buying a business
You get shown the accounts. You get told the story. There's a price on the table and usually a bit of pressure to get moving. And on the other side of the table are people who know exactly what they're doing — they've been running that business for years, and they know what to leave in and what to leave out.
You need someone sitting on your side of that table. Someone who's seen the inside of enough businesses to know what to look at, what to question, and what a fair price actually looks like. That's the work I do here — before you sign, not after.
What I do
Whether you've spotted something you're interested in or you're already deep in a deal — I take care of the numbers and the strategy together.
Business valuation — working out what the business is genuinely worth, based on what the numbers say, not what the seller's asking
Reviewing the accounts they've shown you — the questions to ask, the things that don't add up, the risks that aren't obvious
Structuring the purchase — share sale, asset sale, or something else, and what each means for tax, liability, and what you actually walk away with
Cashflow forecasts and budgets — for the business you're buying, and the business you'll be running once it's yours
Bank and finance work — preparing the financials, the projections, and the story the bank needs to say yes. I'll sit in the meeting if it helps
Post-purchase setup — getting the accounting, tax, and systems right from day one, so you're not inheriting someone else's mess
I know what the banks are looking for, what questions they'll ask, and how to present things so they can see this is a well-thought-out deal.
I know how to make it easy for the bank to say yes.
What people ask me about buying a business
"The bank wants financials and a plan — can you help me put that together?"
Yes, and this is the piece most buyers underestimate. Banks want to see cashflow forecasts, budgets, the story of the business, and evidence you know what you're taking on. Getting the paperwork right is the difference between a bank saying yes on the first go and a deal falling over on financing. I'll put together what they need and, if it helps, sit in the meeting with you.