Buying and selling
Buying or selling a business, step by step
Whether you are buying a corner shop, selling a company you built or taking over a franchise unit, the deal depends on people other than you: a landlord, a lender and sometimes a franchisor.
I keep one timeline for the whole deal. The letter of intent says what you are agreeing to. The purchase agreement says who stands behind the numbers. The lease assignment and any franchisor approval decide whether you can open the doors on Monday.
Buyers get a list of what to ask before they commit. Sellers get a list of what a buyer will ask, so the answers are ready.
What the work covers
Letters of intent and purchase agreements
Franchise resales and transfer approval
Lease assignments and landlord consent
Inventory, equipment and what is counted at closing
Non-compete and transition terms for the seller
From first offer to closing
- 01
Step 1: Terms on one page
The price, what is included, what is not and who needs to say yes: a letter of intent that holds up.
- 02
Step 2: Looking inside
Leases, licenses, loans, taxes and contracts are read before money is at risk.
- 03
Step 3: The agreement
Warranties, holdbacks and conditions drafted so each side knows what happens if something turns up.
- 04
Step 4: Closing and the first week
Signatures, keys, utilities and the calls that keep staff and suppliers on side.
What owners ask before signing
Do I need a lawyer to buy a franchise resale?
Yes, more than for a new unit. The franchisor usually has to approve the transfer, and the terms you inherit may differ from what the seller signed. I check both.
Who pays my broker?
That depends on the listing agreement. I read it with you, because the broker’s fee often comes out of the sale price.
Can you help with a quick sale to a partner?
Yes. A sale between partners needs the same attention to the numbers, the lease and the guarantees as a sale to a stranger.
Weighing an offer?
Book a first call and bring the offer or the listing. We will go through who has to approve what, and how long that takes.