The time may have come for you to sell your business because you are ready for retirement, or you have made a good profit over many years and wish to move on, or the profit levels are not being achieved and you need to get out. In all of those circumstances we have the experience to understand your need to get things done and sell. The people who are going to purchase your business will want to carry out a certain level of “due diligence” investigations. We can help you with confidentiality agreements to reduce the chance of prospective purchasers stealing you business secrets.

Selling Your Business

We can advise you of the many ways in which you can prepare your business for sale so that any business broker you appoint is equipped to answer questions from prospective purchasers relating to all aspects of your business. We can assist you to “get on the front foot” to put your business in the best possible light so that it is attractive to prospective purchasers, so that you achieve a sensible price for the effort you have put into the business over the years, and so that you get a quick exchange of sale contracts as soon as possible after your business broker finds you a purchaser.

Passing Your Business On

You may be at the stage where you are looking to pass your business on to the next generation of family members who may wish to take over, or you may wish to pass the business on to longstanding management or employees. In either case we can advise you in relation to all “business succession” issues. We have vast experience in estate planning and we can deal with your estate planning and business succession issues together.

Liquidation

A client may be in a position where they need to close their business down as it has not gone well. We have experience dealing with liquidators in getting the best outcome for clients when their business has a receiver appointed, or goes into administration or liquidation. In those circumstances the client may need to protect their assets or the assets of their family members that could be exposed to creditors of the business. The client may have given personal guarantees which could be called on. We can give you proper advice if you find yourself in these circumstances.

Tax and GST

One way or the other if you are disposing of your business then there will be issues relating to income tax, GST and capital gains tax. North Shore Business Lawyers can act together with your accountant to help minimise the impact of the taxes relating to your affairs.

If you need legal advice and if we sound like the type of lawyers that will give you proper, plain English advice then call us to discuss how we can help.