Sale Readiness Programme
Most businesses aren't ready to sell. That's fixable.
Most business owners who go to market leave money on the table — not because their business is bad, but because it hasn't been prepared for scrutiny. Our Sale Readiness Programme works with you through a defined roadmap to close that gap: a higher valuation, cleaner accounts, and a sale process with far less friction.
3–6 months
typical programme length
4 pillars
financials, operations, commercial, legal
One goal
a higher valuation and a cleaner exit
Why preparation matters
What buyers actually see when they look under the bonnet.
The gap between what your business is worth today and what it could be worth at sale is rarely about the business itself. It's about what buyers find when they dig in — and how they price the risk.
Too much depends on you
Buyers discount heavily for owner dependency. If the business can't run without you in it, they'll either walk away or cut the price to reflect the risk.
The numbers don't tell the right story
Personal expenses, one-off costs, and mixed-use assets distort the accounts. Buyers see risk where there's actually profit — and your valuation suffers for it.
Revenue is lumpy or concentrated
One or two customers driving the majority of turnover is a red flag for buyers. Recurring, contracted income is worth far more than project-by-project work.
Due diligence becomes a price negotiation
Every surprise a buyer finds during due diligence becomes a reason to chip away at your price. Most of these surprises are avoidable — if you find them first.
What the programme covers
Four dimensions. One clear destination.
The programme is structured around the four areas buyers scrutinise most closely. We work through each one methodically, identifying what's suppressing your value and what to do about it.
Financials & Valuation
We start by understanding what your business is worth today — and why. We normalise your accounts, apply multiple valuation methods, and identify the financial levers most likely to move your number before you go to market.
Operations & People
We help you reduce owner dependency, document your processes, and build the management structure buyers want to see. A business that can run without its founder sells faster and at a higher multiple.
Commercial & Revenue
We look at your customer base, contract certainty, and revenue mix. Recurring and contracted income commands a premium. High customer concentration suppresses your value. Both are fixable, given time.
Legal & Structural
Shareholder agreements, IP ownership, lease terms, and cap table clarity all affect what a buyer will pay — and how long the process takes. We identify the structural issues before they become deal-breakers.
How it works
A structured process, not an open-ended conversation.
Every engagement follows the same four-phase structure. You always know where you are, what comes next, and what you're working towards.
Month 1
Assessment & current valuation
We review your accounts, interview you, and produce an honest picture of where the business stands today — its current valuation, its strengths, and the gaps that are suppressing its value.
Months 1–2
Prioritised roadmap
Not everything needs fixing. We prioritise the changes that will have the most impact on your valuation and your ability to complete a clean sale — so your time and energy goes where it matters most.
Months 2–6
Monthly consulting sessions
We work through the roadmap together, month by month. You implement the changes; we advise, review, and adjust as the business evolves. Practical support, not just a report you put in a drawer.
Programme close
Exit-ready sign-off
When the roadmap is complete, we give you a clear view of where you stand: a revised valuation, a clean set of accounts, and a business positioned for a high-value, low-friction sale.
Two services. One journey.
Sale Readiness comes first. Brokerage is what follows.
These are two separate services — by design. Sale Readiness is for owners who aren't ready yet. It's preparation, not marketing. Brokerage is for owners who are.
Clients who complete the Sale Readiness Programme before going to market consistently achieve better valuations, faster buyer processes, and cleaner due diligence. The work pays for itself many times over.
You don't have to use us for brokerage once the programme is done. But most clients who've done the preparation with us find the next step is a natural one.
Sale Readiness Programme
For owners who want to maximise their valuation and move into a clean, confident sale.
Covers financials, operations, commercial structure, and legal preparation. Engagement-priced, usually 3–6 months.
Enquire about the programmeBusiness Brokerage
For owners who are ready to go to market and want a serious, proactive buyer search.
NDA-first outreach, gated data room, buyer vetting for fit and intent. Success-fee model.
Learn about brokerageNot sure where you stand?
Start with a free valuation estimate.
Our free Business Valuation Tool gives you an indicative range in seconds — no email address required. It's a useful starting point before a discovery call, and a good way to sense-check your expectations before you commit to anything.
Questions owners ask
Things worth knowing before you pick up the phone.
No — and that distinction matters. Sale Readiness is what happens before brokerage. It's for owners who know a sale is coming but aren't ready to go to market yet. Once the programme is complete, many clients move into our brokerage service — better prepared, better valued, and in a stronger negotiating position.
Most clients work with us over three to six months, depending on the complexity of the business and how much preparation is needed. Some businesses need less time; others benefit from a longer run-up. We'll give you a clear assessment on your discovery call.
We price each engagement individually, based on the size and complexity of the business and the scope of work involved. We don't publish a fixed fee because a meaningful programme for a £500k turnover business looks very different from one for a £5m business. We'll walk you through the investment clearly on your discovery call — no surprises.
No. The Sale Readiness Programme stands on its own. You're not committing to anything beyond the programme itself. That said, we obviously hope you'll want to — and most clients who've done the work with us find the transition into brokerage a natural next step.
Quite possibly not — or not yet. If you're already well-organised, financially clean, and not overly dependent on key people, you may be closer to ready than you think. The programme is designed to move at pace — and once it's complete, the transition into brokerage is a natural next step. A discovery call will tell you quickly where you stand.
Ready to find out what your business could be worth — and what it would take to get there?
A 30-minute discovery call is the right place to start. No commitment, no pressure — just an honest conversation about where you are and what's possible.