Business sale
The transfer of ownership of a company to a third-party buyer, either through a share sale or an asset sale. It involves a valuation, due diligence, negotiation, and complex legal documentation.
In practice
Preparing a business sale ideally takes two to three years: putting accounts in order, reducing key dependencies, documenting processes, conducting an IP audit, and resolving outstanding disputes. Rushed sales — driven by illness, financial pressure, or unexpected offers — consistently achieve prices 20 to 40 percent below those of well-prepared exits. The choice of M&A adviser or specialist firm is decisive for both process quality and final price.