How do I take over a business the seller ran from home?

A business run from a kitchen table, spare room or garage has no clear line between the business and the house. That makes the handover more physical than usual. Equipment, stock and paperwork may be mixed in with the family’s belongings, and the seller’s home address may be everywhere customers look.

Inventory what is in the house

Walk through the home with the seller before closing and list every item that belongs to the business: tools, machines, stock, supplies and files. Photograph it, and match the list to the purchase documents. Agree who packs it, who pays for moving it and the date it leaves. Anything left off the list is likely to be disputed later.

Records, address, phone and mail

Customer lists, invoices and supplier details may live on the seller’s own computer or in a drawer. Make sure you receive complete copies and that personal material is kept out. Move the business phone number, email and website to you. Change the address on listings and suppliers’ files, and arrange mail forwarding so nothing is missed in the first months.

Where will customers go?

Decide early whether customers come to a new location, whether you operate from your own home, or whether you serve them at their premises. Tell regulars in good time and explain the change plainly. Plan the move around your busiest periods, so orders keep going out while boxes move. See what to do in the first week for the early steps.

Rules for working from home

Whether a business may operate from a particular home, and whether a licence is needed, depends on local rules, and those can limit customers visiting or signage. Ask your lawyer and your municipality before you commit to a location. Do not assume the seller’s arrangement carries over to you.