The sale/takeover of a business: surround yourself with the right people
Have you identified a business (company or business assets) to take over? Are you an entrepreneur wanting to sell your business?
Most often, the natural reflex is to contact your (chartered) accountant. This is an appropriate step for the first stage but afterwards you will need other experts to support you: lawyers for the many legal aspects, valuation experts, real estate experts if there are properties, etc.
In Brussels, there are structures dedicated to the transfer of businesses that can support sellers as well as buyers or even both seller and buyer. These structures provide (free) experts in the field to support you with the legal, economic, negotiation, etc. aspects. Discover the specific features of each of these structures below and get in touch with the ones that could be right for you!
Reload Yourself
For whom?
Reload Yourself supports both buyer and seller, just buyers or sellers alone (whatever the stage of their project), and sellers wishing to transfer to their workers.
The targeted businesses are small businesses (fewer than 50 FTEs) and the self-employed.
How does the support work?
Reload Yourself is a cooperative for the acquisition of activities. Within the framework of this cooperative, the buyer and seller plan the transfer and the post-takeover development.
The proposed support is tailor-made and can last up to 24 months. Depending on the situation, Reload Yourself supports you in every phase of the transfer, namely:
- in the project preparation phase (valuation, memorandum, financial package, business plan, etc.)
- during the negotiation process and for legal formalities (legal documents, psychological preparation for the sale, etc.)
- during the transition and development phases (governance, development strategy, etc.)
All the necessary expertise (financial, governance, legal) is provided.
In addition, the buyer gets the following advantages: a status adapted to their own situation (for example, the possibility of retaining the status of job-seeker during a test period), a financial and administrative service, the possibility of a partial and temporary buyout of the company by Reload Yourself.
Contact : info@reloadyourself.be - www.reloadyourself.be
Maison du repreneuriat - Families in Business Chair (ICHEC)
For whom?
The Maison du Repreneuriat offers a cycle of training and support for both sellers and buyers of family or non-family businesses.
Particular attention is paid to small companies that have less access to these services (free of charge the first year).
How does the support work?
The Maison du Repreneuriat answers the specific questions of sellers and buyers through collective and/or individual support.
- Collective support is aimed at both seller and buyer, but also at all the family members in the case of a family transfer (spouse, children) and, if necessary, the co-workers (employees, workers).
- Individual support takes place in parallel and allows the seller or buyer to share their experience with authenticity.
The focus is on the human aspects in order to avoid and above all anticipate conflicts and unspoken words that may arise during a transfer. A real climate of trust is established between the seller/buyer and the coaches. The support is tailor-made, so it can be one-off or spread over several years.
How does the training cycle work?
The experts will address all the topics necessary for a transfer or takeover during the training cycle, in the form of videos, face-to-face sessions or remote exercises.
- This cycle will cover topics such as self-awareness, collaboration, negotiation, legal and tax aspects, etc.
- There are a total of 12 modules that can be taken à la carte according to your expectations and are free of charge the first year!
Contact : family@ichec.be - Family in Business Chair
Unizo
For whom?
The support programme set up by UNIZO is aimed at entrepreneurs wanting to sell their very small enterprise (VSE).
How does the support work?
The support is in the form of customised advice and begins with an individual interview during which the expectations and needs of the seller are defined.
The follow-up takes place in three steps:
- preparation of the transfer: an expert guides you through the basic analysis of the marketing possibilities for your company.
- a valuation is then carried out using different tools. The valuation takes into account the annual accounts, tax returns and the prospects for the business in its sector.
- lastly, Unizo helps you to publish your ad free of charge on their transfer platform so that potential buyers can contact you directly.
Contact : guido.seghers@overnamemarkt.be - https://www.plateformedetransmission.be/fr/conseils-sur-mesure
Local Economy Office (LEO)
For whom?
Any buyer wanting general support.
How does the support work?
Transfer support is à la carte support. The LEO makes a diagnosis during an initial interview. Afterwards, individual meetings will be offered every three weeks (the time frame can be shorter if you are in a hurry - it often happens with transfers that the windows of opportunity are very short).
In practical terms, the LEO helps you to draw up a business and financial plan, check the required certificates and authorisations, the choice of legal form, and guides you towards forms of financing.
The LEO does not assist you in the following areas: drafting the transfer agreement, creating the business presentation file, inventory of the business, valuing the business.
The available support is generalist. The LEO has an economic role which is to consider with the entrepreneur the feasibility of the project and its financing.
Contact : info@gelbru.be – www.dansaert.com
BECI - Transfer HUB
For whom?
BECI's Transfer HUB supports all types of activities and companies with business takeover projects.
How does the support work?
BECI helps entrepreneurs to see their project clearly (sufficient financial basis, takeover in any event, etc.).
BECI has also created a business valuation tool. This tool is of course only a basis for discussion between the seller and the buyer. It does not allow you to proceed alone with the transfer because you will need to add to this valuation notions that are not material. These figures will be challenged by experts.
Contact : https://www.beci.be/service/transmettre/
Business transfer consultants
Using business transfer consultants/experts is advisable, particularly when you have an SME of a certain size, would like more specific support or want to benefit from the network of the consultants in question.
The portals below list experts for business transfers. Please note that this list is purely indicative and not exhaustive:
There are also premiums for the use of these experts (consultancy aid, company takeover, purchase of a business).
