What should I ask about a sign shop’s unfinished jobs and install schedule?
Ask for a list of every open job with its stage, the customer’s deposit, the promised install date and the materials already bought. Then ask who will do the work, who is on the install crew, and what the owner has promised that is not written down.
Request a schedule that names each open job, what has been done, and what remains. For each job, ask what the customer has paid, what is still owed, and what materials have been ordered or cut. Deposits matter: if the shop has taken money for work not yet done, you will be the one delivering it, so find out how that is handled at closing.
Next, look at the calendar. Are the installs spaced sensibly, or has the owner overbooked the crew? Ask whether the work needs a lift, a permit or a road closure, and who arranges it. Ask about the crew: are they employees or contractors, and will they stay? A schedule is only as good as the people carrying it out.
Ask about problems. Is any job late, disputed or likely to cost more than quoted? Are there informal promises of a discount or a rush? Ask for these in writing. Your lawyer and accountant should help decide how open jobs, deposits and warranty work are treated in the sale. Ask for photos or site notes on the larger installs. They help you see how much work is truly finished and avoid arguments later about what was done before and after the handover date.
Key takeaways
- Get a list of open jobs with stage, deposit and promised date.
- Ask about crew availability and what the install needs.
- Ask for any informal promises and disputed jobs in writing.
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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 CanadaGovernmentWhat is inventory
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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