Re: More on alarm company valuation

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Nov 24, 10:31=A0pm, Effenpig1 <dirtyspicev...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Nov 24, 8:39=A0pm, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Nov 24, 8:03=A0pm, nick markowitz <nmarkow...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > On Nov 24, 7:07=A0pm, Effenpig1 <dirtyspicev...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > > On Nov 24, 3:32=A0pm, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > > > On Nov 24, 2:26=A0pm, Effenpig1 <dirtyspicev...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrot=
e:
>
> > > > =A0Yes,
> > > > > longer term contracts will definately get you more generally spea=
king
>
> > > > Agreed.
>
> > > > I doubt I'll ever purchase accounts, but I may someday be on the
> > > > selling end.
>
> > > I do not have my customers under locked contracts but they are loyal
> > > to me and me to them and they would be loyal to a company buying me
> > > out as long as they were treated fairly.
> > > its all about service provide good service and pricing and the money
> > > will always be there but too many companys have forgoten this. i neve=
r
> > > advertise either word of mouth is how i built my company and im alway=
s
> > > busy.
>
> > RHC: Bingo !! Too many companies buying other companies try to impose
> > "rules" that, although they may be acceptable to large corporate
> > interests, are anything but to a client who has been used to being
> > treated like a real person ( and not just an impersonal contractual
> > value).
>
> > It pays to make sure you know precisely how the buyer plans to handle
> > your prices, contractual terms, and service / warranty terms once he
> > controls your customer base. =A0If you allow him to get greedy, the
> > inevitable clawback clause will cost you dearly in lost customers
> > (long term contract or not....)
>
> Ideally, I'd like to pass the business to my son, but I have know way
> of knowing yet if its something he will have the skill and drive to
> do. Eventually I'm going to have to do something, and if it turns out
> to be sell, I want to be able to get what it's worth.

RHC: Sounds familiar !! One of the toughest decisions you and I have
to make is whether or not our offspring have the moxy to make the
business work. We put blood, sweat and tears into building a business
anyone would be proud to be associated with. The next generation don't
always share the same old world values we do.

You will have to make your decision to hand it over to your son in the
most cold blooded fashion possible, forgetting he is your son, and
looking at him just as you would any other employee. Does he have the
drive, the ambition, and the will to work hard, and at all hours, to
run it like you do. It's a hard decision, but one that you MUST get
right.

Build your business any way you see fit; just make sure it is run
fairly and honestly to the best of your ability, and NEVER forget your
customer and their service levels. If you do forget, and service falls
down, long term contracts will not save you over the long run......