Success in acquisition starts long before any contracts are signed.
I can then provide a tailored checklist or a deeper dive into one of those areas. 10 Ways to Increase Business Value Before Selling
: Analyze customer concentration; an over-reliance on a single client is a major risk.
: Whether it’s an Asset Purchase (buying specific items) or a Share Purchase (buying the entire entity), ensure the Heads of Agreement clearly outlines the skeletal deal points.
: Clean, organized books with clear "add-backs" (owner's personal expenses paid by the business) increase buyer confidence.
: Define your search criteria based on industries you already understand or can easily learn. Look for businesses with a stable trading history or those ripe for modernization.
The you're focused on (e.g., retail, SaaS, manufacturing)
: Verify licenses, permits, and existing contracts with suppliers or employees to uncover hidden liabilities.