How do I tell my seeding clients their custom operator is changing hands?

Clients who book your seeding want to know one thing: will the work happen on time? Plan the message around that. Make a list of clients in order of how much they matter, and call the top ones yourself before anyone hears elsewhere. A letter or text should come after the call, not instead of it.

Say who is taking over, what equipment and crew will remain, and how current bookings will be honoured. Be honest about what may change, such as pricing or scheduling, and say when you will know. Avoid promises you cannot keep for the buyer, and agree with the buyer beforehand what you may say.

Bring the buyer along. Arrange a visit or a joint call with major clients, ideally before the busy season. Hand over your notes on each client: field quirks, preferred timing, and past problems. That small effort protects relationships. Finally, decide when the announcement happens relative to closing, and keep the sale confidential until then. Your lawyer can advise on confidentiality and on how existing bookings and agreements pass to the buyer. Afterwards, check in with each major client once the first job is done, and fix small complaints quickly. If a client raises a worry, listen first and write it down for the buyer rather than arguing the point.

Key takeaways

• Call your biggest clients yourself before they hear it elsewhere.
• Agree with the buyer what you may say about future terms.
• Introduce the buyer before the planting season starts.