Buyers want to buy businesses that are growing. You already know this. But, growing how fast? What is the growth rate that buyers will pay maximum value for? What growth rate is too low to command top value?

If your exit strategy is to sell your business for the maximum value, you will need to present potential buyers with a written business growth plan that presents a credible and compelling proposal for how your business will achieve and sustain the growth described in this short video.

If your business does not have a track record of working from a written, up-to-date, multi-year growth plan, buyers may pay less for it at sale. Contact us to learn more about our exit planning advice and solutions, and how we help owners create value leading up to and at exit.

How fast does your business need to grow

Confidence among CEOs has remained higher for a longer period

than at any other time in the past ten years, according to a survey of

1,541 small- to mid-sized business owners. The survey, which took

place from March 9 to March 18, 2015, provides a clear snapshot of

current economic, market and industry trends.

The Vistage Confidence Index was 105.8 in the 1st quarter of 2015,

between the 107.5 in the 4th quarter and 101.3 in the 1st quarter of

2014. The recent survey represented the eighth consecutive year-to-year

increase, a new record for the persistence of optimism. The small

1st quarter loss involved all components, although none registered a

significant decline. The stability in CEOs’ confidence stands in sharp

contrast to the slowdown in the pace of economic growth at yearend,

which has persisted into the 1st quarter of 2015. Confidence

in the underlying strength of the economy has been maintained

undiminished despite a number of factors: a harsh winter, a tightening

labor market, rising wage pressures, weakening export demand, and

a pending shift in Fed policy. To be sure, some of these trends reflect

the growing strength of the U.S. economy. Overall, firms anticipate

that the economy will continue to make substantial progress, with

a resurgence in growth as the year progresses.

What are you doing to keep your company moving forward?

Follow these links for more information:

1q15 ceo conf info graph tjk

1q15 ceo confidence report

Marketing is the second section of five strategic areas for growth in the Vistage Executive Street 2015 forecast.

From the report: “ …smarter, more well informed and resourceful consumer who is empowered with information at their fingertips”

2015 Marketing Checklist –

• Optimize your online experience.
• Use social media to build your brand’s presence and credibility with its target audience.
• Narrow your focus to reach your true target market.
• Make sure your site is mobile friendly.

So what’s in your 2015 marketing game plan?

Download the report here:

Marketing – 2015 Trend Report

Remember these steps to get better results:

1. Schedule time to read the report when you can be focused and fully present.
2. Jot down a few ideas and goals that are applicable to your company.
3. Share the report, your ideas and goals with your team.
4. Ask them how you can help them achieve the goals.
5. Hold them accountable for results.

CEO Confidence index Feb 2015

A survey of 713 small business CEOs found that optimism among small

firms has remained virtually unchanged for the past four months, and

has been at its highest level since the survey began in June 2012. The

WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index was 115.5 in the

February 2015 survey. This reading is identical to January’s reading and

nearly equal to December’s 115.0 and November’s 115.6. The steadfast

optimism indicates that small business CEOs hold a deep sense of

confidence about prospects for the U.S. economy.

The small changes in the components of the Confidence Index pale

in comparison to the stability of optimism, which remains at record

high levels. This renewed sense of confidence has not wavered despite

uneven news on the domestic and global economies. Nor has it yielded

to weather-induced losses due to the harsh winter as it did last year.

Overall, the data indicate that small businesses expect a stronger

economy, and as a consequence, a tighter labor market during the year

ahead. This will result in continue upward pressures on wages as well as

draw more idled workers into the labor force.

The Vistage 2015 forecast for growth is full of ideas, strategies and tactics to help grow your company in the year ahead.  It was released at the beginning of the year along with hundreds of other business and personal improvement lists to kick off 2015.

Can there be too many good ideas? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.  Too many ideas can confuse your focus and rob you of direction, leading to inactivity.  The New Year plethora of idea lists usually follows the same track as gym memberships – energized in January, forgotten by February.

The key to progress is continuous improvement. It needs to be focused and manageable.

So, let’s try something new. Now that we are away from the New Year noise we can explore the forecast one section at a time.

Try these steps to get better results:

• Schedule time to read the report when you can be focused and fully present.
• Jot down a few ideas and goals that are applicable to your company.
• Share the report, your ideas and goals with your team.
• Ask them how you can help them achieve the goals.
• Hold them accountable for results.

Here is the first section of five strategic areas for growth in the Vistage 2015 forecast.

Technology –

Key points:

• Embrace the Internet of things.
• Get your head in the cloud.
• Make big data a big deal.

Click the link for the full Technology report.

5 ways tech

3q2014 Vistage CEO Confidence Index TJK

3q2014 Vistage CEO confidence index infographic

Confidence among CEOs reached its highest level in two years,

finally achieving a lift-off from its favorable holding pattern in the

last three quarters. The Vistage CEO Confidence Index was 103.4 in

the 3rd quarter 2014 survey, up from 101.0 in the 2nd quarter and

97.8 in last year’s 3rd quarter, and the highest level since 105.1 was

recorded in the 1st quarter of 2012. There is no greater indication

of confidence in future prospects than a firm’s willingness to

increase their fixed investment spending and to expand their

workforce. On both counts, firms reported the most expansive

plans since 2006.