Running your business while you sell it
A 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.
ReadInsights
Notes on succession, selling, and long-term ownership.
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.
Choosing the right advisers before you sell
Most 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.
ReadWhen a sale falls through: what to do next
Deals 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.
ReadGetting your legal house in order before a sale
Small 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.
ReadDeciding what you want from a sale before you start
Price 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.
ReadWhat happens to your premises when you sell
Whether 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.
ReadWhat happens on completion day
After 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.
ReadRestrictive covenants when you sell
Non-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.
ReadLocked box versus completion accounts
Two 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.
ReadWhat warranties mean when you sell
Warranties 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.
ReadPlanning your handover after a sale
Completion 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.
ReadShare sale versus asset sale
Most SME exits are share sales — but asset sales still appear. What each structure means for tax, contracts, employees, and the cheque you take home.
ReadWhat a letter of intent means when you sell
A 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.
ReadWhat cash-free, debt-free means when you sell
Cash-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 exclusivity means when you sell a business
What 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.
ReadWorking capital in a business sale
How 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.
ReadHow long a business sale really takes
Realistic timelines from first quiet conversation to completion — and what stretches or shortens the path for owner-managed firms.
ReadCustomer concentration before a sale
A few large customers shape buyer risk and deal structure — how to diversify or document relationships before a sale.
ReadReducing owner dependency before a sale
Key-person risk is priced whether you name it or not — how to widen the circle before a buyer asks.
ReadPreparing your financials before a sale
Clean accounts, quality of earnings, and working capital — what buyers expect to see before diligence gets serious.
ReadWhy owners choose partial exits
Take liquidity without walking away overnight — why some owners sell a stake first and keep skin in the game.
ReadKeeping customers through a sale
Most customers care about delivery, not share ownership. How to time the message and keep relationships intact.
ReadWhat diligence really involves
Financials, contracts, people, and customers — what buyers actually check, and how to prepare without disrupting the shop floor.
ReadEarn-outs and seller financing, explained simply
When part of the price depends on future performance — or you help fund the deal — what those structures really mean.
ReadWhen to tell your management team
Too early creates anxiety; too late breeds distrust. A practical guide to timing and messaging for your inner circle.
ReadSelling your business confidentially
Why the first conversation should stay quiet, how NDAs fit early, and what a discreet buyer looks for before anyone else hears.
ReadDirect buyers vs a broker process
Auctions maximise competition; direct conversations maximise discretion. Which path suits owners who value privacy.
ReadBest questions to ask a potential buyer
Price is one question. Hold period, people plans, and how they treat culture tell you far more about fit.
ReadThe NDA before you share numbers
Shape of the business first; detailed numbers only after a signed NDA. How serious buyers sequence disclosure.
ReadSelling a property services business
Recurring contracts, reliable teams, and discreet handover — what matters when exiting a property services company.
ReadWhat long-term buyers look for
Revenue range, team depth, and the sectors that fit a hold forever approach — not a flip in three years.
ReadSelling an environmental services company
Permits, skilled crews, and steady contracts — what long-term buyers look for in environmental services exits.
ReadSelling a care business without losing what matters
Regulation, people, and culture come first. How a careful sale protects what families and staff already trust.
ReadSelling an engineering company in the UK
Order books, skilled people, and discreet process — what matters when selling a UK engineering business.
ReadSelling a manufacturing business without disruption
Keep the lines running. How to explore a sale without unsettling the shop floor or key accounts.
ReadPrivate equity vs a long-term buyer
Different clocks, different incentives. Why hold period and culture care should sit beside price in your decision.
ReadSuccession without losing the culture
How to hand over ownership while keeping employees, customers, and the reputation you spent decades building.
ReadFamily business succession options
Next generation, MBO, or an outside long-term owner: how families weigh paths when not everyone wants to run the firm.
ReadProtecting employees when you sell
Your people built the value. How to choose a buyer and time the message so the team is protected, not blindsided.
ReadHow is a business valued for sale?
Multiples are only the start. Quality of earnings, customer mix, and people risk shape what a serious buyer will pay.
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