Buying or selling a business can be a stressful time. Your business is often your dream and the motivation and income source for your family.
But the process of buying or selling a business can be difficult and requires expert assistance.
Step One
Investigate the business that you are thinking of buying. Do your due diligence.
Step Two
Seek expert legal advice to draw up the contract. This is a critical stage as the contract will set out the essential terms of the purchase and sale. Is the contract subject to finance, verification by your accountant of the financial records or the assignment of the lease of the premises? Are there licences or approvals that are required to run the business, will there be a restraint on the seller or its entities conducting a similar business for a time in a certain area? Are there staff required to remain in the business and on what basis will they be offered employment? This is vital and your legal representative should be able to draft a contract that protects you and ensures that you will only be buying a business on the terms that suit you. Drafting these conditions is an important task and the detail is often critical.
Step Three
Once the contract is negotiated and signed it is time to satisfy those conditions, get your finance, check the financials and obtain the landlords consent to assign the lease or grant a fresh one. Again the documentation here is vital and it is important that you and your lawyer communicate clearly.
Step Four
So the conditions have been approved and it is time for settlement. Your lawyer will have conducted the necessary searches and from these it will be clear what adjustments need to be made at settlement. Documents need to be checked and liaising with your bank regarding finance. Settlement will need to be coordinated with the seller and their financier, the landlord, and the buyer’s financier so that all parties are satisfied to proceed. It is essential for all parties that these matters follow the correct procedure as the buyer wants to ensure they take over the business with all items in place to continue its operation without any impediments or debts. The seller needs to be sure that upon the completion they receive their money for the sale and have been released from all liabilities, including personal guarantees of the business moving forward.
Step Five
Once settlement has been effected your lawyer should attend to any loose ends which require attending to including lodgement of forms, registration of transfers, releases or any other items to perfect the completion and transfer ownership to the buyer and away from the seller.
Whilst the exact process varies from transaction to transaction the skill and knowledge of your legal expert should be relied upon to ensure the transaction proceeds.
Business Lawyers Gold Coast At OMB Solicitors our expert Gold Coast Lawyer team can ensure that your purchase or sale is handled in the most professional and competent manner with a common-sense approach to the transaction having regard to an understanding to your business needs