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Ontario’s Child<strong>care</strong> IndustryAs I See ItTHINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR CENTRE?READ THIS FIRST, PART IIBy: Ernest Kockeritz, DTZ Barnicke.If you own a licensed <strong>child</strong> <strong>care</strong> program thatoperates <strong>in</strong> leased premises and you decideyou’d like to sell it, you face a number ofunique challenges. While almost any real estate transactionruns more smoothly when the seller providespotential buyers with as much <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation as possible,this is even more important when the enterprise youare sell<strong>in</strong>g does not <strong>in</strong>clude land or a build<strong>in</strong>g. Fromthe standpo<strong>in</strong>t of a potential buyer, there may be aheightened sense of risk <strong>in</strong> the transaction. Be<strong>in</strong>g aswell prepared and transparent as possible is critical ifyou want to ensure a timely sale and smooth transitionto a new owner. It helps if set the goal of do<strong>in</strong>geveryth<strong>in</strong>g you possibly can to help ensure the newowner’s success.The follow<strong>in</strong>g tips and ideas are designed to orientyou to this and serve as a m<strong>in</strong>i-survival guide. Thereare four ma<strong>in</strong> compnents to the sale of a <strong>child</strong> <strong>care</strong>program: preparation; market<strong>in</strong>g; due diligence andtransition. Proper attention to each helps m<strong>in</strong>imize theeffect of any of the speed bumps you might encounter.At all po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> the process, you want to be able to respondspeedily and professionally to a query from apotential buyer.PreparationThe most important decisions you will make takeplace <strong>in</strong> the preparation phase of the process. Thisphase <strong>in</strong>cludes the follow<strong>in</strong>g steps: Choose your agentIn addition to be<strong>in</strong>g a critical member of the TEAMyou will need to complete the sale of your centre,your agent must be regarded by prospective buyersas someone <strong>in</strong> whom they can place their trust andconfidence. To earn this level of credibility, youragent must possess <strong>in</strong>dustry knowledge of issues,challenges, key DNA provisions, licens<strong>in</strong>g, operat<strong>in</strong>gpr<strong>in</strong>ciples affect<strong>in</strong>g class size, safety and efficiency,etc. Be prepared to conduct <strong>in</strong>-depth <strong>in</strong>terviewswith several agents be<strong>for</strong>e mak<strong>in</strong>g yourf<strong>in</strong>al decision Establish your TEAMYour TEAM of experts needs to <strong>in</strong>clude a real estateagent, an accountant and a lawyer. Introducethem to one another sooner rather than later. Thereneeds to be significant <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation flow among thefour of you. Establish a valuation <strong>for</strong> the bus<strong>in</strong>essUs<strong>in</strong>g your TEAM members, establish a valuation<strong>for</strong> the bus<strong>in</strong>ess. Be realistic. Heed <strong>in</strong>dustry normsand <strong>for</strong>mulate and understand where your centresits on the hierarchy of desirability. You will need todiscuss openly the annual Net <strong>in</strong>come you receive asan owner. Ensure your f<strong>in</strong>ancial statements are currentF<strong>in</strong>ancial statements rarely reveal the Net <strong>in</strong>comeof the bus<strong>in</strong>ess. Be prepared to identify the exact l<strong>in</strong>eitems where your salary, dividend, bonus, food supplyand car rental are to be found. An accurate Net <strong>in</strong>comeis required <strong>for</strong> valuation and market<strong>in</strong>g. Pleasebe aware that audited statements are preferable to aNotice to Reader. Be prepared to f<strong>in</strong>ance the saleIt is highly probable that a buyer will be unable tof<strong>in</strong>ance the purchase via traditional bank<strong>in</strong>g sources.Many will look to you <strong>for</strong> Vendor f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g via a VendorTake Back Mortgage. Work with your TEAM to decide <strong>in</strong>advance the amount you are prepared to f<strong>in</strong>ance and<strong>for</strong> what term. Make sure you understand the tax benefitsassociated with this.As I See It cont<strong>in</strong>ued on next pageSUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2012 • Child<strong>care</strong>TODAY 5

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