Most of our business sale clients are the founders and managers of the business they are selling.

Most have spent years building their business.

They have loved what they did for a living.

They have pride in what they have created.

They have formed bonds with staff, customers, suppliers.

Although they want to sell, a huge part of the process is letting go.

Some will be asked to stay on to help transition the business to new ownership. This can be double-edged. On the one hand it can help bridge that gap from ownership to exit for the business owner concerned.

On the other hand it is hard to be working in a business as an employee or a consultant when you were previously the decision-maker.

At AY Business Law, we encourage our clients to face this part of the sale process. One of the reasons we like acting on the sale side is that the human element is an integral part of the work we do.

Whilst our clients want to make sure that they get their financial reward. They care very much about the business they have created and we really help them to process and manage their feelings about the deal.

We highly recommend that an owner has a post-sale exit plan. What are you going to do the day after you sell your business.

Most want to have a lovely holiday.

But it is good to consider doing something more purposeful to fill the gap of business ownership.

We also check in with our clients in the weeks and months following completion. We spend such a lot of time together, particularly in the last few weeks of a deal, that we miss them as much as they miss us.

And we are always there for any follow up questions.