Templates

Book companion resource

Templates turn the book into action

The book points here because owners need practical documents, not just ideas. Use the templates to build a cleaner sale pack.

Go Sell My Business book used as a practical resource

From the book

The manuscript repeatedly points owners towards templates, checklists, Information Memorandum examples, due diligence preparation, and deal documents. That is the right next step because selling a business is document-heavy.

A buyer does not just listen to the story. They ask for proof. Templates help you organise the proof before the process becomes rushed.

What the templates are for

The templates help you move from reading to preparation. They support valuation, buyer conversations, Information Memorandum planning, due diligence, and deal documentation.

They should not be treated as forms to fill in lazily. They are prompts that help you think like a buyer and identify gaps before someone else finds them.

Templates to prepare first

Cashflow template.
Valuation preparation notes.
Information Memorandum outline.
Due diligence checklist.
Buyer question prompts.
Heads of Terms and deal document examples.

How templates improve buyer confidence

Organised documents show that the owner understands the process. They make the business easier to review, easier to explain, and easier to compare with other opportunities.

They also reduce stress. When buyers start asking for information, you do not want to discover that everything sits in different folders, email chains, and half-remembered conversations.

Mistakes to avoid

Leaving templates blank until a buyer is already waiting.
Copying generic figures without evidence.
Using templates to hide weak areas instead of exposing them early.
Failing to update documents as new information appears.

Next step

Start with the template that supports the chapter you are reading now. Build the sale pack one section at a time.

How to use the templates

Use the templates as working documents, not as decoration for a sale file. Start with the gaps a buyer will notice first: financial evidence, customer information, contract notes, operational systems, due diligence documents, and the Information Memorandum outline.

The templates work best when they expose what needs fixing. A blank section is useful because it tells you where the business is not yet buyer-ready.

Template preparation checklist

Choose the template linked to your biggest current gap.
Complete it with real data, not optimistic estimates.
Add source documents where a buyer would ask for proof.
Mark unknown items clearly and investigate them.
Review the template with an adviser where legal, tax, or regulated advice is needed.
Update the file as new information appears.

Which template to use first

If the numbers are unclear, start with cashflow and valuation preparation. If the business is already attracting buyer interest, start with the Information Memorandum and due diligence checklist. If you are unsure who might buy the business, start with the strategic buyer map.

The right first template is the one that removes the biggest risk from the sale process.

Related book resources

This page works best when it is used with the other companion resources from the book. Most sale problems do not sit in one neat box. Valuation links to cashflow. Cashflow links to profit quality. Buyer strategy links to due diligence. Use the related pages to build a more complete view before a buyer starts asking questions.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this page a replacement for reading the book?

No. This page supports the book. The book gives the wider context, stories, and sale process. This page helps you take action on the specific topic.

Should every owner prepare this before going to market?

Yes. Even if the final route changes, preparation gives you better questions, better evidence, and more control.

What should I do if I am not ready to sell yet?

Start preparing anyway. The best time to fix weak records, unclear contracts, or owner dependency is before a buyer is asking hard questions.