“Our job is to sell your business for maximum value, as
quickly and discretely as possible”

We are successful business brokers with diverse skill sets and extensive experience
in business, working together as a team to deliver tangible
value-add to our Vendors.

Call us today to discuss what we can do for you.
Obtain a 100% confidential and free market appraisal.
Make a fully informed decision.

“Thank you, William and Anna, for all your hard work getting the sale of our business and building sold. Your communication and handling during this process was above and beyond. Would highly recommend you both.”

"William has been on both sides of the deal, so knows what each side is going through. He was easy to deal with and worked tirelessly (in challenging circumstances) to broker a deal that worked for everyone."

“I have worked with Anna and William across both selling and purchasing in the ECE sector and have a strong sense of trust in their market expertise. End to end Anna and William demonstrated their strategic approach ensuring that no detail was left unexplored, and I was extremely satisfied with all aspects.”

"William put together a very clever win-win deal, I appreciated his honest approach, he really understands business and was great to deal with. Would definitely recommend him."

"I have worked closely with William over the past seven years on various business deals. He is smart, dynamic, detail-oriented, and consistently adds value by thinking outside the box. He is absolutely unflappable."

“Nicky and myself cannot thank both of you enough for how amazing and supportive you have both been through this difficult process. We would truly recommend you two to ANYONE selling or buying a business! You guys have truly helped settle our nerves with your great advice and knowledge."

We May Already Have a
Buyer for Your Business.

As part of the Barker Business team, we have access to an inhouse database with over 6,000 active and qualified National and International buyers looking for opportunities ranging from $350k to $10m plus.

Business Sale Process

Our goal is to ensure our clients receive the most comprehensive and seamless service available, from initial enquiry to sale completion.

We will guide you expertly through these steps making sure that you are kept fully informed and consulted with throughout the process.

When you need a trusted Wellington Business Broker, contact William and Anna to assist in your business purchase or sale.

Custom Accordion

Request a Free Appraisal

Request a Free Appraisal of your business: Getting a business appraisal is the first step in the selling process. Whether it's to find out where your business sits in the market or you're wanting to list it promptly, this is where we start.

Decision to Sell

Signing an agency agreement formalises your decision to sell and appoints us as your trusted brokers. This agreement allows us to represent your interests and begin executing a tailored plan to achieve the best outcome for you.

AML Compliance

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks are a legal prerequisite before listing your business for sale.

Information Memorandum

A professionally crafted Information Memorandum (IM) highlights your business’s unique strengths and competitive edge. It provides prospective buyers with a detailed and well-structured overview and positions your business in the best possible light.

Marketing Campaign

Our comprehensive marketing campaign ensures your business receives maximum exposure across multiple channels, including local, national and offshore markets. Leveraging our Nationwide brokerage network and extensive active buyer database, we connect your business with qualified prospects. By combining local expertise with broad reach, we ensure your business is marketed to its full potential.

We think hard and imaginatively to identify potential buyers and research industry and cross industry (value add) opportunities. We tailor strategies to match buyer preferences, deliver impactful compelling advertisements, and engage in consistent, upbeat communication to generate strong interest.

Qualifying Buyers

We carefully vet potential buyers to ensure they are genuinely interested and not simply competitors or casual enquirers. Our process includes verifying their cash to borrowing capability, and evaluating their industry experience to determine their suitability. This rigorous screening safeguards your business's confidentiality and ensures only serious, qualified buyers proceed. By filtering out the time wasters and focussing on qualified buyers, we enhance the likelihood of securing a successful and seamless sale.

Negotiating a Deal

Negotiations go beyond price, focusing also on terms, conditions, and other factors that influence the deal’s attractiveness. We guide you through the complexities, helping you evaluate proposals, counter offers, and balance interests. We ensure discussions remain professional, keeping emotions in check to secure a mutually beneficial agreement.

Sale and Purchase Agreement

We adopt an industry recognised Sale and Purchase Agreement, tailored to the agreed terms and conditions of your business sale. This ensures clarity, compliance, and efficiency, helping you navigate this essential step without unnecessary legal expense or complications.

