Course

Book companion resource

The course turns the book into a working sale plan

The book gives the map. The course helps owners work through valuation, buyer preparation, due diligence, and deal strategy in a structured way.

From the book

The final section of the manuscript points readers towards the course because some owners need more than a book. They need structure, examples, feedback, and a process they can follow before speaking to buyers.

That is especially true when the business sale is likely to be the biggest transaction of the owner’s working life.

What the course helps with

The course should help owners move from theory to action. That means understanding buyer types, valuation evidence, cashflow, Information Memorandums, due diligence, deal structures, and the emotional side of exit planning.

It should also help owners avoid weak advice, unrealistic pricing, and rushed buyer conversations.

Who the course is for

• Owners thinking about selling in the next few years.
• Owners who have been approached by a buyer.
• Owners who want to understand valuation before speaking to advisers.
• Owners who need to prepare documents and due diligence.
• Advisers who want to understand the GSMB sale preparation method.

How to use the book and course together

Read the relevant chapter first, then use the course to apply it to your own business. Bring your latest accounts, customer notes, contracts, staff structure, debt information, and questions.

The more specific your evidence, the more useful the course becomes.

Course readiness checklist

• Know your main reason for considering a sale.
• Gather recent accounts and management information.
• List your largest customers and key contracts.
• Write down your likely buyer types.
• Note the areas you are least confident about.

Next step

Use the course to turn the book into a practical sale preparation plan. Preparation now can protect value later.

How to use the course with the book

Use the book to understand the sale journey, then use the course to turn that understanding into action. The book explains what buyers, advisers, and deal teams care about. The course should help you organise the work in the right order.

Owners often delay preparation because the task feels too large. A structured course breaks that work into smaller steps: understand value, prepare evidence, map buyers, build documents, and decide when to speak to the market.

Course readiness checklist

• Your main reason for considering a sale.
• Your preferred timing and any personal constraints.
• Recent accounts, management figures, and cashflow notes.
• Customer, contract, staff, and supplier concerns.
• Questions raised while reading the book.
• The area where you feel least prepared.

Who should start with the course

The course is useful for owners who want a practical route through the sale preparation work before they speak to buyers. It also helps owners who have already been approached and need to regain control of the process.

It is not a substitute for legal, tax, or regulated financial advice. It is a way to become better prepared before those conversations become expensive or urgent.

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.

• Cashflow preparation
• Business valuation evidence
• Profit multiple reports
• Revenue multiplier reports
• Strategic buyer mapping
• Financial buyer preparation
• Sale preparation templates
• Course support
• Free consultation

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.