Selling or buying a business
Books for selling (or buying) a business
A buyer will ask to see your numbers, and messy books cost you credibility and sometimes price. If you're the buyer, organized data helps you understand what you're getting.
Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. See my Intuit listing
Matthew Coleman, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, accounting and finance degree. Cranford, NJ. Start with a free health check of your books. You get a quote after we review your books, before any work starts.
Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. See Tallyfinch
For sellers
Reconciled books for several years, financials that match your tax returns, a clear list of owner expenses run through the business, and organized support for the big numbers.
For buyers
We can organize and summarize a seller's records into readable reports. We are not valuation experts or auditors, and a due diligence team should review the results.
Who else you'll need
An attorney, and usually a CPA or business broker. We supply the bookkeeping side.
What buyers look at
A buyer reviews several years of profit and loss, balance sheets, tax returns and bank statements, and checks that they agree. They look at owner pay, one-time items and personal expenses to estimate real earnings. Statements that tie out build confidence and support your price.
Adjustments to prepare
We can list items a buyer may adjust, such as owner pay above or below market, one-time costs, personal spending run through the business and non-recurring income. Whether a buyer accepts each adjustment is a negotiation, so we present them clearly and document them.
Timing
Start at least a year before you want to sell if you can. Clean monthly books and a track record of consistent reports are hard to build in a few weeks.
Related
- Books for a bank or SBA loan
- Partner or owner dispute
- Bookkeeping health check
- Bookkeeping guides
- EBITDA calculator
- Monthly reporting
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency, lender or your professional. Updated October 2026.
FAQ
Common questions
Can you value my business?
No. A broker or valuation professional does that.
Do you talk to the buyer?
Only with your permission, and only about the records.
How far back should I clean?
Ask your advisor. Buyers commonly look at several years.
Will you set a price for my business?
No. A business broker or appraiser values a business. We make sure the financial records can support the number.
Can you work for the buyer?
Yes, as a records review. We say clearly who we are working for.
Tallyfinch
Books you keep on your own computer
Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. The free download records up to 60 entries.
See Tallyfinch Download it free Compare the three apps