Due Diligence

Due diligence begins once the agreement is signed, giving buyers time to verify all details of the business. Typically completed within 10 working days, this phase may require professional advice from your lawyer or accountant to address complex issues. We remain available to support and guide you through any questions that arise.

Settlement and Handover

Settlement involves final payments, legal transfers, and the completion of agreed terms. Once concluded, ownership is officially transferred, and we ensure the transition process is smooth, including any required handover assistance.

Top-tips on what’s involved in selling a business.

What information do I typically need to provide?

Financial records

2-3 years full accounts – depending on the business size.
Current FYTD internal accounts to the most recent month or so.
A depreciation schedule detailing all assets included in the sale.
A forecast if you have one.
A PC Sum of Stock.
A copy of your current lease and other lease agreements e.g. equipment leases.

Will buyers pay for potential?

We regularly speak to business owners who believe they have a potential gold mine and expect to command a high selling price based on perceived potential alone. This isn’t how it works. If a business is simply a concept without a proven revenue stream, then there most likely isn’t any value in the eyes of most potential buyers. The business must be priced correctly as potential purchasers want value for money.

Buyers are interested in profits, not revenue

Another common misconception is that buyers are impressed with revenue figures. While they can sound good, when it comes down to it the only number that matters is the Profit or Cash Surplus to a working owner that a business generates.

Will buyers pay for previous performance?

The historic success of a business is largely irrelevant at the time of sale particularly if it has been struggling lately. We often hear sellers talk about how successful their business was in the past, unfortunately, buyers aren’t likely to be interested in fixing and recovering your business, especially if you are expecting them to pay a premium.

Buyers are interested in recent performance (usually the last 12 months), future sustainability and viability. Don’t be afraid to show previous years if the business has been growing steadily. Buyers love to see growing revenue and profit figures, especially if you have plans for the business that seem realistic based on past performance.

Have a good reason for selling

The first question a buyer usually asks is “How much?”. The second question is “Why are they selling?” This is why a plausible explanation is necessary.

Honesty is the best policy

The truth is always going to surface, so be upfront about everything from the beginning. Experienced investors understand that every business is going to have positives and negatives. It’s a hard road finding the perfect business! If you are honest and transparent from the start, there is less risk of a deal turning sour because the buyer uncovered something during the due diligence process that wasn’t accurate, or an instance where the truth was stretched. Experienced buyers will often hammer the seller with questions to uncover inconsistencies and red flags.

Honesty is the best policy in all business transactions and selling any business is no different. Avoid surprises that will destroy the buyer’s trust and have them run, not walk, to another opportunity.

Never judge a buyer. You never know who you are dealing with or the buying power they possess. Someone asking what appears to be a simple question could potentially be a buyer that is new to the specific industry and has deep pockets for investing.

Wannabe Buyers, Tyre Kickers and Sharks

There are a lot of dreamers, tyre-kickers and sharks that will waste everyone’s time. From “wannabe buyers” who say they want to buy a business but are in no way ready to do so, “tyre-kickers” who are simply curious about what kinds of opportunities are available and “sharks” who are searching for sellers who look anxious to sell that may be willing accept a rock-bottom price.

We have seen them all, and our job as your Broker is to separate out the strong prospective purchasers from all these others by obtaining information that verifies the buyer’s financial capability, business licence or certifications, and any other necessary qualifications, allowing you to get on with the important task of running your business.

Keep your business well maintained

Do not decide that as you are going to sell you will take a step back. Prospective buyers will want to have an up-close, first-hand look, so it’s important that you keep your business humming, well-presented and appealing.

Prepare your Landlord for sale

Landlords can be deal killers. Buyers need to know if the existing lease will be assigned or whether a new lease needs to be negotiated.

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Trusted Advice
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Your Wellington based business brokers

Request a FREE Appraisal

We May Already Have a
Buyer for Your Business.

Business Sale Process

Top-tips on what’s involved in selling a business.

Business Brokers

William Scarlett • Anna Davison