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Corporate Finance and Deal Advisory
We offer a dedicated team of experienced individuals with a focus on successfully executing transactions for corporates and financial institutions. We offer an integrated approach, with our corporate finance specialists working seamlessly with tax and other specialists to ensure that every angle is covered.
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Digital Risk
Grant Thornton offers solutions to the digital risk issues you are sure to face. Our skilled and experienced security team can helping by advising and consulting, giving you peace of mind, clear value for money and an enhanced ability to react to attacks.
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Technology Consulting
Motivating and assisting our clients to pursue, maintain and secure the benefits of digital solutions is at the core of our Digital Transformation teams' agenda and goals. We work with business leaders to deliver efficient digital strategies and operating models that provide new or enhanced capabilities.
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Economic Advisory
Our all-island Economics Advisory team combines expertise in economics and business with a wealth of experience across the public and private sectors.
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Forensic Accounting
We have a different way of doing business by delivering real insight through a combination of technical rigour, commercial experience and intuitive judgment. We take pride in delivering responsive and tailored solutions to all our clients, capitalising on the wealth of experience housed within our Belfast and wider Forensics team
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People and Change Consulting
The Grant Thornton People & Change Consulting practice works with clients on these issues as well as on all aspects of how they attract, retain, engage develop, deploy and lead their people.
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Restructuring
We work with a wide variety of clients and stakeholders such as high street banks, private equity funds, directors, government agencies and creditors to implement solutions which provide the best possible outcomes.
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Corporate and International Tax
Northern Ireland businesses face further challenges as they operate in the only part of the UK that has a land border with a country offering a lower tax rate.
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Employer Solutions
Our team specialises in remuneration and incentive planning and works closely with employers, shareholders and employees to ensure that business strategies are aligned and goals achieved in the most tax efficient, cost-effective manner.
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Entrepreneur and Private Client Taxes
Our team of experienced advisors are on hand to guide you through any decision or transaction ranging from the establishment of new business ventures, to realising value on exit, to succession planning and providing for loved ones.
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Global Mobility Services
Grant Thornton offer a different approach to managing global mobility. We have brought together specialists from our tax, global payroll, people and change and financial accounting teams across Ireland and Northern Ireland, while drawing on the knowledge and insights of our global network of over 143 offices of mobility professionals to provide you with a holistic approach to managing global mobility.
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Outsourced Payroll
Our outsourced service provides valued service to over 150 separate PAYE schemes. These ranging from 1 to 1000 employees, working for micro, SME and global employers. The service is supported by the integrated network of tax and global mobility teams and the wider Grant Thornton network delivering a seamless service. Experienced staff deliver a personal service built around your business needs.
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Tax Disputes and Investigations
Our Tax Disputes and Investigation team is made up of tax experts and former HMRC investigators who have years of experience in dealing with a variety of tax investigations. Our expertise and insight can guide you through all interactions, keeping your cost at a minimum while allowing you to continue with the day to day running of your business.
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VAT and Indirect Taxes
At Grant Thornton (NI) LLP, our team helps Northern Ireland businesses manage their UK and global indirect tax risks which, as transactional taxes, can quickly become big liabilities.
Most business owners will realise that at some stage they are going to have to consider selling their business to release value for their retirement.
Many, however, will defer discussions about a sale because they believe that they are not ready to sell their business, and they overlook the fact that the best time to sell, and to maximise value, is a time when you want to, rather than when you have to.
There are many circumstances beyond an individual’s control which may force an owner to sell their business quickly, for example, ill health, disputes or divorce. Typically, when this happens, the owner will tend to receive a lower price than initially hoped for.
Preparing for sale
Preparing a business for sale is key, if the value is to be maximised. A sale will take time to organise therefore starting to prepare early will give rise to less complications and more options when the sale process gets underway. Choosing a time to sell which suits you, when numbers are hitting their targets and the cash position is maximised, will be beneficial in achieving a higher price for the business.
In a sales process any potential buyer will spend time reviewing the history of a business. They will ask to see financial information, often going back three years or more, and ‘robust’ financial information is critical. Information that requires fewer adjustments will lessen any confusion for a potential buyer and likewise, ensuring that information provided is free from error will add credibility and protect against potential deal failure or ‘price chipping’.
It is also worth considering what will be important to a buyer such as having agreements in place with customers, suppliers and staff. Ensuring that these agreements are in place during the normal course of business can reduce any unnecessary complications.
Potential buyers may also want to understand how the business will continue to operate effectively when the existing owner is no longer in position. Planning for succession is therefore critical, and a strong, incentivised management team will go some way to allay those concerns. However, a handover period is also often required by a purchaser, with few owners afforded the luxury of walking away immediately upon completion of a deal.
Not all sales processes will be successful. Some of the main reasons businesses fail to sell include unrealistic value expectations of the owner, an owner being unprepared, or underestimating sale time.
Conclusion
Seeking expert advice on the likely valuation of the business upfront will help the chances of a successful sale. An expert team should have experience of recent deals to underpin and defend the valuation of the business. Serious purchasers will tend to have their advisory team so it is necessary that sellers are similarly prepared. Advisors will also add value by being able to handle the process, allowing the owner to focus on maintaining business performance.