Buy / Sell a Business
Support for business owners considering a sale, prospective buyers exploring an acquisition, businesses under financial pressure, and franchise or licence transfers — one structured process for either side of the transaction.
Role disclosureAFC does not determine the value of a business, act as the buyer or seller, or provide legal opinions — we facilitate enquiries, introductions and coordination with potentially relevant buyers, sellers, lenders, investors and professional advisers.
This service may be relevant if you are
Four transaction areas, one review process
Business sale coordination
Support for enquiries, potential buyer introductions and transaction coordination for owners considering a business sale.
Business acquisition support
Support for acquisition enquiries, potential target introductions and coordination with relevant buyers, sellers, lenders or investors.
Distressed business sale coordination
Support for enquiries and potential counterparty introductions for businesses under financial pressure. No sale price, buyer or completion timeline is guaranteed.
Franchise & licence transfer
Coordination between prospective buyers, sellers and relevant franchisors, licensors, dealerships or principals.
What's normally needed for an initial case review
Requirements vary by transaction — additional information is typically requested as due diligence progresses.
- Nature of the transaction (buy / sell / franchise)
- Business sector and location
- Financial statements or management accounts
- Tax and statutory records, if available
- Major customer and supplier contracts
- Assets and liabilities overview
- Existing loans and security
- Employees and employment obligations
- Regulatory or licence requirements
- Expected transaction timeline
- Financing requirement, if any
- What assistance you are seeking
Three steps, whichever side you're on
Read & self-assess
Identify whether you are buying, selling or exploring a franchise transfer.
Case review
Provide basic information about the business and the proposed transaction.
Review
AFC reviews the information for understanding and completeness.
Relevant introduction
Where appropriate, AFC arranges an introduction to a relevant buyer, seller, lender or professional adviser.
Valuation, due diligence, financing, legal documentation and final transaction terms remain subject to independent assessment by the relevant parties.
Common questions about this service
How is a business sale actually priced?
There is no single valuation formula applicable to every business. Depending on the business, the parties may consider assets, earnings, cash flow, comparable transactions and other commercial factors. The final price is negotiated between the buyer and seller after due diligence.
What makes a distressed sale different from a normal exit?
The circumstances and available timeline may be different — creditor claims, working-capital requirements or other time-sensitive matters can affect the buyer pool, transaction structure and timetable. There is no guaranteed buyer, price or completion timeline.
What documents does a seller need ready?
Requirements vary by transaction, but commonly requested information includes financial statements, management accounts, tax and statutory information, corporate documents, and major contracts. Additional information may be requested during due diligence.
Can I buy a business with financing, or does it have to be cash?
An acquisition may be funded through the buyer's own capital, external financing, seller financing, investment capital, or a combination, depending on the transaction. Acquisition finance is not provided directly, but introductions to potentially relevant sources can be arranged.
Have a business transaction to discuss?
Provide the basic transaction details and we can understand the situation and the information available for further consideration.