The Ultimate Business Sale Checklist (Before You Even Talk to a Broker)
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✅ Why You Need a Business Sale Checklist
Selling a business is nothing like selling a car or a house. You’re not just offloading an asset, you’re handing over systems, staff, customers, and future income. This Business Sale Checklist will help you have a successful business exit.
Most owners think they’re ready, but come unstuck during due diligence or valuation.
This checklist is for business owners who want to sell smarter, whether that’s 6 months or 3 years from now.
📋 The Business Sale Checklist
Here’s exactly what you need to get sale-ready and attract serious buyers:
1. Know Your Business’s Current Value
Don’t guess. Don’t rely on a friend’s sale or a broker’s opinion.
- Get a Business Valuation Report based on your financials, industry, and current multiple trends.
🔗 Get your free business valuation here
2. Clean Up Your Financials
Messy books are the fastest way to scare off buyers.
- Up-to-date P&L and balance sheet
- Remove personal or discretionary expenses
- Normalise salaries (including yours)
- Ensure BAS, tax returns, and payroll are current
3. Systemise Operations
If it’s in your head, it’s not a business; it’s a job.
- Document SOPs for daily operations
- Ensure staff can run the business without you
- Set up repeatable workflows for sales, delivery, and admin
4. Reduce Owner Dependence
Can the business run for a week without you? What about a month?
- Train key staff
- Delegate critical decisions
- Build dashboards and reporting systems
5. Lock in Key People
Buyers want continuity.
- Have contracts or agreements in place
- Create staff retention plans or incentives
- Communicate your future plan early and clearly
6. Diversify Revenue Streams
Risk = lower multiples.
- Avoid relying on one or two big clients
- Highlight recurring revenue or contracted income
- Prepare churn and lifetime value data
7. Tidy Up Your Legal and IP
Legal mess = buyer cold feet.
- Business name and trademarks registered
- Leases, licences, supplier and customer contracts current
- Review company structure and shareholder agreements
8. Prepare for Due Diligence
It’s not personal, it’s professional scrutiny.
- Create a data room (digital folder) with:
- 3 years of financials
- Key contracts
- Staff info
- Business structure docs
- Legal and tax records
9. Clarify Your Ideal Exit Terms
Before you meet a buyer or broker:
- Know your “walk away” number
- Decide if you’ll stay involved post-sale (e.g. earn-out, handover)
- Clarify personal goals and financial targets
10. Create a Clear Growth Story
Buyers pay for future profit, not just past performance.
- Show year-on-year growth
- Highlight untapped potential (e.g. new markets, scale ops)
- Prepare a 12-month forecast and marketing strategy
🚩 Bonus: Red Flags That Spook Buyers
These can drop your sale price or kill the deal entirely:
- Revenue declining or inconsistent
- No documented processes
- Owner does everything
- High team turnover
- Legal risk (e.g. unregistered IP, disputes)
- “Surprise” expenses or loans in the books
🧲 Want the Printable PDF Version?
Grab the free, printable version of this checklist plus two bonus tools:
🎯 Download the Business Sale Toolkit
🚀 Ready to Take Action?
If you're thinking about selling, even if it’s 12+ months away, the smartest time to start is now.
📞 Book your free 30-minute strategy call
🔗 Book here
Before You Go...
The biggest regret most sellers have?
They waited too long to get ready.
This checklist isn’t just about documents, it’s about creating leverage. A business that’s clean, systemised, and buyer-ready always sells for more, and faster.
Don’t wing it. Get prepared. Exit strong.