The Exit Toolkit · Sheet 4 of 20
The seller's data room
What to organise before buyers start asking
Financial
Three years of accounts, tax returns, management figures and forecasts. Reconciled, current and easy for a buyer to follow.
Legal and corporate
Incorporation documents, statutory registers, shareholder details, board minutes, and proof you actually own your IP. Check Companies House is up to date.
Customers and contracts
Signed contracts with customers and suppliers, renewal terms, and any change-of-control clauses a buyer will spot.
Team
Employment contracts for everyone, staff handbook, key-person and retention information, pension compliance.
Assets, premises and insurance
Asset lists, equipment maintenance records, leases, licences and consents, and insurance kept in force until completion.
Disputes and history
Any litigation, insurance claims or regulatory issues from the last three years, covered off honestly with the documents to support them.
Bottom line
Most law firms will set up a Virtual Data Room for the buyer to inspect. Create a folder per section now, drop documents in as you find them, and due diligence becomes confirmation rather than investigation. The better organised you are, the more professional the business looks, and that reflects in the price.
Related
General information only, not legal advice. Steven Mather Solicitor is a trading name of Kesters Nook Limited; legal work is carried out through Nexa Law Limited, authorised and regulated by the SRA (number 633024).