Practice 01
Transactions
Selling a business, buying one, or changing who owns it. We prepare the company, find the right counterparty, and run the process through closing.
Overview
Most owners sell a business once. The process is unfamiliar, the stakes are personal, and the details decide the outcome: how the business is presented, who sees it and when, how the price is structured, and what is promised in the purchase agreement.
We advise owners and buyers from the first conversation about value to the closing table, and we work alongside your attorney, accountant, and lender throughout.
What the work covers
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Sale preparation
Financial cleanup, a defensible view of value, and a clear presentation of the business before anyone outside the company sees it.
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Confidential marketing
Buyers are approached selectively and under a non-disclosure agreement. The name of the business goes only to qualified parties.
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Acquisitions
Search, evaluation, and negotiation for buyers, including purchases of businesses in financial distress or in bankruptcy proceedings.
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Deal structure
Asset or equity purchase, seller financing, earn-outs, and working capital, structured so the deal can be financed.
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Closing
Diligence requests, the purchase agreement timeline, lender conditions, and the small items that delay a closing.
Who we work with
- Owners of established private companies preparing for a sale
- Individuals and groups acquiring an operating business
- Attorneys and lenders who need a transaction advisor on a matter
Process
How an engagement runs
- 01
First conversation
A confidential call about the business, your goals, and your timing.
- 02
Assessment
We review the financials and the operation and give you a candid view of value and readiness.
- 03
Engagement
Scope, fees, and responsibilities are set out in a written agreement.
- 04
Execution
Preparation, outreach, negotiation, and closing, with regular updates throughout.
Common questions
How is a private business valued for sale?
Most are valued on a multiple of earnings, adjusted for the owner’s compensation and one-time items, then tested against comparable sales, the quality of the books, and what a buyer can finance. When real estate is involved, an independent appraisal is often worth commissioning.
How do you keep a sale confidential?
Early outreach describes the business without naming it. Interested buyers sign a non-disclosure agreement and are qualified before they receive detail. Employees, customers, and suppliers are told on a timeline you control.
Do you work with buyers as well as sellers?
Yes. We advise owners on sales and buyers on acquisitions, including purchases out of a bankruptcy estate.
Talk it through, in confidence.
Tell us briefly what you are working on. A principal reads every inquiry and replies personally.