How do I tell my physio clinic’s sports teams and workplace clients about a sale?

Make a list of every group you serve under an agreement: teams, employers, clubs and schools. Rank them by how much they depend on you personally. The contacts who know you best should hear from you first, by phone or in person, not through a letter.

Plan the message with your buyer. Keep it short: you are selling, here is who is taking over, here is what stays and here is who to call. If a particular therapist works with a team, say that person is staying, and only say so if it is true. Check any contract with your lawyer to see whether the client must be told or must consent before a sale.

Offer a joint meeting. Seeing the buyer in the room, perhaps at a practice or an on-site visit, helps a coach or human resources manager decide whether to continue. Finally, follow up after closing. A quick call a short while later shows the arrangement is working. Prepare answers to likely questions: will fees change, will the same therapists attend, who handles injuries during a season. Having them ready shows the clients that the change has been thought through, and it keeps your own conversations short.

Key takeaways

• Call your closest contacts yourself before any general notice.
• Agree one short message with the buyer and promise only what is certain.
• Ask your lawyer whether any client agreement needs notice or consent.