Whether you are looking to remain an active part of your startup once it is acquired or you are planning on completely handing it over, there are some considerations you should keep in mind when it comes to business deals. You aren’t just only thinking of yourself and your company, but also the people you’re working with, the state of your business once you leave, and how your employees will take the news.
Here are some things you might want to keep in mind when handing over your business.
You need a place to do business
You’re going to need a place to conduct your business and your contract lifecycle management where you know it will be safe and easy for everyone to access. This can be especially true when you’re conducting these deals remotely and you want to make sure everyone is on the same page. You will want to do some research into which options would be best for you and if your partners have any preferences.
Know your terms
Before you go into your most important meetings, you’re going to want to know what you want to get out of your business deal. You will be in a much better place to negotiate when you take some time to think about your main goals when going through with a merger or acquisition instead of finishing the deal and finding out that you are missing the main perks you wanted from the beginning. Be willing to compromise, but also know that it’s important for you to state what you want going into a business deal so the other party can meet your expectations.
Have a transition plan
You should have a clear idea of how you are going to hand over important files, address your employees, and the timeline for when things will change so you can make things run as smoothly as possible. One of the biggest problems people run into during a merger or acquisition is knowing when things will get back up and running normally again. When you have a transition plan, you are more likely start seeing your company run well under new management and with new owners than before.
Know your role
If you have been with your company from the beginning, you might want to think about how involved you want to be moving forward with your business. Do you still want to be able to manage the vision of your company, or do you want to be able to hand it over to someone new? Which values do you think the business should keep, and which do you think are less of a priority? Knowing your role moving forward can help to shape negotiations and how you approach this new business deal.
In summary
Running a startup can be a challenge—even when you reach the point when it might become acquired. With these tips in mind, you’re much more likely to be happy with the deal you agree to with your new business partners.