You took a fortnight off and nothing broke. Every call still came to your mobile.

The holiday where nothing goes wrong is the most reassuring test an owner can run, and the least informative one a buyer will accept.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for You took a fortnight off and nothing broke. Every call still came to your mobile.

The fortnight away is the test most owners run on themselves. No emergencies, no collapsed delivery, no frantic calls. The conclusion drawn is that the business no longer depends on its founder. The conclusion a buyer draws from the same fortnight is usually different, because they are testing something else entirely: not whether the business survives two weeks without you, but whether the revenue survives two years without you. Those are separate questions, and confusing them is one of the more expensive errors in the run-up to a sale, or…

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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.

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