations and cash flow management, then the owner and management likely do not know the true efficiency of their company. This limits the efficiency, profitability and value of the business.
About the Author
Mark Fiorini is the Value Enhancement expert at ValueCap, Inc. He has 30 years’ experience in developing and improving all types of businesses.
Copyright: ValueCap Inc.
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The Top Ten Ways to Avoid Wrecking a Deal
Finalizing a deal is usually a complex process, and there is a good deal of room for error, misunderstandings, miscalculations, and good old-fashioned wild cards. That is why it is critical to carefully think through the deal process well in advance. In this article, we’re going to explore the top ten steps you can take to avoid wrecking a good deal.
- Confidentiality – At the top of our “how not to wreck a deal list” is confidentiality. It is vital that everyone involved in the deal takes steps to avoid a breach. Experienced business brokers are experts at maintaining confidentiality.
- Flexibility – The second tip on our list is to be flexible. A lack of flexibility can absolutely destroy a deal. You shouldn’t go into a deal expecting to have all of your terms met.
- Be Open to Negotiations – Just as it is critical to be flexible, it is also important to embrace the concept of negotiation. Sellers are used to being their own bosses, but when it comes to successfully selling a business, no factor is quite as important as a willingness to negotiate.
- Advance Preparation – Next on our list of musts to avoid wrecking a deal is to prepare for the sale well in advance. Sellers will want to make sure that they have several years of records as well as legal and accounting documentation ready and well-prepared. You can be 100% certain that any serious buyer will want to see your records and take a look at your financials.
- A Reasonable Selling Price – An inflated price will decrease the number of buyers that take a serious look at a business. Additionally, an unreasonable price may make a seller look uninformed. Business brokers and M&A advisors are experts at handling valuations. One of the single best ways to boost your chances of finalizing a sale is to establish a fair and justifiable price for your business.
- Maintain Operations – Far too often sellers lose track of the day-to-day operations once their business goes on the market. It is absolutely vital that sellers continue operating their business as though it may never sell. The bottom line is that it can take months, or even years to sell. The last thing any seller wants is for their business to lose value when they are in the process of trying to sell.
- Keep up the Momentum – A lack of momentum can kill a deal. Working with a business broker or M&A advisor is an easy way to make sure you maintain momentum throughout the process.
- Consider Your Buyer’s Needs – Serious buyers will need a variety of information from sellers in order to obtain financing. You can expect buyers to need appraisals of assets, information on environmental regulations, and more. Sellers should have this kind of key information ready and waiting.
- Encourage Competition – Another great way to avoid wrecking a deal is to achieve leverage via buyer competition. In general, it is a good idea to create a competitive situation – one in which prospective buyers know that there is more than one interested party. Brokerage industry professionals understand the delicacies of presenting this information.
- Seller Participation – Finally, sellers must stay involved in the entire process, and that includes being willing to assist during the transition. Showing a willingness to help during the transition period will help to foster goodwill and trust.
There are many reasons why a deal could potentially fall apart. You may not be able to control every single variable, but by following the ten key tips outlined in this article, you will be well on your way to increasing your chances of successfully completing a deal.
What Your Business Is Worth and Why It Matters! Webinar 4/14/2021
If you think your business is worth $2 million just because your annual revenue is $2 million, you are wrong. This is the most important asset you own and you need to understand its value.
If you plan to use the value of your business to:
- Reinvest to grow
- Buy another business
- Send your kids to college
- Cash it out so you can retire
You need to watch this webinar!
Our panel of experts included:
- Dean LoBrutto – M&A Broker
- Brian McIntyre – Business Certified Appraiser
- Bruce Carrow – Exit Planning Advisor
- Mark Fiorini – Business Coach
Watch this fast-paced webinar and learn:
- Interesting Statistics
- Roadblocks to Overcome
- Valuation Basics
- Mistakes to Avoid
- Why Valuation Matters
There was a Q&A session with the panel at the end of the presentation.
To view the the Video from the Webinar, please submit the form below
“Hello” is a Key Part of Making the Right First Impression
Just as people will form judgments and ideas about you as a person based on first impressions, the same holds true for your company. It is always best to put your “best foot forward,” and this is true whether we’re talking about your personal life or business. Periodically, it is prudent for every company to step back and evaluate its initial point of communication with customers and clients.
In today’s digitally interconnected world, it is critical that customers and clients feel as though they are not just being listened to; they really want to be heard. Emails must be responded to promptly. This is true regardless of whether the email is from a customer requesting more information about your goods or services, or if it’s a message with a question or complaint. If your company is unresponsive, this fact can quickly spread on social media.
Of course, customers and clients still pick up their phones and make calls. While many people’s first impressions of your business are increasingly likely to be via your website, there is no denying the importance of the phone call experience. When callers reach your business, it is vital that they receive a professional and warm reception. Whether the point of contact is a live person or a message, the experience should be a trouble-free and low stress experience.
Far too many businesses overlook this variable, but you can be quite certain that not all of their competitors are doing so. If you have a navigation system, it should be easy to navigate. If possible, there should be an option to talk to an operator so that callers don’t get lost within a labyrinthian phone maze filled with dead ends. Callers might not remember a positive phone experience, but you can bet that they will remember a stressful one.
When a team member greets a caller, the response should be pleasant and should include some version of “How may I help you?” Every operator should know company basics, such as your times of operation and the key names of your personnel. They should also demonstrate a willingness to help. Your team members should understand that their job depends on the success of the company and that they are on the frontlines of maintaining a positive business-customer relationship. Professionalism is a must, and team members should never lose sight of this fact.
