How do I check a line painting company’s stencils and layout drawings?
Ask to see the stencils and the drawings together. Check that stencils are complete, in usable condition and labelled, and that each layout drawing matches a real site with dimensions and revision dates. Find out who made the drawings, who owns them, and whether the company could repaint a lot from them tomorrow.
For a line painting company, stencils and layout drawings are working assets that carry years of knowledge about each lot. A buyer should treat them like equipment, and check them as carefully.
Start with the stencils. Look at their condition, whether sets are complete and whether they are stored in a way that protects them. Ask how old they are, how often they are replaced and who is responsible for tracking them. Missing or damaged sets are an immediate cost you may inherit.
Next, the drawings. Pick several recurring customers and ask for their layouts. Do the drawings show dimensions, stall counts, accessible spaces, arrows and any special markings? Is there a date or revision number? Visit one site and see whether the lines on the ground match the drawing, since a mismatch suggests the drawing is out of date or never updated after changes. Ask who created each drawing, and whether the customer or a design professional supplied it. That affects whether the company may reuse the file. Your lawyer can advise on ownership. Finally, ask where the drawings are stored and backed up. If they live on one laptop, plan how to secure copies before closing.
Key takeaways
- Inspect stencil sets for completeness, condition and labelling.
- Compare a drawing to the marked lot on site to see if it is current.
- Ask who created each drawing and where copies are stored and backed up.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
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