What records should I gather to show a buyer my window shop’s measure-to-install process?

Pick several recent jobs of different sizes and assemble each one into a single file: the original enquiry, the measure sheet, the quote, the order to the supplier, the delivery confirmation, the install notes and the customer sign-off. A buyer should be able to follow each step.

Add the working documents themselves. Measure templates, checklists, order forms and install instructions show that the process is written down and not carried in one head. If it is not written down, now is a good time to do it.

Include the numbers the process produces: how long from measure to install, how many orders needed remakes, and what was learned from them. Be candid about weak spots, because buyers will find them anyway. Organize everything before you start negotiating, and agree with the buyer what they can see and when. Your lawyer can draft a confidentiality agreement. Before you share anything, remove customer personal details that a buyer does not need yet, and keep the originals safe. Think about the questions a careful buyer would ask, such as who does the measuring, how errors are caught and how installs are scheduled, and make sure your records answer them. If a record shows a mistake, add a note on how you fixed it. That shows the process learns.

Key takeaways

• Assemble complete job files from measure to sign-off.
• Show the checklists and forms that make the process repeatable.
• Include remakes and callbacks, and be open about weak spots.