Modernization for succession or sale
Get your business ready to sell or hand off
Many long-running businesses work because the owner knows where everything is. The customer list lives in an old program or one person's head, the procedures were never written down, and the books, files and passwords are scattered. A buyer or successor sees that as risk. I organize the records, systems and procedures so the business runs without its owner and presents well to whoever comes next.
What buyers and successors look for
- Customer and job records in one current system, not an aging desktop program or a filing cabinet
- Books that connect cleanly to estimates and invoicing
- Written procedures for the work only the owner knows how to do
- A clear list of systems, vendors, subscriptions and logins that can be transferred
- A website and online presence that reflects the business today
- Staff who can run the day without calling the owner
Signs your business needs modernizing before a sale
- Customer records live in an old desktop program, Outlook contacts or a card file
- The office still runs an outdated version of QuickBooks or a program no one supports anymore
- Everyone shares one password, or only the owner knows the logins
- Key steps exist only in the owner's head
- Files are spread across personal laptops, email and a closet server
- The website hasn't changed in years and doesn't reflect what the business does now
What the modernization package covers
- An inventory of every system, vendor, subscription and account
- Moving records out of legacy software, spreadsheets or paper into a current system
- Connecting estimates, invoices and bookkeeping
- Procedures and handoff manuals for key tasks
- Network and access maps, with named logins instead of shared passwords
- Training your staff, and later your successor, on the new setup
How it works
- AssessA working session and a walk-through with you to see how the business runs today.
- PlanA prioritized list with scope and cost, timed around when you want to sell or step back.
- ModernizeRecords moved, systems connected, procedures written and staff trained, one piece at a time so the business keeps running.
- Hand offA complete set of documents and a walk-through for your buyer or successor.
Working alongside your advisors
I am not a business broker, attorney or CPA, and I don't value businesses. I work alongside the advisors handling your sale or succession, so the operational side is ready when they need it.
Who this is for
Owners planning to retire or sell in the next few years, family businesses passing to the next generation, owners getting ready to list with a broker, and new owners who just bought a business that still runs on old systems. I work with businesses in Venice, North Port, Englewood, Port Charlotte, Sarasota and nearby.