Resources · Selling a Business
Preparing for a sale, understanding value and choosing the right route to market.
Featured guide
When Is the Right Time to Sell Your Business?
There is rarely a perfect time to sell a business. For most owners, the decision is a combination of personal circumstances, business performance and what is happening in the market. You may have spent years building the company and want to realise some of that value. You might be considering retirement, looking for a new
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Once you’ve agreed the main terms of a business sale, the buyer will usually begin due diligence. Put simply, due diligence is the buyer checking that the business they think they are buying matches the business you have presented to them. They will look at the financial performance, customers, employees, contracts, tax position and other
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If you’re preparing to sell your business, getting your documents organised early can make the process considerably easier. You won’t need to provide everything to a buyer on day one. Information is normally shared in stages, with more detailed and sensitive documents provided once a buyer is serious and appropriate confidentiality arrangements are in place.
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For many business owners, confidentiality is one of the biggest concerns when considering a sale. You may not want employees, customers, suppliers or competitors to know you’re thinking about selling until the time is right. The good news is that you don’t need to disclose everything about your business from the outset. A well-managed sale
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Selling a business is a significant decision. For many business owners, the business represents years of work, investment and personal commitment, so understanding the sale process before entering the market can make a considerable difference to both the experience and the eventual outcome. The process typically involves preparing the business for sale, understanding its value,
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The best time to prepare your business for sale is before a buyer is looking at it. A well-prepared business is easier to understand, easier to diligence and, importantly, gives a buyer fewer reasons to question the price or renegotiate later in the process. You don’t need to make the business perfect. You do need
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If you’re thinking about selling your business, one of the first questions you’re likely to ask is: How much is my business worth? There isn’t a single formula that determines the value of every business. Two companies with similar revenue and profits can achieve very different valuations depending on their sector, growth, customer base, management
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A typical business sale can take anywhere from six to twelve months, although some transactions complete more quickly and others can take considerably longer. There is no fixed timetable. The size and complexity of the business, how prepared you are, the type of buyer and the time required for due diligence and legal negotiations can
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If you’re planning to sell your business in the next few years, increasing revenue isn’t the only way to improve its value. Buyers also care about risk, predictability and how easily the business can continue operating after the current owner leaves. Here are ten areas worth thinking about before going to market. 1. Reduce reliance
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