“When making dough is more important than making a deal, things are bound to go awry.”

The Pizza-Making Priority: When Selling a Business Goes Wrong

It’s not every day you find yourself in a restaurant at 5 a.m., hoping to seal the deal of a lifetime. But that’s exactly where Pedro found himself, guided by his trusty broker, ready to negotiate the purchase of a charming little eatery. The stage was set—except the seller seemed more interested in perfecting his pizza dough than closing the deal.

After a two-hour drive, Pedro and his broker arrived bright and early, only to be greeted by a locked door and a missing seller. Twenty-five minutes later, the seller finally appeared, grumbled a “sit down,” and promptly disappeared into the kitchen to fire up the pizza oven. When he returned, he didn’t so much as glance at the eager buyer and broker, instead opting to channel his inner pizzaiolo. And when Pedro asked about the restaurant’s financials, the seller’s answers were as flimsy as uncooked dough. Unsurprisingly, Pedro left in a huff, deciding that this wasn’t the kind of business he wanted to buy—chaos included.

Seller Slip-Ups: Why This Sale Went South

1. Pizza Over Pesos: The seller’s first mistake? Prioritizing pizza over the pesos he could have earned by actually engaging in the meeting. When making dough is more important than making a deal, things are bound to go awry.

2. Tardiness Trouble: Being late to a meeting you scheduled yourself? That’s a classic sign of misplaced priorities. Half the sellers out there seem to think they’ve got more important things to do than show up on time—and it shows.

3. Unprepared and Unprofessional: Sellers often skip the crucial step of business prep. They can’t answer basic questions, leaving buyers frustrated and unimpressed.

4. Brokers AWOL: The seller’s broker was conspicuously absent, which is a huge no-no. A broker should be there to handle the heavy lifting, answer questions, and counter any sneaky tactics from the buyer’s side.

How to Avoid Scaring Off a Good Investor:

• Punctuality is Politeness: Show up on time to prove that you value the meeting.

• Prioritize the Deal: Remember, the buyer is there to give you money. Act like it matters.

• Prepare to Impress: Know your business inside out so you can answer any questions thrown your way.

• Broker in the Room: Ensure your broker is present during negotiations to keep things on track.

For more questions about buying a business call us +1 (561) 867-7697