What to expect
Selling a business, without the theatre.
An honest account of how it works with Acquity, from the first conversation to the day you step back.
The process
Five steps. Most of the work is ours.
Every sale is different, but the shape of ours is the same. We move at the pace you are comfortable with, and we tell you what is happening and why at each stage. There is no obligation until you sign, and our first conversation costs you nothing.
A conversation
It starts with a call or a coffee, whichever you prefer. An hour is usually enough. We want to understand the business, why you are thinking about this now, and what you would want from a sale. You do not need to have anything prepared.
Getting to know the business
If it looks like a fit on both sides, we go deeper: the numbers, the customers, the team, the equipment, the risks. We work with your accountant and your lawyer rather than around them, and you stay in control of what is shared and when.
An offer that holds
We put the terms in writing and stand behind them. We do not come back at the eleventh hour to reopen the price or invent new conditions. If something genuine changes, we tell you early and plainly, and we work through it with you.
The transition
How this looks is yours to decide. Some owners stay for six months to make introductions and pass on what they know. Others hand over the keys and step away. Either is fine. We agree it up front, in writing, so there are no surprises.
After
Once it is done, the business carries on with the team in place and the name on the door. You are welcome to stay in touch, and most owners who sell to us do.
Our commitments
Five promises we make, and keep.
- ConfidentialityNobody needs to know until you decide they do. Your staff, your customers and your competitors hear nothing from us.
- Your advisers stay involvedWe work with your accountant and your lawyer. We do not ask you to go through this alone.
- No re-tradingThe price we agree is the price we pay. We do not use a late technicality to reduce it.
- The team staysWe buy businesses for their people, not in spite of them. The people who run it now are the reason it works.
- Your paceYou decide how long the handover lasts. We do not rush a decision this size.
Questions
The things owners ask us first.
Will my staff keep their jobs?
Yes, in almost every case. We buy to keep the business running, and the people who know it are the reason it works. If a role ever has to change, the person hears it from us first, honestly and in good time.
Will my name come off the business?
Only if you want it to. Most owners keep the name. It stands for something in the market, and that reputation is part of what we are buying.
Do I have to stay on after the sale?
No. Many owners stay for a handover because they want to, not because they have to. If you would rather hand over the keys and go, we will have that ready.
What if I change my mind?
Until you sign, you can walk away at any point, and we will not make it awkward. The first conversation costs you nothing and commits you to nothing.
How long does it take?
It depends on the business and on what you want. A straightforward one can move in a few months. Once we understand yours, we will give you an honest timeline rather than an optimistic one.
Who else finds out?
Nobody, unless you tell them. We sign a confidentiality agreement before we look at anything sensitive, and we contact no one at your business without your say so.
Bring us the question you have been turning over.
There is no script and no sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about your business.