Usually, after a buyer signs a letter of intent to purchase a business and the seller accepts the letter, the buyer will have a specified period of time in which to conduct a due diligence investigation of the seller and the company. During this period, your buyer should have access to your financial and other records, facilities, etc., to investigate before finalising the deal.
BCMS will have assisted you in the preparation of documentation so by now you should have collected and examined most of the information the buyer wants. The vast majority of it is in the form of paper. The buyer will want to see copies of all leases, contracts, and loan agreements in addition to copious financial records and statements. He or she will want to see any management reports you use, such as sales reports, inventory records, detailed lists of assets, facility maintenance records, aged receivables and payables reports, employee organisation charts, payroll and benefits records, customer records, and marketing materials. The buyer will want to know about any pending litigation, tax audits, or insurance disputes.
Buyers will also look at the environment your business operates in, including the size and makeup of your market, your principal suppliers and customers, your competition, and your industry. They may ask you for more and more information until you feel overwhelmed! We suggest that you respond patiently, and cooperate as much as you reasonably can. Just keep your mind on the goal - selling your company at a price and terms you can live with - and you will get through this potentially very trying period.
Your own due diligence. You should also do some serious investigating of your own. You'll want to find out the buyer's credit record, management experience, reputation, and the plans he or she has for your company's future operation. This is particularly true if you plan to continue an employment or consulting arrangement with the buyer after the sale.
