Running a business can be challenging, to say the least. According to the United States Small Business Administration or SBA, roughly one in twelve small businesses close during a given year. While these numbers may be a bit disheartening, potential sellers can achieve success if they follow the right steps. Below, we’ll list a few qualities found in the country’s highest-performing businesses. This list examines the question of, “What do all profitable businesses have in common?”

A Firm Foundation

The best businesses are built on solid foundations. To increase the chances of success when you sell your business in Washington DC, the company must:

• Have a mission and a purpose
• Evaluate its values, weaknesses, and strengths
• Build in ways that work with those limitations
• Learn how to say no

Firm foundations require periodic reassessment, and owners should regularly reconsider the factors listed above. With the right groundwork, any business—no matter when it’s being sold—can be turned into a source of pride.

A Strong Leadership Team

Capable management is another quality found in the nation’s strongest businesses. Leaders should motivate and inspire their teams, outline expectations and goals, and make tough decisions when needed. It also involves having an accountable, transparent, and efficient management structure.

With strong management teams, potential business sellers can create productive and positive work environments that allow their companies to evolve, adapt, and stay competitive.

Making Customer Service a Priority

Another crucial component of successful companies is their emphasis on customer service. The most well-known companies put their customers’ needs first, doing what it takes to deliver a high-quality, memorable experience. Why is customer service so important? The answer is simple. A happy customer is a loyal one, and repeat buyers are what keep companies going.

In the connected world of today, online reviews and social media are valuable reputation-building tools. When customers are happy, they’ll come back—and they’ll tell everyone they know about your company. By listening to their customers, soliciting feedback, and using it to make improvements, business owners can prepare their companies for successful sales.

Adaptability

The business world is fast paced, which means companies must evolve and adapt to succeed. Versatility allows companies to remain competitive, and it involves a willingness to take risks, try new things, and learn from mistakes.

Brand Identity

Strong brand identities help companies set themselves apart from competitors. To strengthen your company’s brand identity, you’ll need consistent, clear messaging and a look that reflects its mission and values.

Brand identity matters not just for the competitive edge it provides; it also helps build credibility and trust with customers. When companies build strong brands, they create feelings of loyalty and community among customers.

An Innovative Culture

To remain relevant in today’s business world, companies must foster cultures of innovation, improvement, and creativity. These qualities drive progress and growth while helping companies gain and keep top talent. By being receptive to feedback, giving employees the support they need to think creatively, and encouraging them to try new strategies, you’ll create an innovative workplace culture.

Financial Management

When companies manage their finances effectively, they’re more likely to sell successfully. Effective management means understanding the company’s financials and implementing processes and systems that ensure continued stability. With the right management strategies in place, business owners can ensure that they and buyers have the resources needed to survive and thrive.

Employee Retention

Successful owners know that employee turnover is a detriment. They realize how costly and time-consuming it is to attract and train new talent, and that’s why they tend to create environments that encourage retention and engagement.

While not every business owner can offer amenities on par with those found at Google and Facebook, they can make concessions such as:

• Offering competitive pay
• Work-life balance
• Paid vacations
• Employee recognition in the form of bonuses, promotions, and raises
• Ample training opportunities

To gather and retain a high-caliber workforce, successful business owners invest in training, skill improvement, and morale. When employees feel happy, valued, and heard, they’re more likely to contribute to a company’s continued success.

A Unique Value Proposition

To further differentiate themselves and increase the chances of a sale, company owners must offer customers something they can’t find anywhere else. While it’s impossible for every business to live up to the low-price hype, there are other ways to provide value. From improving customer service and product offerings to starting loyalty programs, great business owners find ways to stand out.

Effective Marketing

“What do all profitable businesses have in common?” This question might start with marketing. The highest-performing businesses typically have marketing strategies that help them achieve that success. To form a successful marketing strategy, use multiple channels. For example, social media, newsletters, and pay-per click or PPC ads, when combined, will bring in more customers than if just one channel was used.

Diversity

As businesses and consumers everywhere are striving for social responsibility and inclusion, diversity has come to the forefront. While everyone knows that two heads are better than one, the notion only works if both voices are unique and heard. When diversity is combined with collaboration, companies naturally ensure innovation and a broader skill set.

Research

Before a person quits their 9-5 job and becomes a business owner, they should do some research on potential opportunities. In a saturated market, a new approach may be necessary. Market research provides valuable insights on economic and consumer trends, which reduces risk for buyers.

Finding the Right Niche

Many business owners try to widen their customer bases through versatility. While it’s great to offer something for everyone, branching out too far may lead an owner to take time and effort away from the things that matter most. Successful companies choose niches and focus on them, gaining the opportunity to give customers the very best.

Commitment Brings Success

Starting and selling a business is not an easy task—it requires money, time, and effort. Before selling your business, build it, finance it, and set some attainable goals. By doing that, and by considering these factors, you’ll position yourself for a successful sale. The team at CGK Business Sales is here to help, and we invite you to contact us today. Hopefully, this article answered the question of “What do all profitable businesses have in common?” for you.