Selling to us
What selling your business to us looks like
Most owners we speak to have never sold a business before. Here is the whole thing in plain English – the steps, how long each one takes, and what you will need.
The process
Six steps from first email to handover
1
A quiet chat
An email or a phone call. Tell us as much or as little as you like – many first conversations are just that, a conversation.
2
NDA and a look at the numbers
We sign an NDA, then you share three years of accounts and a sense of how this year is going.
3
A visit
We come and see what you have built, meet you properly, and talk honestly about whether we are a good home for it.
4
An offer in writing
Heads of terms: the price, the structure, the timing and what happens to you and the team, all in plain English.
5
Diligence and legals
Our accountant and solicitor check the detail while yours protect your position. This is the longest stretch.
6
Completion and handover
Funds transfer, the business changes hands, and we start the handover at whatever pace we agreed – from a few weeks to a couple of years of you staying involved.
Timings
How long it usually takes
Every deal is different, but this is a realistic shape for a business of this size.
Weeks 1–2
First conversation, NDA, initial figures shared.
Weeks 2–4
A visit, a proper look at the business, and our questions on the numbers.
Weeks 4–8
Heads of terms agreed and signed, funding confirmed.
Weeks 8–18
Due diligence and legal work, running in parallel.
Month 4–6
Completion, then handover on the timetable that suits you.
Three to six months, start to finish, is normal. It can be quicker if your records are in good order – and it is your pace, not ours.
Getting ready
What is worth having to hand
None of this is needed to have a first conversation. It just makes everything afterwards smoother.
Three years of accounts
Statutory accounts plus this year’s management figures if you have them.
A picture of the trade
Your main customers or channels, key suppliers, and roughly where the profit comes from.
The team on paper
Who does what, who is key, and what they are paid.
Contracts and leases
Premises, vehicles, finance agreements, and anything that carries on after a sale.
Your own advisers
You will want a solicitor for the sale itself, and your accountant on hand for tax advice.
What you want out of it
A price in mind, a timescale, and what you hope happens to your team. It helps enormously.
Questions owners ask us
Selling a business – the honest answers
Do I need a broker?
Not to talk to us. Brokers can charge a significant fee to produce an information memorandum and then take a percentage of the sale, and their incentives are not always the same as yours. Coming to us directly costs you nothing. That said, if you already have a broker or would prefer to work through an adviser, we are perfectly happy to.
How much is my business worth?
For businesses of this size, a multiple of sustainable profit is the usual starting point, adjusted for how dependent the business is on you, the quality of the team and the shape of future demand. We will always explain how we got to a number rather than just presenting one.
How do you fund a purchase?
With our own savings, plus borrowing scaled to the size of the business. We are private individuals rather than a fund, so we only pursue deals we know we can complete – and we will tell you early if something is beyond us.
Will you keep my team?
Yes – that is usually the whole point. A team that can run the business after you step back is the single biggest thing we look for. Employees transfer with their existing terms protected.
What happens to me after the sale?
Whatever suits you. Some owners hand over in a few weeks; others stay on for a year or two, part-time, doing the parts they still enjoy. We would always rather have you around for a while.
Will you keep the name?
Almost always. The name is usually a large part of what we are buying – the reputation attached to it took years to build.
Is my enquiry confidential?
Completely. Only Chris and Sarah see it, nothing is shared with your staff, customers or competitors, and we will sign an NDA before you share anything sensitive.
What if we are not the right fit?
We will tell you quickly and explain why. If we know someone better suited, we will happily say so.
I am not ready to sell yet – should I still get in touch?
Yes. Some of the best conversations start a year or two before anything happens. It costs nothing to know who might buy your business when the time comes.
Ready for a first, no-obligation conversation?
Tell us a little about your business and we will reply personally.