Buying or selling a business

From buying or setting up a business right through to selling it, getting the right advice, at the right time, from the right people is critical to your success.

Our specialist team of expert lawyers are recognised in the Legal 500, the leading independent guide to law firms in the UK.

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We specialise in the merger, acquisition or sale of all types of business. We will guide you through the legal complexities with a positive and proactive approach.

Our team provides a responsive, speedy and business-orientated legal service and are one of the few truly specialist teams in the region dealing with this type of work.

We can help you with:

Incorporating a company
Shareholders’ arrangements
Buying a company or business
Share buy-backs
Joint ventures
Family company succession
Management buy-outs (MBOs)
Demergers and other corporate reorganisations
Selling a company or business
Acquisitions from administrators and liquidators

Buying or selling a business in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Ringwood and the New Forest

We have offices in Christchurch and Ringwood. Our Commercial Team also covers Bournemouth, Poole, and the New Forest. The majority of our clients located in the Bournemouth and Poole area, but we have clients from nationwide locations.

Ask us at Frettens

Here's some frequently asked questions on commercial issues, if you need to ask us anything more please get in touch using the form on the right.

What do I need to consider when selling a business?

Below Karen details the key ways to groom your business for sale to make an attractive prospect for potential buyers, which it turn, should help you realise the best value upon sale.

Show a stable financial pattern by maximising the trading success as much as possible
Make sure accounts are in order and up to date
Tie key staff and customers to long-term contracts
Check that relevant legislation has been complied with and that all necessary licences, consents and insurances are in place
Iron out any major legal issues
If you are selling company shares, make sure that the statutory books and Companies House filing history are up to date and correct
If operating from rented premises, ensure that there is a formal lease in place to give the buyer security of tenure
Protect any intellectual property rights; the business trademark could hold significant value so make sure that it’s registered with the IPO
Ensure management information systems are working smoothly; it is likely that a prospective buyer will want initial information prior to any formal due diligence process

For further advice, please get in contect with one of our specialist business sale solicitors here.

What is the legal process of selling a business?

The legal process for selling a business can be broken down as follows:

Heads of terms – set out terms of transaction
Due diligence – answering questions
Contract – Mutual agreement
Disclosure – provide warranties about the business
Additional documents – any extra forms, letters or documents to sign
Post-Completion – Submission of documentation to relevant bodies

Read the article here.

How do I choose a buyer for my business?

There are many factors to consider in choosing a buyer, but a good starting point is to establish what options are out there. A buyer could be any one of the following:

A supplier or customer, or a competitor
New market entrants
Your own management team
Family members and succession

When you have received offers, the next stage is to weigh these up and establish which you wish to pursue. The most important things to consider are:

Who Is buying the business?
Can the buyer afford the purchase price?
How is the buyer going to pay for the business?
How are you going to get paid?
What is the buyer expecting of you?
What comfort is the buyer looking for?
Is the buyer seeking an exclusivity period?

To read Karen's in depth explanation of all these steps, please read the article here.

What are heads of terms?

It is often the case in a corporate transaction that the buyer and seller will agree to sign heads of terms (sometimes also referred to as a letter of intent, memoranda of understanding or heads of agreement).

This is a document which sets out the main terms of the transaction, which have been agreed in principle, between the parties during the course of their negotiations. They are prepared and agreed before the parties move to negotiating the main contract.

Read the full article here.

What is the management buyout process?

The management buyout process is when the management team of a private company collectively acquire part of or all of the company that they manage through a buyout of the company’s owners.

The steps include: