Selling your business - Let us help you get a good deal, so you can retire to your beach house!

Ready to talk about selling your business?

Whether you’re thinking of selling in a year or you’ve already had an offer, we can step in at any stage to:

  • Sense-check your options

  • Spot risks and problems early

  • Help you negotiate and document a deal that truly works for you.

    You’ve worked hard to build your business. When it’s time to sell, you want two things:

    1. A good price, and

    2. A smooth, stress-free process.

    We’re here to help you get both.

Step 1:Preparing for the sale

  • Selling a business isn’t just “find a buyer, sign a contract, get paid”. There are moving parts: timing, tax, leases, staff, contracts, finance and, of course, the price.

    We help you understand the overall process from the start, so you know:

    • What needs to happen (and in what order)

    • Who does what (you, us, your accountant, your broker)

    • Where the main risks and “gotchas” are, and how to avoid them.

  • Timing can make a real difference to the price you achieve.

    Things to think about:

    • Market conditions – Is your industry growing or slowing down? Are interest rates helping or hurting buyers?

    • Your business cycle – Are your last 2–3 years of financials strong and trending the right way?

    • Your personal situation – Health, energy, family, and future plans all matter too.

    We work with you (and your accountant) to sense-check your timing and make sure you’re in the best position to get a strong result, not a stressed, “fire sale” outcome.

  • Before you go to market, you need a realistic idea of what your business is worth.

    A proper valuation will usually consider:

    • Turnover and profit over several years

    • Assets and stock

    • Growth potential

    • Any key risks (e.g. reliance on one big customer).

    We’ll:

    • Help you engage the right valuer or work with your accountant

    • Sense-check the valuation with you

    • Make sure the valuation method and assumptions are clearly explained – so you understand how the number was reached and can justify it to buyers.

  • Buyers pay more for a business that looks organised and low-risk.

    We help you “tidy the house” by:

    • Financial clean-up – Making sure your accounts, tax returns and key financial reports are up-to-date and consistent.

    • Legal clean-up – Checking leases, key contracts, licenses, IP ownership, guarantees, and any loose ends that might scare a buyer.

    • Risk reduction – Identifying disputes, personal guarantees, or problem contracts that could affect your sale price or delay settlement.

    The goal: fewer surprises for the buyer, a smoother due diligence process, and a stronger negotiating position for you.

A hair salon reception area with two women, one with long reddish hair and the other with long light brown hair, engaging in a transaction at the counter. The woman with red hair is seated, while the woman with light brown hair is standing behind the counter, smiling. The salon has a modern, stylish decor with natural light, wooden beams, and salon stations in the background.

Step 2: Negotiating the sale

  • Not all buyers are created equal. The “right” buyer is usually someone who:

    • Can actually get finance and complete the deal

    • Understands your industry

    • Isn’t going to drag things out endlessly, then walk away.

    We can:

    • Work alongside your business broker or adviser

    • Help you review expressions of interest and heads of agreement

    • Flag any early warning signs (e.g. unrealistic conditions or red-flag terms).

  • Whether you’re using a broker or selling more privately, the way your business is presented matters.

    A good information pack will usually:

    • Highlight the strengths and opportunities in your business

    • Present clear, consistent key numbers

    • Address obvious questions up-front (so buyers don’t assume the worst).

    We can review marketing materials and information packs to:

    • Make sure they’re accurate and not misleading

    • Check that they line up with the actual legal and financial position of the business

    • Reduce the risk of later disputes about what was “promised”.

  • Price is important – but it’s not the only thing that matters.

    We help you negotiate:

    • Purchase price structure – Lump sum, staged payments, earn-outs, or vendor finance

    • Inclusions – What’s included: stock, vehicles, IP, customer lists, websites, databases, plant and equipment

    • Adjustments – How stock, creditors, debtors and work in progress are dealt with

    • Restraint of trade – What you can and can’t do after the sale (and for how long)

    • Your ongoing involvement – Are you staying on for a handover period? On what terms?

    Our job is to protect your interests, keep things commercially realistic, and help you reach a deal you’re happy to sign.

  • Once the key terms are agreed, it’s time to turn them into a proper contract.

    We will:

    • Draft or review the Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Business

    • Make sure all important terms are clearly written and practical

    • Build in sensible protections for you – including warranties, limitation of liability, and clear timelines.

    You’ll know exactly:

    • What you’re selling

    • What you’re being paid

    • What you must do and by when

    • What happens if something goes wrong.

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Step 3: Closing the Sale

  • Before a buyer commits, they will want to “look under the hood” of your business.

    We help you:

    • Prepare a due diligence pack (financials, contracts, leases, employment records, licences, IP details, etc.)

    • Answer buyer questions in a way that’s accurate, but doesn’t overshare or expose you unnecessarily

    • Keep the process structured and time-limited, so it doesn’t drag on forever.

    Good preparation here means fewer delays, fewer price renegotiations, and a much higher chance of the deal actually settling.

  • When it’s time to complete the sale, there’s a bit of paperwork – but we’ll guide you through it.

    We’ll help with:

    • Transfer of assets, business names, domain names, and intellectual property

    • Assignment or negotiation of leases and key contracts

    • Transfer of licences and permits where possible

    • Making sure settlement figures are correct and money is paid to the right place.

    We coordinate with your broker, accountant and the buyer’s lawyer to keep everyone on the same page.

  • Even after settlement, questions and issues can pop up, such as:

    • Disputes over stock levels, working capital, or completion accounts

    • Questions about warranties or representations

    • Tax queries and adjustments.

    If something crops up, we’re still in your corner. We help you:

    • Work through issues commercially where possible

    • Rely on the protections built into your sale agreement

    • Resolve disputes quickly, so you can properly move on to your next chapter (preferably involving a beach, a book, and a cold drink).

A group of people sitting at a wooden table having a meeting. Some are taking notes, and there are notebooks on the table.

Disclaimer: This article should not be relied upon for legal advice. Always seek professional legal advice before making any decisions regarding your business.