Have you tried to sell your business through classified ads in the newspaper or on other web sites? You have no doubt experienced the frustration of dealing with unqualified and ill-prepared prospects.
Most prospects are just looking. Others are "thinking about" going into business "someday". Consultants estimate that over 90% of the people who respond to "business for sale" ads never actually buy anything! If you have had your business on the market for any time at all, you've probably already dealt with your fair share of these "tyre kickers".
And when you use newspaper classifieds to advertise your business for sale, you put these very same unqualified buyers in control. These "buyers" have your name and your phone number or e-mail address. Anybody with a newspaper can call you on the phone and waste your time - even if they have bad credit, no down payment and no plans to buy a business now.
Or, if you advertise your business on other web sites, you may get a mailbox to which prospects can anonymously e-mail you for more information. But they are all responses from people who you know nothing about.
More often than not, the messages you get from these people are nothing more than, "Send me more detailed information about your business."
They want to know everything about you while telling you nothing about them - you'll be lucky if you get their full name - and you can forget about getting a phone number.
How much time can you afford to spend replying to these blind leads hoping for a legitimate buyer?
