You do this once. The buyer does it more often.
That difference shapes the outcome more than any negotiating technique. The buyer knows the customary terms, the prevailing multiples in your sector, and the points on which sellers tend to concede. You know your business better than anyone. You do not know this process.
That is where our work begins.
In brief
- What it is
- Guidance through the full sale of your business, from preparation to closing.
- How the price comes about
- Not from negotiating technique but from competition: several serious buyers at the table at once.
- Fees
- A fixed preparation fee plus a success fee that rises in steps. The preparation fee is set off on completion.
- Discretion
- Buyers are approached anonymously. Your name is disclosed only after a confidentiality agreement is signed.
Five phases
| Phase | What happens | What you notice |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Orientation | Valuation, sale readiness, objectives | Two or three meetings. No external party knows anything yet. |
| 02 Preparation | Information memorandum, buyer analysis, data room | Work on your side, mainly supplying information. |
| 03 Approach | Controlled approach under confidentiality | You hear from us on every party approached. |
| 04 Negotiation | Offers, selection, LOI, due diligence | Intensive. We shield you where we can. |
| 05 Closing | Contracts, financing, transfer | Legally heavy, commercially calm. |
Frequently asked
How can you know what my business is worth before you know it?
We cannot. In a first meeting we give at most a range, based on sector, size and what you tell us. A substantiated valuation follows only after reviewing three to five years of figures. Anyone who quotes you a precise number in a first meeting is selling you something.
What if I decide halfway through not to sell?
It happens, and it is your right. The mandate sets out what applies in that case. You decide whether and when you sell, and on what terms.
Who will find out my business is for sale?
Only parties you have approved in advance, and only after they have signed a confidentiality agreement. You see the list before anyone is approached, and you may strike names without giving a reason.
Can my management team buy the company?
Yes. A management buy-out is a real route, often alongside a financier. We assess that scenario against external buyers so you know the difference in proceeds and certainty.
What happens to my staff?
That depends on the buyer, and it is a point you can settle in the negotiation. Continuity arrangements, retention of location and employment guarantees are all negotiable. We put them on the table if you want them there.
Do I have to stay on after the sale?
Often yes, usually six to twenty-four months. The duration and the role are negotiable and affect the price. We discuss that trade-off before the process begins.
Do you work with foreign buyers?
Yes, and in many sectors that is where the highest bidders are. We run processes in Dutch, French, English and German.
What if there is no suitable buyer?
Then we say so, preferably before you have incurred costs. In the orientation phase we test whether a genuine field of buyers exists. If it does not, we advise waiting and working on what makes your business more attractive.
Start with a conversation, not a decision.
Free of charge and without obligation. What you tell us stays within our office.