People who are considering purchasing a company need to ensure that they know exactly what they’re getting. The only way to do this is to do your due diligence before you make the purchase. This is a very involved task, so you should ensure that you’re up for it. Some people opt to have others help them through this process.
What should you check when you review the company?
When you’re doing due diligence, you need to review the structure of the company. This includes ensuring that it is set up to legally do business as it is. Check on the tax status and any registrations or licensing that it needs to have to operate.
You also need to review the business’ policies, employees and management. Are there any red flags with these? For example, the company should have a clear policy that forbids discrimination and harassment. The management should be well versed in their aspect of running of the company. Employees should know how to do their job duties proficiently.
Take the time to review contracts and other similar information. You may need to do background checks on the executives for the company. This gives you an idea of whether you need to be concerned about them.
The financial records are also important. You want to make sure that the business is viable before you make the purchase. It’s also a good idea to check customer satisfaction and the company’s reputation to determine whether there is anything amiss there.
Where can you turn for help with due diligence?
The professionals on your team, including your lawyer and accountant, can help you with due diligence. Ensure that you start early so that you don’t have to rush the process.