Guides for business owners

Thinking about a sale?
Start with your questions.

You may be thinking a few years ahead. Or someone has already asked about buying the company and you’re not sure what to make of it. These guides cover a few of the questions that come up before a first conversation. Start with the one that’s on your mind.

You don’t need a sale plan to start reading.

You’ve got a business to run. Read what’s useful, leave the rest for later. Each guide is open to read here, with no email address or download needed.

You’re still figuring out what you want

Before the first conversation.

Maybe you’re ready to step back. Maybe you’d stay if the right person took some of the weight off. Before talking with anyone, it helps to think about what you’d want to change and what you’d want to keep. You don’t need all the answers yet.

What you’ll find:

  • Your timing, future role and priorities beyond price
  • The questions and support you’d want to bring into a conversation

You want to understand how the fees work

Who pays Signal View?

If there’s no fee to the owner, who pays? It’s a fair question. Buyers cover Signal View’s fees. This guide explains that arrangement, what our work involves and which costs you may still have with your own advisers if you pursue a sale.

What you’ll find:

  • Why you don’t pay Signal View, including if a sale closes
  • How introductions work and where your own advisers come in

You’re interested, but want to keep things private

What to share before a buyer introduction.

You want to have a useful conversation. You also don’t want customer names, financial documents or news of a possible sale getting ahead of you. Here’s what’s helpful at the start, what can wait and what to ask before sharing more.

What you’ll find:

  • What to include in a first inquiry and what to leave out
  • Your permission, who receives information and later buyer requests

A few things to think about

What would you want to be different?

If you’re thinking about a change, these are a few questions you could sit with. Use whichever ones feel relevant.

  • Are you thinking about stepping away, having fewer responsibilities, or something else?
  • If staying involved interests you, what work would you want to keep doing?
  • What, if anything, would be hard to hand over?
  • What would you want someone to understand about the business before talking numbers?

You don’t need to settle any of this now. You can jot down a thought, come back to it later, or leave it for now.

When you want to talk

Start with the question you have.

Tell us a little about the business and what you’re considering. It’s fine if you’re still working it out.

Start a confidential conversation

No decision to sell needed.