In shortA company is ready for a change of ownership when its value doesn't depend on the current owner: leadership, customer relationships and knowledge are shared, and the figures reliably show profitability. Preparation should start well before the change is relevant.
When to start
The earlier the better. Many value drivers, such as reducing dependence on key people or a concentrated customer base, take time.
What affects value and transferability
- Owner dependence: does the company run without the current owner?
- Key people: is critical knowledge with a few people?
- Customer concentration
- Profitability and its documentation
- Strategy and growth outlook
Succession or sale?
Both need the same readiness. In a family succession the question is often the successor's readiness and financing; in a sale the buyer's view shows directly in the price.
How preparation proceeds
First find what affects value and transferability, then plan and schedule the fixes. Tax and legal questions are handled with their experts.
FAQ
How long before a sale should preparation start?
As early as possible. Some value-related fixes take time to show in daily operations.
What makes a company attractive to a buyer?
Results that don't depend on the current owner: shared leadership, a spread customer base and reliable figures.