Behind the deal: What business owners need to know before selling

What is it really like to sell your business, beyond the headlines and valuation multiples?

In this first episode of a three-part Sofa Stories x Clearwater special, we go behind the deal to demystify the realities of selling a business. Joined by Rich Goldsack, Partner and Head of Clearwater’s Leeds office, and Gareth Iley, Group COO and founding member of Clearwater, we unpack what business owners should expect long before a deal is done.

From the very first conversation with an M&A adviser to the emotional highs and lows of due diligence and negotiation, this episode explores:

• What buyers actually look for — and why profit, cash and business “attractiveness” matter more than headline turnover
• How to prepare your business for sale without losing focus on growth
• Common myths around private equity, partial exits and losing your management team
• Why selling a business is as much a personal and emotional journey as a financial one
• How experienced advisers help owners keep perspective when deals get intense — or wobble at the last minute 

Whether you’re an owner-founder just starting to think about an exit, or simply curious about how deals really happen behind closed doors, this episode offers candid insight from advisers who’ve guided businesses through billions of pounds of transactions.

Contact Clearwater;

Website: clearwatercf.com 

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearwater-corporate-finance/

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