Sale Advisory: From First Conversation to Closing

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Selling a business can feel complicated. Our job is to make the process understandable, keep it moving, and help you make informed decisions at each step.

Every transaction is different, but our sell-side process generally follows five stages.

We start by understanding your business, why you are considering a transaction, and what matters most to you.

We discuss your objectives, timing, potential transaction structures, and what buyers are likely to value. We also identify issues to address before going to market.

We assess the potential sale value of your business and discuss whether it meets your objectives. Where appropriate, we prepare a broker opinion of value to support that decision. This helps you decide whether to move forward, strengthen the business first, or wait.

The objective: Decide whether to move forward with a sale, prepare further, or wait—based on your goals and the business’s potential sale value.

Preparation can have a meaningful impact on both value and execution.

We analyze the company's financial and operating performance, develop its positioning and marketing materials, identify likely diligence issues, and build a targeted universe of potential strategic and financial buyers.

The objective: Present the business clearly and credibly—and be prepared for the questions buyers will ask.

We approach qualified buyers through a controlled and confidential process.

Interested parties execute confidentiality agreements before receiving detailed information. We manage buyer communications, answer initial questions, and build enough interest to generate meaningful competition without unnecessarily exposing the business to the market.

The objective: Reach the right buyers while protecting confidentiality.

A buyer's initial offer is only the beginning.

We solicit and compare indications of interest, evaluate both price and terms, manage buyer meetings and follow-up discussions, and negotiate with the strongest candidates.

We help you weigh the strongest proposals, select a buyer, and negotiate the key terms of a letter of intent, including price, payment structure, and closing conditions.

The objective: Use competition to improve price, terms, and certainty of closing.

Selecting a buyer and signing a letter of intent begins the final—and often most demanding—phase of the process.

The selected buyer will conduct detailed financial, operational, legal and other diligence. Working capital, financing, transaction documents and other issues can still affect the economics and certainty of the transaction.

We coordinate the process with you and your other advisors, manage buyer requests and negotiations, and remain directly involved through closing.

The objective: Keep the transaction moving and protect the deal you negotiated.