Clean the financial picture
Buyers need to trust the numbers before they can trust the price. Prepare monthly management accounts, VAT filings, bank statements, payroll records, receivables, payables, and a clear explanation of owner adjustments.
If personal expenses run through the business, identify them. If one-off revenue or costs affected recent results, explain them. Clear normalization reduces renegotiation risk.
- Prepare at least 24 months of monthly revenue and profit where available.
- Separate business expenses from owner-specific expenses.
- Summarize debts, VAT, supplier balances, deposits, and employee obligations.
Document the operating model
A buyer wants to know how the business runs without guessing. Document the team structure, key processes, supplier relationships, customer acquisition channels, pricing model, software systems, and owner responsibilities.
The more transferable the operating model, the stronger the handover story.
Review contracts, license, and lease
Before going to market, review the trade license, activity, renewal date, lease expiry, rent escalation, assignment rules, customer contracts, supplier agreements, and any regulatory approvals.
These items often become closing conditions, so identifying issues early gives the seller time to solve them before a buyer uses them to reduce price.
Reduce key person risk
If all sales, approvals, supplier relationships, and customer trust depend on the owner, buyers will discount the valuation or demand a longer transition. Build second-line responsibility where possible.
A simple delegation plan, documented SOPs, and retained key staff can materially improve buyer comfort.
Prepare the buyer-facing narrative
A strong exit story explains why the business is attractive and why the owner is selling. It should cover growth opportunities, realistic risks, market position, customer demand, and what support the seller will provide after completion.
The best narrative is balanced. Buyers trust sellers who acknowledge risks and show how those risks are managed.
This guide is general commercial information, not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Always consult qualified UAE professionals before signing transaction documents.
