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There’s a saying that ‘ A valuation is just a valuation ’ meaning that the only real valuation of a business is what someone actually pays for it. But quite often a business brokers valuation is actually a sales tool brokers use to win sale mandates and achieve sign up fees. Porky Pies A few years ago two owner managers asked to meet as they wanted some advice about selling their artisan food business. We talked and they explained how they’d founded the business and grown it

Available at Amazon How dependent is your business on you? Here’s a hard truth many business owners don’t expect: The more your business depends on you, the less it’s worth to a buyer. It might feel counterintuitive. After all, you’ve been the driving force behind the success. You’ve built the relationships, made the key decisions, and kept everything moving. But from a buyer’s perspective? That’s exactly the problem. Buyers aren’t buying you, they’re buying what works withou

Available at Amazon Preparing your business for sale Most business owners dramatically underestimate one thing: How long it actually takes to sell a business. It’s not a quick transaction. It’s not like selling a house. And it’s definitely not something you want to figure out as you go. In this second post in our series, we’ll walk through what really happens during a business sale, and why understanding the process early can make the difference between a smooth, profitable e

Step 1 Get clear on why you are selling

Thinking About Selling Your Business in the Next Few Years? Join a One-Day Workshop in Summer 2026

What happens to a business when the owner dies or is incapacitated? When a business owner that a company relies on passes away or is unable to continue, urgent action can be needed to cope with the situation. If you're ever faced with this sort of crisis, this post is for you. Don't let a death of business owner' be the death of a business For many families, the business can be a significant asset in the estate and often the least prepared for a sudden change in ownership or

If your business has been listed for months, or longer, and still hasn’t sold, time is now working against you . Buyers start to ask: Why hasn’t it sold? What am I missing? And with every passing month, confidence drops even if nothing about the business has changed. If your business has been on the market too long , this page is for you. Time Kills Momentum And Business Sales A prolonged sale doesn’t mean your business isn’t good. It means the exit was never structured to co

If your business has been on the market for months and nothing is happening , the problem usually isn’t demand. It’s the exit strategy . Owners come to us saying: “There are no buyers for my business” “We can’t find serious buyers” “There’s interest, but no real offers” “The business has been on the market too long” If that’s you, stop assuming the business is the issue. When There’s No Interest, Exposure Isn’t the Answer Most unsold businesses weren’t positioned to exit, the

Business Owner Exit Stress? If continuing in your business isn’t an option anymore , you don’t need another strategy session. You need a way out . Owners come to us when: The pressure has become constant Health or burnout is forcing a decision Retirement can’t be delayed Stress has turned the business into a liability If you’re thinking “I need to exit my business, now” this is for you. When Staying In Is No Longer Viable At this point, most owners are offered: Advice Plans

If you’ve already tried to sell your business and it didn’t complete, this isn’t unusual, some estimates are that 95% of SME businesses fail to sell. But it doesn’t mean you can’t exit your business. Every year, UK owners of £2m–£10m turnover businesses reach the same point: The sale stalls. Buyers disappear. Deals quietly collapse. If you’re thinking: “My business sale failed” “I can’t sell my business” “Why won’t my business sell?” This is for you. When a Sale Fails, Anoth

If your business sale collapsed , if buyers pulled out , or if a deal that should have completed suddenly didn’t — this is the moment most owners feel stuck. You’re exhausted. You don’t trust the process anymore. And you don’t want another advisor telling you what went wrong. You want an exit . When a Deal Fails, Another Listing Doesn’t Fix It After a failed sale, most owners are pushed back into: Re-listing Chasing new buyers Dropping the price That approach rarely works. A