What do I do about a key supervisor who quietly handles all my cleaning sites?
Treat it as a risk you can shrink. Learn exactly what the supervisor does, write it down, and begin sharing it with a second person. Talk to them openly about their role and how you can recognize it, perhaps with a retention arrangement tied to the sale. Buyers will ask, so deal with it before you list.
First, learn the job. Sit with the supervisor and map what they do: schedules, key access, supply orders, quality checks, calls from clients, and the way they solve problems at night. Much of this may be invisible to you, which is the point.
Then spread it. Pick a second person to shadow the work and take on some sites. Put access details, client contacts and procedures into a shared system that the business owns. The goal is not to replace the supervisor but to make the work visible.
Talk with the supervisor about their future. Ask what they want, whether they would stay under a new owner, and what would help them feel secure. A retention bonus, a title or a share in the outcome may be options, and your lawyer can help write it properly. Finally, tell buyers about it. Hiding the dependence tends to surface in due diligence and damage trust. Showing that you have already reduced it is a strong point to make. Do this well before you list, while the supervisor still feels no pressure. Review progress together every few weeks.
Key takeaways
- Map everything the supervisor does, including what you cannot see.
- Train a second person and move records into systems the business owns.
- Talk to the supervisor about their future and disclose the risk to buyers.
- Start well before listing, while the supervisor feels no pressure.
Related reading
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Selling
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Due diligence
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to minimize negotiations when selling your business
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaIndustryHow to sell your business
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