Seller Resources · October 2026
What Documents Should You Prepare Before Selling Your Business?
Every serious buyer will eventually ask for the same core records. Owners who gather them early keep control of the pace; owners who scramble lose weeks and, sometimes, the buyer's confidence.
You do not need all of this to start a conversation. A rough picture of revenue, profitability, and how the business runs is enough for a first discussion. But when a process gets serious, this is what due diligence looks like.
Financial records
- Profit and loss statements for the last three years, plus the current year to date
- Balance sheets for the same period
- Business tax returns
- A list of any personal expenses run through the business
- Major recurring revenue: key customers, contracts, and typical order sizes
Legal and corporate
- Formation documents and any ownership records
- Material contracts: leases, supplier agreements, customer contracts
- Licenses and permits the business needs to operate
- Any pending disputes, claims, or regulatory matters
Operations and people
- An organization overview: roles, headcount, and key employees
- Documented processes for the work only you or one person knows how to do
- Equipment and asset lists, with rough condition and age
- Payroll summaries and any benefit arrangements
Keep it simple
A well-organized folder — physical or digital — beats a polished data room assembled in a panic. And share in stages: general information first, sensitive detail only once confidentiality terms are agreed. If you would like to know what we ask for at each stage, read how our process works.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Your attorney and CPA can tailor a list to your business.