Selling your business requires going through a sequence of well-defined steps. You need to proceed methodically so that you don’t miss out on key processes or make mistakes.
In the following selling a business checklist, you’ll learn more about determining the value of your business, preparing a statement that outlines why you want to sell it, and the various documentation you need to support its value. When selling a business, a checklist can be a lifesaver, so let’s look at what one should entail.
When selling a business, it’s critical to get the price right. If you pitch too high, you won’t get any interest, and your company will remain on the market for too long.
Before you sell your LLC, you’ll want to make sure that it’s ready for viewing. This could include fixing up any interior or exterior issues with the property.
You’ll also want to make sure that:
Here is a business sale closing checklist:
You’ll need to organize the following professionals and tell them about your intention to sell your business:
You’ll want to provide potential buyers with compelling reasons for the sale. These could include:
You’ll want to collate the following when selling your company:
You’ll need both business and tax documents when selling. Business documents include things like your marketing plan, supplier and customer contracts, product pricing lists, and a written business plan.
Tax documents include all your federal and state returns for the last three years, along with profit and loss statements. These are the most important documents needed to sell a business.
You may also require:
A company inventory lets both you and the buyer know in detail what comes with the business. Examples of items on this list might include buildings, equipment, vehicles, and staff roles.
Buyers will want to know who your suppliers are. Small businesses for sale, therefore, should have a list ready. For instance, make a list of all the services you regularly use that are not a part of your business, such as cleaners or SEO agencies.
Any due diligence checklist for selling a business should include provision for an environmental audit of your firm. Only licensed environmental auditors can perform these. They will explore:
For someone buying a business, the checklist of needed permits and licenses could include:
These licenses may not automatically pass over to them when they purchase the business, so you need to be prepared for extra legwork.
Once you’ve put the groundwork in place, you’ll need to tell your employees what’s happening. Inform them whether they will keep their jobs, what corporate policies might change, and who the new owners are.
Always treat employees well and engage with them in concert with the buyer. They are a valuable asset to the firm, and you don’t want extra trouble in the form of lawsuits from disgruntled workers.
Tell the buyer which projects or contracts are ongoing and yet to be fulfilled. Check domain renewal dates for your business website.
Use your attorney to draft a succession agreement that will formally transfer your business to the new owner.
Also, get them to prepare a confidentiality agreement. This protects you from buyers who might misuse financial information regarding your company. It also prevents any sensitive information from becoming public.
The final part of the process is to prepare and sign the sale documents. You’ll need:
Once you’ve signed all these documents and followed the proper legal process, the business sale is complete.
In this article we ran through all the things you need to do to sell a business successfully. Usually, the buyer will pay the closing costs, so you don’t need to worry about these. Just remember to go through each of the factors we’ve mentioned carefully as forgetting any of them could compromise the sale of your business.
The best way to sell fast is to use a guide to selling your small business, like this one. Make sure that you prepare all the groundwork first before you push ahead with contract negotiations. Always follow a process, ticking off items along the way.
Franchises for sale usually have a set value, but private companies require price discovery. The best way to value a business you want to sell is to hire a valuation expert in much the same way you’d hire a real estate agent when selling your property. These professionals inspect your business and then tell you how much it is likely worth so you can get a ballpark idea of what to aim for.
If you sell taxable products, most states require you to get a seller’s permit, regardless of whether you have physical or online premises. You’ll also need to collect sales taxes – something the seller’s tax allows you to do.
To sell a business, you’ll need a Business Bill of Sale. This document spells out key details for the buyer and seller, and also provides a record of the transaction. Make sure that an attorney experienced in corporate sales drafts the document for you. Also, don’t forget that when selling a business, a checklist of all the important steps required for a smooth sale will help you immensely.
Julia A. is a writer at SmallBizGenius.net. With experience in both finance and marketing industries, she enjoys staying up to date with the current economic affairs and writing opinion pieces on the state of small businesses in America. As an avid reader, she spends most of her time poring over history books, fantasy novels, and old classics. Tech, finance, and marketing are her passions, and she’s a frequent contributor at various small business blogs.
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