Monday, July 7, 2014

What Warning Signs To Avoid Upon Purchase Of Audiology Practice

By Rosella Campbell


It is only natural for people to consider buying a business. Buying a Long Island audiology practice is the easiest way of having a company of your own. It is not as difficult to push through as when you are starting from scratch. As long as you have enough money for that, you should be able to go ahead with the business start up.

However, you should not really view this option as extremely easy. The said option is not always a bed full of roses. You have to be meticulous and come prepared for any negotiations when you are making this particular purchase. Otherwise, you might get swept up in the flow of the intimidating sales process.

When you are buying, there are some tips that you should be able to take advantage of. You have to be aware of what it is you really are buying. Of course, you also have to pay attention to where you are certainly buying them, the area of the business, the purchase deed, and many other important records for your business.

You will also have to pay attention to the warning signs that are evident in bad businesses. These warning signs, when present, will tell you that a certain business is not the best option for you. Here are some warning signs which will tell you whether the business is your best choice or if you better search for another option.

First, a business that actually shows you an inconsistent financial statement is not the best place for you to start up in. In order for you to eliminate the worry of an inconsistent financial statement, your seller should provide you with income statements, balance sheets, and tax returns that covers three years prior leading up to the sale. Compare these statements properly.

You also have to watch out when there is an abnormal or inexplicable fluctuations in its sales. While it is true that the sales will definitely fluctuate on a yearly basis because of the changes in the economy, third party payers, or any other events, there should always be an explanation for that. If it is random, then back out of the negotiations.

Hyper-growth is as worrisome as when there is a declining sales. A rapid spike in its sales is actually not a good thing, especially when it has something to do with heavy discounting without any corresponding increase in profitability as well as acquisitions. You can view this as the future growth not coming from organic means.

Too much reliance on third parties is definitely a red flag. That means that you will have to avoid those businesses that are clearly reliant on third parties. To know if a company is reliant on a third party or not, you have to figure out whether the sales actually have a high concentration of customers from a third-party source.

Poor key performance indicators or KPIs is certainly a red flag. Every company has a key performance indicator. You can include in the list the binaural rate, hearing aid return rate, cost of goods sold as a percentage of sales, and average selling price. These should not show any poor performance if you do not want to lose out in the deal.




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