Two Dublin professionals are hoping they can revolutionise the selling of a business in the way myhome.ie and daft.ie have transformed the way Irish residential property is marketed.
With Savvy.ie, accountant Shane Connors and solicitor William Brennan, plan to "take the mystery out of buying, selling, merging or investing in a business" by providing a platform for those interested in such transactions.
Traditionally, says Connors, somebody who wants to sell a business or invest in one would go to their accountant or solicitor, who would then try tap into their own network to find a good match. Success thus often depends on the depth of the professional’s contact book.
On Savvy.ie, Connors and Brennan want to bring together buyers, sellers, investors and professionals in one place by supporting advertisements for business opportunities.
An advertisement might, for example be uploaded by a solicitor for a family business where an owner is retiring – the business need not be named, but its profile might pique the interest of an investor or adviser, who can then register interest and agree to confidentiality, all on the site.
Connors says credit checks will be built-in, with he and Brennan also close to bringing one of the main banks on board as a sponsor and “strategic partner”. Uploads will initially be free but, in time, will cost €150 for a three-month advertisement. The former college friends, who have a background in deal-making, plan to launch before the end of the month.