3 Key Insights Into Selling a Manufacturing Business

With all the acquisition activity taking place right now, it’s important to plan ahead. To maximize your opportunity for a successful sale of your business there are a lot of variables to consider. A lot of these variables apply to selling any business and there are some that are even more impactful to the manufacturing sector. You will want to take the steps necessary to get the most out of your business.

What can you do to ensure that you’re getting the maximum value and a smooth transition? The team at Advanced Business Brokers has a wealth of experience working with manufacturing clients to help them get the most out of their sale. What follows are a handful of recommendations that we believe will help you maximize your success in this process.

Illustration of someone selling a manufacturing business.

Selling a manufacturing business is easier with a management structure

Having one level of management or a whole team in place opens the opportunity for more buyers to be interested in your company and provides vision for scalability. Conversely, a business where the owner is the sole manager and makes all the decisions will be a major detractor to the value and deal structure. Creating an efficient management structure takes time and needs to be established three to five years prior to wanting to sell.

Before selling a manufacturing business, document your procedures

Additionally, when buyers are interested, they’re likely to inquire about your business’ processes and procedures. By creating a document that breaks down your business’ daily activities, you’ll assure buyers that their transition into ownership will be seamless.

In manufacturing, documentation is absolutely critical. How many of your day-to-day processes are simply passed verbally from employee to employee? To get the maximum value out of your company, it’s crucial that you give buyers all the keys they need to run your business efficiently.

Creating a manufacturing manual to sell a business.

Clean and organize your facility to make it more attractive to buyers

If you want to impress potential buyers when selling a manufacturing business, you’ll want to make sure your facility is well organized and maintained. Perform needed repairs, make sure loading docks are clear, and ensure that your equipment is in good working order. By paying attention to the small details, you’ll instill confidence in buyers and convince them that your business is worth their investment.

In addition to the above, other areas that you can address to factor into supporting a higher asking price include but are not limited to the following. Clean up your financial statements, this is the curb appeal of any business. Sell any unused major equipment and liquidate obsolete inventory. Lastly, strengthen your employment force by cross-training employees where possible. 

At Advanced Business Brokers, we understand the challenges of selling a manufacturing business. If you’re looking for a company that will work diligently to help you realize the full value of your business, reach out to us today to learn how we can help.

Work With An Experienced Business Broker

If you’re thinking about selling your business and don’t know where to start, consider speaking with our team here at Advanced Business Brokers. We specialize in brokering and advising exit plan strategies for various sizes/sectors of businesses.

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Bob Paden

With over 25 years of dedicated experience, Bob empowers small business owners in the Indianapolis metro area to achieve their entrepreneurial visions, whether by building scalable operations or crafting highly sellable entities. For three decades, he’s cultivated a robust network of owners, buyers, and strategic partners, a resource he fully leverages to help clients meet their unique objectives.

Bob’s expertise spans a diverse range of industries, including trade-based businesses like construction, HVAC, skilled trades, and manufacturing, as well as white-collar professional service firms such as law, finance, marketing, and technical services. Beyond his client work, Bob actively contributes to his community, serving as Treasurer for the Boone County Chamber Board and as well as a board member for both the Central Indiana Police Foundation (CIPF) and Fiscal Sponsorship Allies (FSA).  

Bob holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and teaches there as well in the Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, which is ranked among the Top 50 programs in the U.S.

He lives with his wife Lori in Zionsville, just outside Indianapolis, and in his free time, he enjoys working on his home, playing golf, and traveling.

Marissa Ihssen

With a degree in psychology and a professional background in social work, Marissa
brings a people-centered lens to every project. Her experience includes being a Project
Planning Specialist at GE Aerospace, creating efficient processes and structures that
help teams work smarter and stay aligned. Marissa joins the Main Street Market Maker
team with Advanced Business Brokers to dedicate time and attention to smaller
business opportunities and provide excellent and supportive customer service.
Outside of work, she is a mom of three young men who finds joy in the everyday chaos
of family life. She loves strong coffee, warm beaches, and any excuse to spend time in
the sunshine. Hot yoga and hammocking are some of her favorite ways to reset and
stay grounded and help her show up with more presence both at home and in my
professional life.

Steve DeMaio, JD, CEPA

Steve brings more than 20 years of experience as a legal and financial professional to
his work with business owners preparing for transition and sale. He advises owners and
their families through every stage of the exit planning and transaction process, with a
focus on thoughtful assessment, risk management, and strategic value enhancement.
Steve is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) and an active member of the Exit
Planning Institute. He previously served as Director of the Small Business Development
Center in Toledo, Ohio, where he worked closely with entrepreneurs across a wide
range of industries on growth, financing, and succession planning initiatives.
Earlier in his career, Steve practiced law with a nationally recognized Chicago-based
law firm and held roles in capital markets and commercial banking with leading financial
institutions. This multidisciplinary background allows him to approach business
transactions with a practical understanding of legal, financial, and operational
considerations.
As a business broker, Steve specializes in industrial and manufacturing companies,
skilled trades, and professional service firms, including marketing, staffing, and financial
services businesses. Steve earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago
School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Notre
Dame. He lives in the Toledo area with his wife and two daughters. Outside of work, he
enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time at his family’s lake house.

Dr. Mark Hagar

A lifelong resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Dr. Mark Hagar brings decades of hands-on experience in small business ownership, acquisitions, and turnarounds to his role as a business broker. Over his distinguished career, he has acquired and operated more than 20 companies and engineered over 50 successful turnarounds, giving him a uniquely practical understanding of what makes businesses succeed, and sell. His portfolio spans manufacturing, distribution, and service firms in industries including printing, education, military contracting, aerospace, and orthopedics. This diverse background enables him to identify value, anticipate buyer needs, and structure complex deals with confidence and precision.


Mark holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Cranfield University’s School of Management in Bedford, England—one of Europe’s leading business schools. His research on small business resilience and operational excellence has been recognized by the Small Business Institute (SBI), the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE), and the International Council for Small Business (ICSB).


In addition to his business career, Dr. Hagar has served as a member of faculty at several institutions of higher education, including Holy Cross College (Notre Dame), Trine University, and the University of Saint Francis. He also hosted Your Business Matters, a small business–focused radio show and podcast for more than a decade and is the author of Small Fortunes – the Acquisition Entrepreneur’s Guide to Buying a Profitable Small Business.


A passionate advocate for entrepreneurs, Mark previously chaired the Indiana Leadership Council for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), representing small business owners before state and federal legislators. He currently serves as President of the Allen County, Indiana Economic Development
Commission.


As a broker, Mark specializes in industrial, manufacturing, and distribution firms, with particular expertise in special situations, distressed assets, and complex transitions where experience, creativity and discretion are central to success.