The Smooth Sale Timeline: Close in 4 to 8 Weeks

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 to 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 to 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 to 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.