Buy & sell / PRACTICAL GUIDE
Prepare your agency for sale
Make your business easier to understand before asking a buyer to make a major decision.
Get the financial story in order
Assemble consistent financial statements, commission reports, and a clear explanation of recurring and non-recurring revenue. Identify owner expenses and adjustments for your accountant to review. Buyers need to see how the business earns its income and how that income might change after you leave.
Show how the business works without you
Document renewal workflows, key relationships, staff responsibilities, and recurring service tasks. Describe the role you play today and the transition support you could provide. A realistic operating picture helps avoid surprises during diligence.
Control what becomes public
Use broad geography and business mix in your initial overview. Omit client names, employee identities, carrier documents, and exact details that could identify your agency unintentionally. Work with your advisors to decide what information belongs in each stage of the process.
Know your priorities beyond price
Consider timing, employee continuity, client experience, payment structure, and your future involvement. Compare proposed terms with your professional advisors. An asking price is only one part of the outcome; clarity about the full agreement matters.
Your next steps
- Reconcile financial information before marketing.
- Describe your operating role honestly.
- Prepare a non-confidential overview.
- Agree on your transition and employee priorities.
General educational guidance. Confirm current requirements and terms with the relevant authorities, providers, and qualified advisors. Provider materials describe their own offerings; inclusion is not an endorsement.
Explore your next step