The Smooth Sale Timeline: Close in 4–8 Weeks

June 26, 2024•2 min read

One-sentence takeaway: most owner-managed deals can close inside eight weeks—sometimes four—if you control the timetable from day one.

Timeline at a glance

• Week 1 Initial contact, NDA, document request
• Week 2 Data pack shared, buyer Q&A, site visit pencilled
• Week 3 Heads of Terms signed, four-week exclusivity clock starts
• Weeks 4–6 Financial, legal, and operational due diligence plus funding approval running in parallel
• Week 7 Legal drafts agreed, share purchase agreement (SPA) settled
• Week 8 Completion statement, filings, funds flow, keys handed over

Week 1 Initial contact and NDA

Hold a 20-minute call to confirm sector fit and size. Swap a simple NDA the same day and send the buyer a checklist of documents you will supply next week. Book the site visit before ending the call.

Week 2 Data pack and buyer Q&A

Email twelve months of management accounts, top-ten customer list, staff org chart, and lease copies. Batch buyer questions and reply within 48 hours to keep momentum.

Week 3 Heads of Terms

Agree price range, payment schedule, exclusivity length, and key warranties on two pages. Lock a dated timetable into the document so every adviser works to the same finish line.

Weeks 4–6 Due diligence and funding

Accountants test earnings, lawyers review contracts, and the buyer’s lender orders a valuation—all at once. You commit one morning a week to supply answers and documents. Insist on proof of funds or lender term sheet by the end of week 6.

Week 7 Legal drafts

Solicitors trade the SPA, disclosure letter, and any loan notes. Resolve open points in a joint video call so nothing lingers. Confirm Companies House forms and board approvals are drafted.

Week 8 Completion

Finalize the completion statement, settle working-capital target, and schedule payments through solicitor client accounts. File SH01, TM01, and PSC updates the same day the money lands. Shake hands and start the hand-over plan.

Fast-track variant (4–6 weeks)

• Buyer has cash on hand—no lender delays
• Your accounts are cloud-based and up to date
• Premises are leased, not owned—fewer title checks
• You supply every requested document within 24 hours

Small, clean service businesses often hit these marks and close inside six weeks.

Common delays and how to avoid them

• Missing paperwork—scan licences, contracts, and certificates before week 2
• Scope creep—freeze warranties and covenants once heads of terms are signed
• Adviser holidays—book weekly progress calls and delegate cover early

Quick self-check for owners

Are the last three years of accounts ready to share?
Is every material contract fully signed?
Can you spare four hours a week for Q&A?
Have your accountant and solicitor blocked the eight-week window?

Next step

Map this eight-week timetable onto your calendar and brief your advisers today—momentum is the cheapest deal insurance you will ever buy.

business sale timeline

Mark Guy Gerard Camilleri

I’m an SME investor with a background in social housing and over five years of experience working closely with government bodies to provide safe, high-quality housing for vulnerable communities. Through this work, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the essential services that support the housing sector — from pest control to electrical, plumbing, and HVAC services. My current focus is on acquiring and scaling established businesses in these core areas, especially those with strong local reputations and long-standing customer relationships. I’m not a corporate buyer looking to strip away what makes a business special. I take a human, collaborative approach to M&A — whether that means a full exit for the owner, a phased transition, or finding ways to work together post-sale to grow the business. If you’re a business owner thinking about the next chapter, I’d love to have a no-pressure conversation about what that could look like — and whether there’s a way we can align.