WHAT TO PREPARE
Show the business behind the counter.
Separate repeat work from one-off orders
Create a customer sales view by month and product category. Mark recurring maintenance purchases separately from unusual projects or a large stocking order. Add a short explanation for changes rather than asking a buyer to interpret the numbers alone.
Make the inventory story understandable
Build a list of active stock, slow-moving items, customer-specific products, and consigned goods. Note how costs are recorded and when inventory was last counted. The aim is to explain what is on the shelf and why it is there, not to assign every item a sale value yourself.
Map the relationships that rely on you
Which accounts ask for you personally? Who else can handle a difficult cross-reference or expedite? List the people, product information, and supplier contacts that allow work to continue when you are away. This can become a practical transition plan.
Your first-pass checklist
- Sales by customer and product category for a consistent period
- Inventory aging, count date, and costing method
- Supplier list with terms and any written agreements
- Responsibilities for quoting, purchasing, expediting, and collections
- A short explanation of unusual orders or margin changes
Do we need modern software before selling?
Start by making the information you already have consistent and understandable. A new system is a separate operating decision. Document what your current system can export and which reports still require manual work.
Prepared by Old Growth, the acquisitions division of Deep Forest AI. These prompts help organize a discussion with your advisers. They are not a valuation, technical instruction, or an offer.
