As business owners are working to process the impact of COVID-19, we’re looking at how it will affect M&A. In the short term, some companies will slow the pace of acquisitions. That’s natural in uncertain times.

But market conditions are different from our last recession. The good news is that many companies and private equity firms have been doing well for years. They have record amounts of “dry powder,” that is undeployed capital ready for investment.

What that means is that the pool of business buyers is not going to dry up. Market competition has been incredibly strong up until now, and many buyers are going to stay active — in fact, some will become more aggressive in order to capitalize on the current climate.

And with the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates to 0%, buyers may decide they simply can’t afford not to push ahead with acquisition plans. 

In the meantime, if you’re experiencing downtime in your business, consider how you can use it for growth:

• Strengthen marketing: Update your value proposition. What are your three distinct signature strengths that set you apart from the competition? Make sure this information is current on your website, marketing materials, presentation decks, etc.
• Recruit: If your business is still in a good place, use this time to seek out great talent that wasn’t available a month ago.
• Brainstorm: Plan ideation sessions with your employee team and brainstorm business development opportunities. Look for ideas that will make you successful in a normal business environment and consider how you might thrive through future pandemics.
• Document: Get your secret sauce down on paper. A business is more saleable when there’s less risk involved. And there’s less risk when all systems and procedures are documented on paper instead of squirreled away in the owner’s mind.

When it comes to selling your business, timing is important. With the longest bull market in history, we all knew there would be a correction coming. But we expected the trigger would likely be some kind of political or global conflict. No one had pandemic on their radar as the next economic crisis.

M&A markets align with business confidence. When things are normal and steady, buyers feel comfortable spending. When it’s unpredictable or volatile, that’s when people pull back. Conditions are not all doom and gloom, however, and buyers and sellers both have opportunity to emerge as winners in the months ahead.

By Scott Bushkie

Scott Bushkie is Managing Partner and Founder of Cornerstone Business Services and DealCoach.

With more than 20 years in the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) industry, Scott is a recognized leader in the field, providing exit strategies, business valuations, and M&A advisory services to business owners in the lower middle market. He has successfully executed sales to domestic and international buyers, private equity firms, family offices, and strategic buyers.

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About DealCoach

DealCoach is headquartered in Green Bay Wisconsin with an office in Milwaukee Wisconsin and helps customers find out how much their business is worth with online business valuations and advisory services. Our business valuations also known as an Estimate of Value (EOV), help prepare buyers and sellers for the sale.  DealCoach also helps business owners grow value with a Business and Market Analysis and plan for retirement, estate & financial planning, benchmarking, and strategic planning. DealCoach servers and has provided business valuations for businesses located in the United States and Canada. 

We are here to tell you what you need to hear in order to make a well-informed decision with most likely the largest financial transaction of your life. Our team has over two decades of M&A experience, and we have been completing Estimates of Value for our clients for over nine years.