The sale of a business is a long and complex process, usually spanning 12 to 18 months. During this time, the owner must balance day-to-day management with the careful preparation of the transfer.
This dual responsibility requires calm, patience, and discretion, as well as proper guidance to avoid strategic mistakes.
Continuing to manage while preparing the sale
Even once the sale process has started, the business owner remains fully responsible for operations. They must continue to manage the company, ensure profitability, and maintain the trust of employees, clients, and partners.
The business must stay attractive to buyers : a drop in revenue, the loss of key contracts, or social tensions could lower the valuation or even jeopardize the deal. Every management decision matters until the final signing.
At the same time, the owner must dedicate time to key steps in the process :
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meetings with potential buyers,
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negotiation and signing of the Letter of Intent (LOI),
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coordination of financial, legal, social, and technical audits,
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and handling the final negotiations leading to the sale agreement.
The key role of specialized advisors
The success of a transfer largely depends on expert support. The business lawyer, the M&A advisor, and the accountant form an essential trio to secure the transaction.
A specialized firm like Evaliance Capital provides expertise on several levels :
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Technical and financial : balance sheet analysis, deal structuring, company valuation,
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Legal and tax : securing contractual clauses, anticipating tax impacts,
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Strategic and human : managing negotiations and providing perspective on the emotional side of the transfer.
This orchestration role allows the owner to stay focused on daily management while ensuring the sale progresses under the best conditions.
Maintaining strict confidentiality
Discretion is a central element of the sale process. Premature communication could worry employees, weaken client relationships, or give competitors an advantage.
It is therefore essential to restrict information to the relevant parties only and implement strict confidentiality procedures :
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Secure data room for sharing documents with auditors,
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Signing NDAs with potential buyers,
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Controlled internal communication, only once the transfer is finalized.
Evaliance Capital applies proven processes to protect sensitive data and ensure rigorous administrative follow-up, guaranteeing full confidentiality of all files.
Managing your business during a sale means preserving today’s performance while building tomorrow’s transfer.
Preserving the owner’s emotional and psychological balance
Selling a business is not just a financial transaction. For an owner, it often means passing on a part of their life, their project, their legacy, sometimes even a family business. This stage brings strong emotions : pride, apprehension, fear of what comes next, or even resistance to turning the page.
Guidance from external professionals helps gain perspective and make rational decisions. It allows the owner to separate the emotional from the economic, ensuring the sale takes place in a calm and constructive environment.
With method, discretion, and the right support, a business sale becomes less of a challenge and more of an opportunity for continuity and renewal.
THE EVALIANCE CAPITAL APPROACH
LEADING WITH PEACE OF MIND DURING THE SALE
Running a business while preparing its sale is a true balancing act. The owner must stay focused on operations while actively participating in the key stages of the transaction.
Professional support can turn this demanding period into a structured and secure process that creates value. With careful management, strict confidentiality, and the support of specialized experts, the owner can ensure the sustainability of the business while preparing its transfer under the best conditions.
The sale then becomes a successful transition, opening a new chapter in the company’s history — and in the owner’s journey.
