{"id":4520,"date":"2026-06-20T21:36:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T21:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/?p=4520"},"modified":"2026-06-30T12:19:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T12:19:12","slug":"how-to-prepare-your-business-for-sale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/how-to-prepare-your-business-for-sale\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare Your Business for Sale: A 12-Month Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4520\" class=\"elementor elementor-4520\" wpc-filter-elementor-widget=\"1\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hero-4520 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"hero-4520\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2-h1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2-h1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Prepare Your Business for Sale<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2-sub elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2-sub\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-style:italic;font-size:19px;line-height:1.6;color:#e8edf5;text-align:center;\">A 12-Month Checklist for Business Owners \u2014 From cleaning up your financials to reducing owner dependency, here&#8217;s exactly what to do before you go to market.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2-meta elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2-meta\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:12px;color:#9fb5cc;letter-spacing:1.5px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-top:28px;text-align:center;\">For Sellers &nbsp;&bull;&nbsp; Exit Planning &nbsp;&bull;&nbsp; 8 Min Read<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-content-4520 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"content-4520\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2043 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"w2043\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2001 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2001\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-style:italic;font-size:17px;color:#4a5568;line-height:1.7;border-left:4px solid #1B4F8A;padding-left:18px;margin-bottom:36px;\"><em>Selling a business doesn&#8217;t happen overnight \u2014 and the owners who get the best outcomes are the ones who prepare well in advance. Here&#8217;s what to do in the 12 months before you go to market.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2002 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2002\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">I. Introduction<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2003 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2003\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Most Business Owners Wait Too Long to Start Preparing<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2004 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2004\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of the most common mistakes we see as business brokers is owners who decide to sell, then start preparing. By that point, it&#8217;s often too late to fix the things that would have made their business significantly more valuable.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2005 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2005\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The businesses that sell fastest, at the highest price, are those where the owner spent 12 to 24 months getting ready before they ever went to market. Preparation isn&#8217;t just about paperwork, it&#8217;s about making your business as attractive as possible to the right buyer.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2006 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2006\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">II. Months 1\u20133: Get Your Financials in Order<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2007 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2007\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Clean Books Are the Foundation of a Successful Sale<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2008 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2008\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Buyers and their lenders will scrutinize your financials. The cleaner and more professional your books look, the more confidence buyers have \u2014 and the faster you can get through due diligence.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2009 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2009\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"margin:12px 0 12px 24px;\"><li><strong>Separate personal and business expenses.<\/strong> Stop running personal costs through the business.<\/li><li><strong>Get current on your bookkeeping.<\/strong> Reconcile every account. Make sure your P&amp;L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements are accurate.<\/li><li><strong>Gather 3 years of tax returns.<\/strong> Buyers and SBA lenders almost always require 3 years of business tax returns.<\/li><li><strong>Work with a CPA experienced in business sales.<\/strong> Ensure your financials are presented in the most favorable and accurate light.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2010 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"w2010\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2011 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2011\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin:0;font-style:italic;color:#2d4a6e;line-height:1.7;\"><strong>Key Point:<\/strong> Messy financials are one of the top reasons deals fall apart during due diligence. Clean books signal a professionally-run business \u2014 and that commands a higher price.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2012 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2012\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">III. Months 3\u20135: Reduce Owner Dependency<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2013 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2013\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Business Should Be Able to Run Without You<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2014 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2014\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Owner dependency is one of the most common \u2014 and most damaging \u2014 factors that reduces business value. If your business can&#8217;t operate without you, buyers see risk. And risk translates directly into a lower offer or a deal that requires a long earnout.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2015 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2015\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"margin:12px 0 12px 24px;\"><li><strong>Document your processes.<\/strong> Create SOPs for all key functions \u2014 sales, operations, customer service, vendor management.<\/li><li><strong>Delegate key responsibilities.<\/strong> Identify tasks only you handle and begin transitioning them to capable employees.<\/li><li><strong>Strengthen your management team.<\/strong> A business with a capable team in place is dramatically more attractive to buyers.<\/li><li><strong>Build client relationships at the team level.<\/strong> If all key clients deal only with you, introduce them to key staff members before you sell.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2016 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"w2016\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2017 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2017\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin:0;font-style:italic;color:#2d4a6e;line-height:1.7;\"><strong>Amerivest Tip:<\/strong> A business doing $400K in SDE with a strong management team may sell at 3.5\u20134x. The same business with high owner dependency might only achieve 2\u20132.5x. That&#8217;s a $600,000 difference on the same earnings.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2018 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2018\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">IV. Months 5\u20137: Fix What You Know Is Broken<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2019 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2019\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Don't Leave Problems for the Buyer to Find<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2020 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2020\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Every business has issues. The smart approach is to identify and fix them before going to market, not to hope buyers won&#8217;t notice. Buyers always find the problems, and when they do, they use them as leverage to renegotiate the price.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2021 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2021\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"margin:12px 0 12px 24px;\"><li><strong>Resolve any legal or compliance issues.<\/strong> Outstanding lawsuits, regulatory violations, or lien issues need to be resolved before you sell.<\/li><li><strong>Address deferred maintenance.<\/strong> Fix equipment overdue for maintenance. Buyers will discount for known issues.<\/li><li><strong>Review customer concentration.<\/strong> If one customer represents more than 20\u201325% of revenue, actively work to add new clients.