How to prepare your business for sale: lessons from a successful SME exit

Corporate Partner, Chris Dobson, is joined by business leader Rich Pawlyn to discuss what really makes a business exit successful and why preparation for due diligence can make or break a deal.

Drawing on a real transaction they worked on together, Chris and Rich explore the journey from a failed sale to a successful exit, including a multi-year turnaround project, operational transformation, and the strategic preparation required to present a business clearly and confidently to buyers.

Their conversation focuses particularly on early-stage due diligence, what buyers look for, how sellers should prepare, and how getting organised early can reduce stress, protect value, and prevent last-minute deal risks.

They also discuss the human side of selling a business: managing emotion, aligning stakeholders, preparing management teams, and choosing advisors who add genuine value.

Finally, they look ahead to the future of dealmaking, including how AI and automation are reshaping data rooms and due diligence processes.