Pre-sale readiness is the final stage of a value-creation plan, not a substitute for one. Its purpose is to make sure that the value you spent years building is visible to someone reading the company from the outside, and then to hand the transaction itself to the people in our group who do that work: Sedighi.ca and BizSell.ca, the group's business-sale and exit brand.
We are deliberate about the boundary. ValueCreation.ca builds value and confirms it is documented. We do not act in any sale, give valuation opinions, or provide securities, real-estate trading, legal or tax advice.
What "ready" means for a company that has built value
A buyer's first questions are usually about the same things your plan has been working on. Readiness means you can answer each one with evidence rather than reassurance.
| Question a careful reader asks | Evidence that answers it |
|---|---|
| Are the earnings real and repeatable? | Monthly accounts, reconciled to year-end statements, with a short documented add-back schedule |
| Will the revenue continue? | Agreement register, renewal history, customer concentration figures |
| Who runs the company? | Organization chart, decision-rights table, management reports for the last 12–24 months |
| What depends on the owner? | Owner hours, key relationships transferred, any credential questions resolved |
| What could go wrong? | A list of known risks with what has been done about each one |
What is included
- A readiness review against the eight value drivers and the evidence above
- A gap list with the effort and time needed to close each item
- Support closing the operational gaps, such as unsigned agreements, missing documentation or stale reports
- An organized, plain-language summary of the value-creation work and its results, for your advisers
- A handover meeting with the group's exit practice, with your consent, so nothing is re-learned from scratch
- Coordination with your CPA and lawyer on what they need from the operating side
Who it is for
Owners near the end of a value-creation plan who now see a sale as a real option, and owners who have done much of the building work themselves and want an independent check before they talk to anyone.
If you have not yet built the value and expect to sell soon, a careful look at what can realistically change in the time available is the honest first step. The group's exit practice and our sister site BusinessExit.ca, which covers the final years of sale preparation in detail, are useful reading. HVAC owners may also want HVAC.Broker.
Timeline
- Months 1–2: readiness review and gap list.
- Months 2–12: gaps closed, reports maintained, management results continue to build.
- When you decide: handover to the exit practice at Sedighi.ca and BizSell.ca.
How results are measured
By the number of open gaps on the readiness list, by the eight-driver scorecard, and by whether your advisers can find what they need without asking you twice. We do not measure success by a sale price, because we do not control it and never promise it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Starting at the end. Readiness without the underlying value work is mostly presentation.
- Talking to buyers before your advisers. Speak to your lawyer and CPA first. Early conversations can create expectations and obligations you did not intend.
- Expecting a number from us. A formal opinion of value comes from a qualified valuator. A Chartered Business Valuator can be found through the CBV Institute.
- Letting the business coast. Results in the final year matter. Keep running the plan.
- Surprises. Disclose known problems early. A known, explained issue costs less than one discovered later.
Price and how to start
The readiness review is usually a fixed project; gap-closing support usually runs on a retainer, within the ranges on our pricing page, plus GST/HST based on your province (GST and QST in Quebec). Transaction fees, if any, are a matter for the exit practice and are set out separately in writing. To talk it through, call or text (604) 632-4959, or read our FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
Does ValueCreation.ca sell businesses?
No. We build value and confirm it is documented. When an owner decides to sell, the exit work, including valuation, exit readiness, M&A, succession and deal structuring, is handled through Sedighi.ca and the group's exit brand, BizSell.ca.
Will you tell me what price to accept?
No. We never promise or suggest a price, and we do not give valuation, legal, tax or securities advice. Your CPA, your lawyer and, for a formal opinion of value, a Chartered Business Valuator are the right people for those decisions.
How early should this stage start?
Usually 12 to 24 months before you would want to talk to buyers. That leaves time to close gaps the review finds, and to show a year or two of results under the improved structure.
What if I decide not to sell after all?
Nothing is lost. A company with documented earnings, renewing revenue and a capable management team is a better company to own, refinance or pass to family.