<\/li><li><strong>Lock in key employees.<\/strong> Consider retention agreements to ensure critical staff stay through a transition.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2022 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"w2022\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2023 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2023\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin:0;font-style:italic;color:#2d4a6e;line-height:1.7;\"><strong>Rule of Thumb:<\/strong> The buyer&#8217;s due diligence team will find every significant issue. Fixing problems proactively removes buyer leverage and keeps your deal on track.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2024 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2024\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">V. Months 7\u20139: Build Recurring or Predictable Revenue<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2025 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2025\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Buyers Pay a Premium for Predictability<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2026 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2026\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Buyers aren&#8217;t just paying for last year&#8217;s earnings, they&#8217;re paying for what they expect to earn in the future. Businesses with recurring, contracted, or predictable revenue are worth more because they carry less risk.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2027 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2027\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"margin:12px 0 12px 24px;\"><li><strong>Convert month-to-month clients to annual contracts.<\/strong> Signed agreements are far more valuable to a buyer than handshake deals.<\/li><li><strong>Add service agreements or maintenance plans.<\/strong> Recurring service revenue creates predictable cash flow that buyers and lenders love.<\/li><li><strong>Diversify your revenue streams.<\/strong> If 80% of your revenue comes from one service, look for ways to expand.<\/li><li><strong>Document your sales pipeline.<\/strong> A visible, organized pipeline signals that future revenue is on the way.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2028 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2028\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">VI. Months 9\u201311: Assemble Your Advisory Team<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2029 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2029\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Right Team Protects Your Interests Through Every Stage<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2030 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2030\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Selling a business is a complex transaction. Having the right professionals in your corner, before you go to market, makes a significant difference in your outcome.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2031 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2031\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"margin: 12px 0 12px 24px;\"><li><strong>Business broker or M&amp;A advisor.<\/strong> A qualified broker helps you price correctly, find qualified buyers, and negotiate effectively.<\/li><li><strong>Transaction attorney.<\/strong> Depending on the size of the business, an attorney who specializes in business sales will review the purchase agreement and protect your interests at closing.<\/li><li><strong>CPA or tax advisor.<\/strong> The structure of a deal has major tax implications. Work with a CPA who understands business sale taxation.<\/li><li><strong>Financial planner.<\/strong> What will you do with the proceeds? A financial planner helps you think through the post-exit picture.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2032 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"w2032\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2033 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2033\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin:0;font-style:italic;color:#2d4a6e;line-height:1.7;\"><strong>Amerivest Tip:<\/strong> Don&#8217;t wait until you have a buyer to assemble your team. The best deals are those where advisors are in place before the first offer arrives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2034 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2034\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">VII. Month 12: Prepare Your Business Story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2035 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2035\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Buyers Buy the Future \u2014 Help Them See It<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2036 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2036\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Before going to market, you need to articulate clearly why your business is a great investment. This means knowing your numbers cold, understanding what makes your business unique, and being able to explain why the growth opportunity exists for the next owner.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2037 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2037\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"margin: 12px 0 12px 24px;\"><li><strong>Prepare a Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM).<\/strong> This is the detailed document buyers review after signing an NDA. Your broker should prepare this.<\/li><li><strong>Know your adjusted earnings.<\/strong> Be able to clearly explain every add-back and adjustment in your financials.<\/li><li><strong>Document growth opportunities.<\/strong> What can the next owner do that you haven&#8217;t? New markets, services, locations?<\/li><li><strong>Set a realistic asking price.<\/strong> Work with your broker to establish a price grounded in market data \u2014 not just what you need to retire.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2038 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2038\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">VIII. Conclusion: Start Early, Sell Well<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2039 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2039\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Preparation Is the Most Profitable Investment You Can Make Before You Sell<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2040 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2040\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The 12 months before you go to market are arguably the most important months of your ownership. Every dollar you invest in preparation \u2014 in cleaner financials, stronger systems, better documentation, and a stronger team \u2014 can return many times over in a higher sale price and a smoother closing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2041 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2041\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At Amerivest, we work with business owners well before they&#8217;re ready to sell \u2014 helping them identify what to fix, what to strengthen, and how to position their business for the best possible outcome. If you&#8217;re thinking about selling in the next 1 to 3 years, now is the right time to start the conversation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2042 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"w2042\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cta-4520 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cta-4520\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2044 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"w2044\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Thinking of Selling in the Next 1\u20133 Years?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2045 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w2045\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color:#c8d8e8;font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;text-align:center;\">The right time to start preparing is now. We help business owners identify what to fix, what to strengthen, and how to position for the best possible exit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w2046 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"w2046\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/contact\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Start Your Exit Conversation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thinking of selling your business in the next 1\u20133 years? This practical 12-month checklist walks you through exactly how to prepare your business for sale \u2014 from cleaning up financials to reducing owner dependency, fixing known issues, and assembling the right advisory team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4521,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[38,28,26,36],"class_list":["post-4520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seller-articles","tag-business-strategy","tag-exit-planning","tag-selling-a-business","tag-succession-planning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4520"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4591,"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4520\/revisions\/4591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amerivestgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}