A checklist of the documents and answers buyers request in diligence on a company sale, grouped by area, with the reason each request is made.

The stages of acquiring a company: criteria and sourcing, outreach, valuation, the letter of intent, diligence, financing, the purchase agreement and integration.

A step-by-step view of a sell-side M&A process: preparation, marketing, bids, the letter of intent, diligence, the purchase agreement and closing.

Practical ways to raise what buyers will pay: reduce owner dependence, spread customers, tighten the numbers and document how the business runs.

What to gather and decide before a business valuation: financials, add-back support, customer data, owner role and liabilities, and why each matters to a buyer.

A plain-language guide to the letter of intent in a business sale: price, structure, working capital, exclusivity, diligence and the terms that move your proceeds.

How to value a partner's share in a buyout: the standard of value, discounts, valuation date, buy-sell agreement terms and how payment is structured.

Buyers pay for future cash flow and discount it for risk. See the factors that raise or lower what a company is worth, from earnings quality to owner dependence.

How to judge when to sell: personal goals, business performance, buyer demand and readiness, with a scorecard and the alternatives to a full sale.