Step 07 of 08
Coordinate due diligence
Due diligence is where deals die. Not from bad findings — from fatigue. The buyer asks for the same thing four times because they're disorganized; the seller stops returning emails because they're exhausted. We don't let that happen.
If the buyer is using SBA financing — most of them are — the lender drives most of the diligence requests anyway. We align with the lender to avoid duplicates, batch the buyer's questions into weekly rounds, and keep a single shared checklist so nothing is asked twice.
We also coach on what doesn't get shared, ever: full customer lists, operating manuals, your secret-sauce processes. None of that goes out until after close. A buyer who pushes hard for any of it before signing is showing you something about how they'll treat the business after.
What we deliver in this step
- Weekly diligence batches, not one-off emails
- Shared checklist with the SBA lender (if applicable)
- Hold back: customer lists, operating manuals, trade secrets
- Site visit scheduled (after — not before — diligence is mostly clean)
- Final purchase agreement drafted alongside diligence, not after
What you never share before close
- · Full customer lists with contact details
- · Operating manuals and proprietary processes
- · Trade secrets and pricing formulas
- · Source code or unreleased product roadmaps
A buyer who pushes hard for any of it before signing is showing you something about how they'll treat the business after.
Exit On My Own and its brokers do not provide legal advice. Templates, document reviews, and broker guidance are for informational and operational purposes only. Consult a licensed attorney before signing or relying on any legal document.