How do I transfer my moving company’s agent and van line relationships to a buyer?

Relationships with agents and van lines often decide how much of a mover’s work comes through the door. Start by pulling every agreement and highlighting the clauses on assignment, change of control, exclusivity, termination and any fees owed on exit. Your lawyer should read these before a buyer does, so there are no surprises when the buyer’s lawyer asks.

Next, decide when to tell the partner. Too early can unsettle them and too late can look like hiding something. Many sellers wait until a buyer has signed a confidentiality agreement and is serious, then arrange a joint meeting. A partner who has met the new owner and heard a plan is far more likely to agree to the transfer.

Prepare a clear picture of what the relationship produces: how work is shared, how disputes are settled, how payments move and how performance is judged. Include contacts at the partner, and who on your team manages each one. If a buyer will need financing, expect the lender to ask about concentration, so be ready to show how much revenue depends on any single partner. Make consent a condition of closing, not an afterthought. Keep a written record of every conversation with partners, so nothing promised verbally gets lost when the buyer takes over.

Key takeaways

• Check each agreement for assignment and change-of-control terms.
• Introduce the buyer after confidentiality is in place.
• Make partner consent a closing condition.