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Thinking about buying, selling or merging? Pop your details in below and we’ll set up a free 1-2-1 to talk it through. We’ll be in touch within 48 hours. If you need advice sooner, call 01474 853 856 to talk to someone straight away.
Selling or buying a business is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. The right advice can make a significant difference to the value you achieve, the risks you avoid and what happens next.
At A4G, we take the time to understand your business, your ambitions and what a successful outcome looks like for you. We combine accountancy expertise with commercial understanding and a personal, hands-on approach to business transactions.
Selling a business involves countless decisions, detailed negotiations and important financial considerations. Having someone who understands your business and is prepared to challenge what is being proposed can make all the difference.
“We couldn’t have had a better person in our corner.”
When Monique and her fellow directors decided to sell their business, they turned to Malcolm Palmer, who had acted as their company accountant for more than 15 years. His knowledge extended well beyond the accounts. He understood their business, the industry they operated in and what mattered to the directors.
Throughout the transaction, Malcolm provided hands-on support, scrutinising the Sale Agreement and working alongside the legal teams on both sides. He identified potential errors that could have been overlooked, challenged the proposed working capital position and helped ensure the final Share Purchase Agreement was properly understood by everyone involved.
It was the depth of his involvement, commercial understanding and willingness to challenge that made the difference.
In Monique’s words:
“His input went far beyond what we expected from an accountant. He scrutinised all elements of the Sale Agreement with real rigour, liaising with the legal teams on both sides of the deal.
He identified potential errors that could have been overlooked and built a properly reasoned case for a stronger working capital position.
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending him to any business owner going through a sale – we couldn’t have had a better person in our corner to reach the successful outcome we achieved.”
– Monique, business sale client
For most business owners, selling is about getting right outcome for the business you’ve built, the people who have helped you build it and the future you want for yourself.
You might be wondering:
These are exactly the questions worth addressing before you start the sale process.
We assess your financial position, business performance and potential value, while considering your personal objectives and what you want to achieve from a sale.
We identify areas that could affect value or create difficulties during a transaction. This may include financial reporting, profitability, working capital, management structure and operational risks.
A third-party sale isn’t the only way to exit a business. We help you consider the options available, including: Third-party trade or private equity sale, Management buyout (MBO), Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), family succession or other appropriate succession and exit arrangements
From reviewing financial information and supporting negotiations to assessing working capital and dealing with due diligence, we help you understand what is being proposed and protect your interests throughout.
We work alongside your solicitors and other professional advisers to help keep the transaction moving.
Completion is an important milestone, but it isn’t the end of the planning process. We help you consider the financial and tax implications of the sale and what your next chapter could look like.
Buying another business can accelerate growth, open up new markets, increase your customer base and strengthen your competitive position.
But the right acquisition needs to make commercial and financial sense. As experienced business acquisition advisers, we help owners understand the opportunities, assess the risks and make informed decisions before committing.
Developing your acquisition strategy
We help you establish what you want to achieve, what type of business would be a good fit and how an acquisition supports your wider growth plans.
Identifying suitable opportunities
We help define your ideal target by sector, size, location and financial performance, and support the identification and approach of potential businesses.
Understanding what you’re buying
We assess financial performance, business value and potential risks, helping you look beyond the headline asking price.
Structuring and negotiating the deal
We advise on financial and commercial considerations, deal structures and tax implications to help protect your interests.
Managing due diligence and completion
We work alongside your legal and other professional advisers, helping you navigate financial due diligence and the practical considerations involved in completing a transaction.
Planning for integration and growth
An acquisition doesn’t end on completion. We help you consider the financial and operational implications of bringing the businesses together.
Whether you’re considering your first acquisition or looking to grow through a series of acquisitions, the right advice can help you make better decisions.
The best time to prepare your business for sale isn’t necessarily when you decide to sell. It’s now.
A business that relies entirely on its owner can be harder to scale, harder to step away from and potentially less attractive to a buyer.
Through A4G Freedom and our business independence expertise, we help owners build businesses that are less dependent on them.
Our approach focuses on:
You don’t have to know exactly when you’ll exit. You just need to start building a business that gives you choices.
Explore Malcolm Palmer’s book, Making Your Business Less Dependent on You, and discover how to create a business that works for you, rather than one that depends on you.
A business valuation considers several factors, including profitability, financial performance, assets, market conditions, sector, growth potential and the strength of the management team.
There isn’t one valuation method that suits every business. Understanding how a potential buyer might assess your business is an important starting point.
A4G can help you understand the factors influencing your business’s value and identify opportunities to improve it
Ideally, start planning three to five years before you intend to sell. This gives you time to improve financial performance, strengthen management, address operational issues and consider the most appropriate exit route.
However, even if you’re considering a sale sooner, there are steps you can take to prepare.
Business owners have several options, depending on their circumstances and objectives. These include selling to a third party, a management buyout, an Employee Ownership Trust, family succession or other appropriate arrangements.
Each option has different financial, commercial and tax considerations.
An experienced accountant or M&A adviser can help you understand the financial aspects of a sale, assess business value, identify potential risks, consider tax implications and support negotiations.
They can also work alongside your solicitors to help ensure the financial and commercial details of the transaction are properly considered.
Yes. We support business owners considering growth through acquisition, including acquisition strategy, valuation, financial due diligence, deal structuring and completion.
Absolutely. In fact, speaking to an adviser early can help you understand what your business might be worth, what could affect its future value and what you could do now to prepare for an eventual exit.
You don’t need to have a fixed timescale or a buyer lined up to start the conversation.
You’ve invested years of hard work into building your business. Whether you’re considering a sale, looking to acquire another business or simply want to understand your options, getting the right advice early can make a real difference.
At A4G, we take the time to understand what matters to you, your business and your future.
Let’s start with a conversation.