Once a buyer signs a letter of intent, due diligence begins. That's when they review financials, contracts, customer relationships, and employee records, looking for anything that could lower the price or end the deal.
Most owners are surprised by how much they're asked for, and the level of scrutiny. Missing paperwork, messy records, and problems nobody mentioned up front are a common reason deals get renegotiated late or fall apart entirely.
The best time to find those gaps is long before a buyer does. This worksheet walks you through what buyers typically want to see, so you can spot what's missing while you still have time to fix it. Don't wait for the offer to show up.
