Is Your Business Sale Ready? By David Ball, Associate Director, S&W

June 13, 2025

Selling a business is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to crystallise hard-earned value. But to maximise success, preparation is key. Buyers seek confidence—poor planning or gaps in your business can jeopardise value, delay deals, or cause them to collapse.

Start Planning Early
It’s never too soon to plan for an exit. Strong fundamentals and good practices enhance your valuation and make the process smoother. Early preparation gives you greater control and avoids last-minute scrambles.

Founders’ Reliance Risk
Many entrepreneurial businesses lean heavily on their founders, but buyers want assurance that the business can thrive independently. Strengthening your senior team and reducing dependency on key individuals makes a business more valuable and scalable.

High-Quality Financials
Buyers expect robust, up-to-date financials. Clear reporting—profit & loss, balance sheet, cash flow, KPIs, and product-level profitability—demonstrates control and inspires confidence. A well-resourced finance function not only streamlines the deal process, but also stands up to financial due diligence.

Growth Visibility
A track record of growing profits, backed by secured revenues, long-term contracts and forecast accuracy, can boost value significantly. Showcasing future opportunity through detailed pipelines and data-driven assumptions provides further comfort to a buyer.

Identify & Manage Risk
Buyers will scrutinise your business. Being open about potential risks—such as customer concentration or sector exposure—builds trust. Addressing weaknesses early or communicating them clearly during a deal process adds credibility and may protect value.

Get Your House in Order
Legal and financial housekeeping is essential. Ensure compliance with Companies House, tax filings, shareholder agreements, contracts, and corporate records. Gaps in due diligence can derail deals. Don’t let admin be your Achilles’ heel.

Tax Considerations
Tax DD goes beyond recent filings—historical restructures, share schemes, and asset transfers are examined. Employment-related securities rules are a common pitfall. Have your advisers review these areas early to reduce surprises.

How We Help
At S&W, we guide businesses through every stage of growth and exit—from M&A to debt advisory and international expansion. As the UK member of Oaklins International, we combine local knowledge with global reach, helping you uncover and seize standout opportunities.