How do I document my packaging company’s standing orders for a buyer?

Start with a plain table. One row per standing customer, with the box or product, the usual release schedule, the price basis, the contact who places the order, and how long the arrangement has run. Add a column for how it is documented, because a written agreement and a long habit are not the same thing to a buyer.

Then collect the evidence. Pull invoices and release records that show the orders arriving as described. If a customer’s releases have slowed or grown, note why. Buyers look for gaps between what you say and what the invoices show. Give the buyer a short list of the customers who would need a conversation first, and suggest who should make the call. Standing orders are only as dependable as the relationship behind them, so show that you know where the relationships are strongest.

Be honest about the soft spots. If a large account has no contract and could leave tomorrow, say so and explain how the relationship works. A buyer who finds that on their own will trust the rest of your records less. Check whether any agreements limit transfer to a new owner. Your lawyer can read them and tell you what consent is needed, and you can plan those conversations early.

Key takeaways

• List each standing order with product, release pattern, contact and paperwork.
• Back every line with invoices or release records.
• Flag unwritten arrangements and check whether any contract needs consent to transfer.