Finally, your key management executives should invest the time to experience your company’s sphere of communication. What is it like to call your company and interact with team members? What improvements could be made?
In this very digital era, it is important to remember that there is still no replacement for human interaction. When a caller reaches out to your company for information or assistance, it is best to use technology judiciously. Try to opt for the human touch when possible. While the person answering the phones at your business might not be the highest paid person on your payroll, always remember that their job is an essential part of your company’s image.
Can Sellers Use Buyer Warning Signs to Their Advantage?
When buyers are looking to make a purchase, the most important step they can take is to perform due diligence on both the business and the seller. Yet, it is important to note that a large percentage of sellers fail to do their due diligence on buyers.
Deals fail all the time. Sadly, this means that all parties lose a tremendous amount of time and effort. Additionally, sellers not only waste time, but often lose money due to business disruptions during the process of working with a prospective buyer.
Let’s dive in and look at a few warning signs that you should look for when dealing with a buyer. The sooner you spot these red flags, the sooner you can avoid potential problems.
There are several key questions that sellers should ask. The list includes:
-What, if any, other businesses have you considered to date?
-How much equity will you be committing?
-Do you have any experience with my kind of business?
It is important to look for warning signs early on, as this is the way that sellers can avoid wasting considerable time. It should also be noted that sellers shouldn’t be afraid to listen to their gut instincts. If you feel that a prospective buyer isn’t serious and may only be window shopping (or if you feel that the buyer is looking for a far greater deal than you are willing to provide), then simply move on. When you cut your losses early on, this can free you up to focus on prospective buyers that are a better fit.
What if your intermediary informs you that there has been no communication from the prospective buyer after they received the memorandum? Simply stated, this lack of communication could mean that the prospective buyer has changed his or her mind, or was never that serious in the first place.
Another red flag you might see is when the process is turned over to a junior member of the prospective buyer’s management team. In other cases, the prospect may fail to provide details or information concerning their financial capability to successfully complete the deal. If any of these three red flags pop up, you should consider being proactive. You and your broker might want to reach out to the prospective buyer and ask to meet to discuss the situation.
Warning signs can also occur just prior to closing. Even after the letter of intent has been signed, there is still room for problems to arise. An inexperienced attorney representing the buyer, one that simply doesn’t understand what is involved in a deal, can spell doom for what could have otherwise been a good deal. The same is true for an over aggressive attorney. One potential remedy for this situation is for your own attorney to intervene and discuss the situation.
Spotting warning signs is about more than not wasting everyone’s time. When you can observe these indicators and act effectively to address them, it can help keep deals on track. Working with a business broker or M&A advisor is an excellent way to not only spot red flags, but also to know how to respond appropriately. The end result will be more successfully completed deals.
The Transformative Benefits of the Entrepreneurial Operating System®
Damon Neth is a Professional EOS Implementer
of the Entrepreneurial Operating System®. He co-authored a best-selling book entitled X-Formation: Transforming Business Through Interim Executive Leadership. He also has founded five companies and acquired four other companies. Additionally, Damon Neth is an accomplished entrepreneur and a leading EOS® business coach.
EOS® is a powerful set of business tools that provide a framework that empowers companies to create a clear vision throughout their entire organization, and in the process, boost the health of the company as a whole. This article discusses EOS® and how it could potentially transform your organization.
What is EOS® All About?
EOS® is based on the book Traction: Getting a Grip on Your Business, which is written by Gino Wickman. The effectiveness of EOS® is underscored by the fact that EOS® is currently utilized by over 10,000 companies around the globe.
EOS® is a powerful set of tools that, as Neth explained, “are being used by businesses every single day to grow, transform and capitalize on opportunity and deal with problems. These tools provide strategic advantages and strategic tools that many organizations implement to become better, to beat their competition, to become stronger.”
How Can EOS® Benefit Your Company?
Through EOS®, it is possible to establish a clear vision for your organization. Neth points out that cultivating this vision is about finding clarity of purpose so that every team member is pulling in the same direction. When used from the top to the bottom of a company, the tools provided by EOS® can have a transformative effect. Discipline and accountability are key focal points of EOS®, as it is through discipline and accountability that the health of companies can be enhanced greatly.
At the core of EOS® is the concept that everyone should share the same company vision. That means that there must be good, consistent and steady communication. In order to facilitate this level of communication and understanding, it is necessary to have a transparent system in order to remove barriers, blockers and impurities. When properly utilized, EOS® creates an opportunity through which everyone can not only identify their own issues, but also find ways to solve those issues.
Managing People
The most important asset that any company has is its people. As a result, it is absolutely essential to not only find the right people, but also to guide those people as efficiently and effectively as possible. As Neth explained, “You’ve got to be clear and transparent with people about what you need and about what success ultimately looks like. You want to make certain that everyone in the organization understands their job.”
In a world that is becoming increasingly complex, the role of the generalist is quickly being eroded. In its place, we discover that people’s roles within companies are, by necessity, becoming more and more specific. All of this points to the increasing importance of clarifying people’s roles within companies, and what is expected of them. Gray areas need to be eliminated as they impair team members’ understanding of their duties and responsibilities.
Communication is Key
Everyone in the organization should understand not only the role of their respective department, but also their role within that department and the organization as a whole. Once again, the key to success boils down to good communication and clarity of purpose and roles within the organization. Everyone must be rowing in the same direction, and it is through weekly measurables that true progress can take place.