Insights
Practical writing for UK and US owners who are thinking about an exit — confidentially, on their timeline, without putting the business or the people who built it at risk.
Some of your most important contracts may let the other side renegotiate or walk away when the business changes hands. How to find those clauses early and deal with them calmly before they slow a deal down.
ReadBuyers value the profit the business really makes, not just the number on the accounts. What add-backs are, which ones buyers tend to accept, and how to evidence them before you go to market.
ReadPart of the sale price is often held back for a period after completion. What escrow and retention mean, why buyers ask for them, and how to keep the holdback proportionate and time-limited.
ReadMany owners have personally guaranteed the company's bank facilities, leases or supplier terms. How those guarantees usually work in a sale, what you should ask for, and how to avoid staying on the hook after completion.
ReadTwo offers with the same headline number can be worth very different amounts to you. How to compare offers on what you actually receive, when you receive it, and what happens to the business after you leave.
ReadThe disclosure letter is where you tell a buyer about the exceptions to the promises you make in the sale agreement. What it covers, how to prepare it and why being open protects you after completion.
ReadIf you do not own every share, a sale needs more than your own decision. How to bring minority shareholders along early, what your shareholders' agreement may say and how to keep everyone aligned through a sale.
ReadSelling a business you built is a family decision as much as a financial one. Who to talk to, what to discuss and how to keep those conversations calm and private before a sale.
ReadA management buyout can feel like the natural way to pass the business on. How it compares with an outside buyer on price, funding, certainty, timing and what happens to your team.
ReadMost owners plan the sale and not what comes after. The role you keep, your finances, your time, the restrictions you agree to and the legacy you leave.
ReadA buyer watches how the business trades while talks are under way. How to share the load, protect your time and keep customers, numbers and team steady until completion.
ReadMost owners sell a business only once. Who to bring in, what each adviser does, and how to agree fees and get the team working together before talks begin.
ReadDeals sometimes stop before completion, even for good businesses. How to steady the business, understand what happened, and decide calmly whether and when to try again.
ReadSmall gaps in company records, contracts and ownership are easy to live with day to day, but they slow a sale down. The housekeeping worth doing before you speak to buyers, and why it pays to start early.
ReadPrice matters, but it is rarely the only thing an owner cares about. Why it helps to decide what you want from a sale before you speak to buyers, and the questions worth answering first.
ReadWhether you rent your premises or own them yourself, the building is often one of the last things owners think about in a sale. How leases, landlord consent and owner-held property usually work, and the choices worth making early.
ReadAfter months of preparation, the sale itself comes down to one day. What actually happens at completion, what you will be asked to sign and hand over, and how to make the day calm rather than frantic.
ReadNon-compete and non-solicit promises are standard in a business sale. What buyers usually ask for, what is reasonable, and how to make sure they fit the life you plan after completion.
ReadTwo common ways to fix the price between signing and completion. How locked box and completion accounts differ, and what each means for the cheque you take home.
ReadWarranties are promises about the business at sale. What they cover, why buyers ask for them, and how to keep the risk in proportion without derailing the deal.
ReadCompletion is not the last day of your involvement. How to agree your role after the sale, how long it should last, and how to hand over without leaving a gap.
ReadMost SME exits are share sales — but asset sales still appear. What each structure means for tax, contracts, employees, and the cheque you take home.
ReadA letter of intent is usually not a promise to buy. What is binding, how the price is really built, and what clock you start when you grant exclusivity.
ReadCash-free, debt-free sounds simple — in practice it sits between enterprise value and the cheque you receive. What CFDF means, which debt-like items matter, and where owners get surprised.
ReadWhat you give a buyer when you grant exclusivity, how long is reasonable, and how small the circle should stay until completion is far more certain.
ReadHow the working capital peg works in UK and US SME sales — what buyers adjust, why it surprises owners, and how to prepare without disrupting the business.
ReadRealistic timelines from first quiet conversation to completion — and what stretches or shortens the path for owner-managed firms.
ReadA few large customers shape buyer risk and deal structure — how to diversify or document relationships before a sale.
ReadKey-person risk is priced whether you name it or not — how to widen the circle before a buyer asks.
ReadClean accounts, quality of earnings, and working capital — what buyers expect to see before diligence gets serious.
ReadTake liquidity without walking away overnight — why some owners sell a stake first and keep skin in the game.
ReadMost customers care about delivery, not share ownership. How to time the message and keep relationships intact.
ReadFinancials, contracts, people, and customers — what buyers actually check, and how to prepare without disrupting the shop floor.
ReadWhen part of the price depends on future performance — or you help fund the deal — what those structures really mean.
ReadToo early creates anxiety; too late breeds distrust. A practical guide to timing and messaging for your inner circle.
ReadWhy the first conversation should stay quiet, how NDAs fit early, and what a discreet buyer looks for before anyone else hears.
ReadAuctions maximise competition; direct conversations maximise discretion. Which path suits owners who value privacy.
ReadPrice is one question. Hold period, people plans, and how they treat culture tell you far more about fit.
ReadShape of the business first; detailed numbers only after a signed NDA. How serious buyers sequence disclosure.
ReadRecurring contracts, reliable teams, and discreet handover — what matters when exiting a property services company.
ReadRevenue range, team depth, and the sectors that fit a hold forever approach — not a flip in three years.
ReadPermits, skilled crews, and steady contracts — what long-term buyers look for in environmental services exits.
ReadRegulation, people, and culture come first. How a careful sale protects what families and staff already trust.
ReadOrder books, skilled people, and discreet process — what matters when selling a UK engineering business.
ReadKeep the lines running. How to explore a sale without unsettling the shop floor or key accounts.
ReadDifferent clocks, different incentives. Why hold period and culture care should sit beside price in your decision.
ReadHow to hand over ownership while keeping employees, customers, and the reputation you spent decades building.
ReadNext generation, MBO, or an outside long-term owner: how families weigh paths when not everyone wants to run the firm.
ReadYour people built the value. How to choose a buyer and time the message so the team is protected, not blindsided.
ReadMultiples are only the start. Quality of earnings, customer mix, and people risk shape what a serious buyer will pay.
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