Selling a Business

WHERE DO YOU START? RIGHT HERE

Although there are many elements to your business sale, they can be broken down to a few key questions:

• What is it worth?
• Who will want to buy it?
• Is now the best time to sell it?
• Do I need a quick sale?
• What does it mean for my tax?

We’ll use our experience and up to date insights to give you objective and comprehensive answers to all of these. For example, when valuing your business we’ll take into account not only your physical assets such as equipment, but the intangibles like future financial performance, customer base and IP.

MATCHING YOU WITH A BUYER

You may already have a prospective buyer, but it’s most likely that you will need to identify potential likely purchasers and market to them, along with providing the information and business plans they will need.

Again, we can help by working to find a suitable buyer. Whether that means selling the business in the UK or abroad we look after the process, vetting them, making the initial approach and, once they’re interested, producing documents and handling all contact and negotiations with them. We’ll keep you fully up to speed with developments and check you’re happy throughout, whilst making sure you can still concentrate on running the business.

A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO TAX

As you move towards agreeing a price and concluding the sale, it’s time to consider the tax implications.

Our advice on tax will be based not only on minimising your liability, but also your immediate needs and ongoing lifestyle after the business has been sold. By doing this, we can ascertain the arrangement that provides the best balance of profitable sale and most effective long-term tax solution.

YOU’VE SOLD YOUR BUSINESS. NOW WHAT?

After the years of dedication to your business and the intense activity of the sale, there may seem to be a sudden vacuum. Now is the time to reflect on when you started your business and all the things you promised yourself for the future.

Our personal wealth team can help you plan your finances so you and your family can enjoy all those activities you’ve looked forward to. If, however, you feel too young to retire, our corporate finance team can help you start-up or purchase a new business, so you can relive the challenge and excitement again!