Reaching the point where you’re ready to sell your business is a major milestone. It’s your chance to reap the rewards of years—maybe decades—of hard work.
But just when you think the deal is done… the buyer walks away.
You’re not alone. Over 50% of business sales fall apart during due diligence.
Why? Because buyers uncover operational gaps that make the deal too risky to move forward.
Why Due Diligence Kills Deals
Due diligence is the deep-dive phase where buyers inspect your financials, systems, contracts, and leadership structure.
Even small red flags can cause big problems:
- Unclear financials
- Weak internal systems
- Founder dependency
- Legal or compliance issues
Buyers want stability, clarity, and confidence that the business will succeed after you leave. If they don’t see that, the deal dies.
The Operational Gaps That Scare Buyers
Unclear Financial Records
Disorganized books, messy revenue streams, or inconsistent reporting all scream “risk.” Buyers want transparency and clean financials—nothing less.
Overdependence on the Founder
If you’re the only one holding things together, that’s a deal breaker. Buyers want businesses that can run without the founder’s constant involvement.
Weak or Missing SOPs
No written processes? No deal. Buyers expect documented workflows so the business can scale and operate efficiently.
Inconsistent Revenue
Erratic income makes your business unpredictable. Buyers are drawn to businesses with recurring or diversified revenue streams.
⚖️ Legal or Compliance Issues
Buyers don’t want to inherit liabilities. Outstanding lawsuits, expired contracts, or labor issues will send them running.
How Cotingency Makes Your Business Buyer-Ready
Cotingency helps business owners prepare before they go to market. Our proven process closes operational gaps, builds buyer confidence, and increases valuation.
Here’s how we do it:
- Financial Clarity: We organize and audit your records for full visibility.
- Founder Independence: We build a leadership structure that reduces reliance on you.
- Documented SOPs: We systematize your operations for consistency and scale.
- Revenue Readiness: We strengthen revenue streams to improve predictability.
- Compliance Check: We flag and resolve legal issues through proactive auditing.
The result? A business that looks strong, stable, and scalable—exactly what buyers want.
Why Preparing Early Matters
Many business owners wait until the last minute to start preparing for a sale. But the truth is:
Profitability alone doesn’t sell a business—predictability does.
Buyers are investing in your business’s future, not just its past. That means they’re looking for:
- Sustainable systems
- Transferable leadership
- Clear financials
- Minimal risk
Early preparation gives you more control, better negotiating power, and a faster path to closing at a higher price.
What Happens When You Don’t Prepare?
- The deal drags on with endless requests for clarification.
- Buyers renegotiate—or walk away entirely.
- Valuation drops due to perceived risk.
- You miss your window to sell on your own terms.
Don’t let your sale fall apart during due diligence. With Cotingency, you enter the market prepared, confident, and in control.
Final Thoughts
Selling your business should be a rewarding, empowering experience—not a last-minute scramble filled with red flags and broken deals.
Most sales fail because owners don’t prepare.
Buyers uncover problems they can’t unsee—and walk away.
Cotingency helps you fix those problems before they surface.
Our expert guidance ensures your business is buyer-ready, risk-free, and set up for a successful, profitable exit.
Start preparing today.
The deal you’ve dreamed of depends on it.