The exit is three years out. The buyer is already reading this year’s accounts.

Most of what determines the price of a business is decided long before it goes to market, and recorded in numbers nobody was treating as a sales document at the time.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for The exit is three years out. The buyer is already reading this year’s accounts.

An owner who intends to sell in three years usually thinks of preparation as something that starts in year three: tidy the accounts, write the information memorandum, brief an adviser. By then most of the answer is already fixed. A buyer looking at the business in 2028 will read the trading history of 2025, 2026 and 2027: the accounts being filed now, the customer list as it stands now, the dependence on the owner as it exists now. The preparation window and the performance window are the same window. They…

Keep reading for free

Create an account to read the rest.

The whole library is free. No card, no subscription, no trial that quietly ends. An account simply lets us know who we are writing for, and opens every article from here on.

  • Every article, in full, at no cost
  • New articles published every weekday
  • Takes about twenty seconds
Create a free account I already have one

Free means free. We will not charge you for the library, and you can read as much of it as you like.

Important: General information only. Rialto Bridge articles describe patterns and considerations that may apply to a business; they are not financial, legal, tax or accounting advice, and they take no account of your particular circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a qualified professional before acting.

More on Growth strategy

Scroll to Top