Seller's Guide

Get Your Financials Clean and Buyer-Ready

Have at least three years of profit & loss statements, tax returns, and bank statements ready. If your books are messy, hire an accountant to clean them up before listing.

Buyers will verify everything. It’s better to disclose and explain a blemish upfront than to have it discovered during due diligence.

Document Systems So the Business Isn’t “All You”

Write down how your business operates: daily/weekly/monthly processes, staffing responsibilities, software logins and vendors, and key customer/supplier relationships.

This increases value because it reduces owner-dependence and makes the transition easier for a buyer.

De-Risk What Buyers Worry About

If you have time before selling, focus on improvements that reduce risk and increase confidence:

• Increase profitability: cut waste, tighten pricing, emphasize your most profitable products/services
• Diversify customer concentration: if one customer is >20% of revenue, work to reduce that dependence
• Lock in key agreements: leases, supplier terms, and recurring customer contracts add value
• Stabilize operations: clean up staffing gaps, document training, and reduce “single point of failure” roles
• Modernize assets: maintain equipment, refresh the facility, and resolve deferred maintenance

Address Known Problems (Don’t Hide Them)

Every business has issues. Fix what you can before listing. For problems you can’t fix, be prepared to explain them honestly and show how a new owner can address them.

Write for Clarity (Not Hype)

Start with the basics: what the business does, where it’s located, and how long it has operated. Then highlight what matters most:

• Stable revenue and margins
• Repeat customers and demand drivers
• Operational strengths (team, systems, vendors)
• Clear growth opportunities
• A transition plan a buyer can follow

Be specific. Instead of “great profits,” say “average annual profit of $150,000 over the past three years.” Numbers build trust.

Include the Details Buyers Use to Qualify

Qualified buyers typically want:

• Annual revenue and profit (and whether it’s SDE or EBITDA)
• Number of employees and key roles
• Years in business and owner involvement (hours/week)
• Reason for selling (simple and honest)
• Training/transition support you’ll provide

Use Photos That Reduce Uncertainty

Photos matter. Include images of your location, equipment, products, and the customer-facing experience. Clean, well-lit photos help buyers trust that the business is well-run.

Protect Sensitive Information

You don’t need to reveal everything in the listing. Avoid posting customer names, supplier pricing, proprietary processes, or anything that could harm the business if the deal doesn’t close. Share sensitive details only after confirming seriousness and signing an NDA.