Business Owner Series: Part 5 of 9
How do you prepare your business for sale?
Chris Broome – Chartered Financial Planner
Preparing a business for sale can be a complex and time-consuming process, but with the right preparation, it can be a smooth and successful transition for both the seller and the buyer.
Here are some steps to consider when preparing your business for a sale:
1. Review your financials: Before listing your business for sale, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your financials. This includes reviewing your financial statements, tax returns, and other financial documents. This will give potential buyers a clear picture of your business’s financial health and will also help you determine the asking price for your business.
2. Clean up your books: Make sure that your financial records are accurate and up-to-date. This will help to avoid any potential issues during the due diligence process and will make the sale process much smoother.
3. Identify your business’s strengths and weaknesses: Before listing your business for sale, it’s important to identify its strengths and weaknesses. This will help you to highlight the best features of your business to potential buyers and also help you to address any areas that may be of concern.
4. Update your business plan: A detailed and well-written business plan is an essential tool for selling your business. It should include information about your business’s products or services, target market, competitive landscape, and financial projections.
5. Prepare your team: Your employees are an important part of your business, and it’s essential that they are prepared for the sale of your business. This includes communicating the sale to them and ensuring that they are aware of their roles and responsibilities during the transition.
6. Hire your expert professional team: Ensure you bring on board the right advisers to assist this process – including a corporate finance team, solicitor, and of course wealth manager.
7. Get your business ready for a due diligence process: Once you find a buyer, due diligence process begins, it’s important to have all your business’s information and documentation in order and easily accessible. This will help to speed up the due diligence process and make the sale process more efficient.
In Summary
By following these steps, you can ensure that your business is prepared for a sale and that you are in the best position to secure a successful outcome for both you and the buyer.
Next steps
Please get in touch to discuss your business and the steps you can take to create long-term stability.
Next in the series – Part 6 of 9: How to attract the best buyers for your business
The next blog in the Business Owner Series looks at some of the strategies that can be used to attract the best buyers for your business, and achieve the best possible outcome. You can read it here.
