Welcome to our frequently asked questions page. We spend our lives answering questions and you'd be surprised by the range of them, however, some things get asked over and over again, so we thought we'd answer some of them below.

1. When should I sell?

When the time is right for you. Take a look at your personal circumstances and your reasons for selling. Do you want to retire? Do something different? Realise the value of your hard work? Divorce or arguments with your business partners?  

We've heard it all and we are never surprised by something new, however, the most important thing to remember is that you do it because it's right for you and your circumstances.

2. What's my company worth?

We're asked that everyday and our answer is always the same.

"Your company is worth what somebody is prepared to pay for it."

We are able to give a good indication of value, we can back this up with facts and figures and point to similar sales and precedents but at the final reckoning, it's unique to each business.

Think of it like a house. What's a 5 bedroom house with 100 foot garden worth? Well, that depends on a large number of factors like location, condition and the market as a whole. Sometimes, it just comes down to whether it's just right for the buyer and their needs. 

3. How long will it take?

This is easier to answer. A typical sale for a single company of good standing should take somewhere between 3-6 months from start to finish. Our fastest transaction has been less than 1 month but our longest (and most complicated) took nearly two years.

4. Can I change my mind?

Until you sign on the dotted line and take the buyer's money you can change your mind at any stage. That said, the further you go down the route of a sale (or purchase) the more costs you are likely to have incurred in relation to professional fees but the power and control of the sale always rests with you.

5. What's the market like right now?

The answer to this one is always the same. It's good for good business and bad for bad businesses. There have been exceptions to this in the past, for example around about the time of the DOT COM bubble you could literally sell anything for any amount you could imagine but in our areas of expertise (recruitment, financial markets and banking) it's always the same. People always want good businesses.