How do I sell a blinds and drapery business?

A window coverings shop depends on relationships as well as stock. The sample books, the van and the dealer accounts matter, but what a buyer wants to know is whether customers, designers and builders will keep calling after you leave. Sellers often prepare to answer that question in writing before listing.

Write down who does what

List every role: consultation, measuring, ordering, installation, bookkeeping and customer follow-up. Mark which ones you do yourself. If you are the main designer or measurer, begin training someone now and let them take some visits, so a buyer sees the work can be done by others. Keep notes on how you quote and measure, since those habits are rarely written down anywhere.

Gather the supplier and dealer paperwork

Collect your dealer agreements, price lists, credit terms and any rebate arrangements. A buyer will ask whether they can take over each one, so ask the suppliers early how an ownership change is handled. Some sellers call their main fabricator once a confidentiality agreement is in place with the buyer, rather than leave it as a surprise.

Open orders, deposits and warranty work

Prepare a schedule of open orders, the deposits received and the expected delivery of each. Add the list of installations that remain unfinished and any remake or warranty claims in progress. Your lawyer can explain how these are dealt with at closing. A clean schedule makes questions easier to answer; for what to keep afterwards, see what records to keep after selling.

Builder and designer relationships

If designers, builders or property managers send you work, say so, and describe how long you have worked together. Offer to introduce the buyer during the transition. Many sellers agree to stay on for a period to support the hand-over, and your advisor can help you decide what is reasonable.