The best sales start roughly twelve months before going to market. Start by stabilising your recurring-fee base: move annual clients onto standing engagement letters, address any fee arrears, and reduce owner dependence so key relationships sit with managers rather than only with you.
Next, document the business. Written processes, a clean software stack, up-to-date staff contracts and a client database a buyer can verify all signal transferability. Buyers pay for a practice that runs without the seller; anything that depends on your personal presence is discounted.
Finally, get your numbers in order: management accounts for the past three years, a breakdown of fees by client, and an honest view of client concentration. Then list confidentially with masked figures, and let vetted buyers come to you on the strength of the recurring-fee band.
