Business Purchases & Business Sales

Buy or sell a business with contract risk mapped early. lease assignment under control. franchise consent managed. settlement mechanics clear.

Ensure Legal assists buyers and sellers with business sale agreements, due diligence, assignment of lease, franchise and licensing documents, settlement adjustments and completion.

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Buy-side

Due diligence, contract review and risk conditions.

Sell-side

Contract preparation, disclosure and completion control.

Lease transfer

Landlord consent, assignment and release issues.

Franchise

Franchisor consent and franchise documents.

contract structure
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due diligence phase
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lease / franchise consent
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settlement and completion
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Contract

Special conditions, warranties, restraint clauses, completion mechanics and default risk.

Due diligence

Financial, operational, lease, licence, employee, equipment and supplier issues before commitment.

Lease transfer

Landlord consent, assignment deed, outgoing tenant release and premises handover.

Franchise

Franchisor approval, disclosure documents, licence transfer and brand compliance.
Transaction pathway

One page. Four practical transaction angles.

Every transaction has a different leverage point. The page now separates the main legal pathways so buyers and sellers can recognise the issue that controls timing before they contact the firm.
Start with your transaction
Business transaction checklist

The legal work sits across the whole deal.

A business sale normally requires more than a contract review. The key is to align legal documents, consent requirements and settlement timing before the transaction becomes urgent.

Contract review and drafting

Sale agreements, special conditions, deposits, restraint clauses, warranties and completion obligations.

Legal due diligence

Review of legal, lease, licence, franchise, PPSR, equipment and operational risk points.

Lease assignment

Consent process, assignment deeds, guarantees, landlord conditions and timing.

Franchise and licensing

Franchisor approval, transfer documents, disclosure materials and licence conditions.

Settlement adjustments

Stock, plant and equipment, employee entitlements, rent, outgoings and completion statements.

Completion and handover

Document exchange, releases, authority transfers, keys, records and post-settlement obligations.

For buyers

Do not inherit a problem business.

Buyers need enough legal protection before deposit, finance, lease transfer and completion pressure take over.
  • Check the contract before signing
    Conditions should match finance, due diligence, landlord consent and franchise approval.
  • Review what is actually being bought
    Assets, goodwill, stock, equipment, licences, intellectual property, supplier arrangements and employees may all need separate treatment.
  • Control consent timing
    Lease assignment and franchisor approval can affect whether settlement is realistic.
  • Confirm settlement mechanics
    Adjustments, releases, guarantees and transfer documents should be settled before completion day.
For sellers

Prepare the exit before the buyer finds leverage.

Sellers need clear documents, controlled disclosure and a settlement process that reduces renegotiation risk.
  • Prepare sale documents early
    A clean contract and document pack makes buyer enquiries easier to manage.
  • Manage warranties and restraints
    Seller promises, restraints, training obligations and post-completion support should be carefully scoped.
  • Handle landlord and franchisor approvals
    External approvals can delay settlement if left too late.
  • Resolve handover obligations
    Stocktake, staff, records, keys, licences and supplier notices should not be left informal.
Document-led process

A cleaner path from negotiation to settlement.

A business purchase or sale works best when the contract, consent steps, due diligence and completion documents are planned together.

01

Initial review

Identify the buyer/seller position, business structure, lease status, franchise issues and transaction timetable.

02

Contract position

Prepare, review or negotiate the business sale agreement and the conditions needed before commitment.

03

Consent pathway

Coordinate lease assignment, landlord consent, franchisor approval and other third-party requirements.

04

Settlement preparation

Confirm adjustments, PPSR, releases, authorities, stock, employee issues and completion documents.

05

Completion

Assist with settlement, document exchange, handover and post-completion issues where required.
Recent matter style

Commercial advice should be tied to the transaction, not just the template.

Business sale matters are rarely just paperwork. The right legal advice should connect goodwill, lease transfer, assets, stock, employee issues, completion documents and practical handover.
Discuss my transaction

Goodwill and business name

Clarify exactly what goodwill, names, social channels, phone numbers, records and customer-facing assets are transferred.

Premises and landlord

The buyer may need a functioning lease transfer before the business can continue operating from the premises.

Plant, equipment and stock

Separate included assets, excluded assets, stocktake method, leased equipment and PPSR release requirements.

Training and handover

Seller assistance, staff transition, supplier introductions and post-completion obligations should be written clearly.

FAQ

Questions clients usually ask before signing.

This section improves SEO and gives buyers and sellers a more useful decision point before contacting the firm.
Ideally before signing anything or accepting a binding offer. A short review before signing can help identify missing conditions, unrealistic dates, lease issues, franchise consent requirements and settlement risks.
Usually no. A business transaction may also involve lease assignment, franchisor consent, licences, PPSR releases, equipment documents, employee issues, stocktake, settlement statements and handover obligations.
For many businesses, the premises are critical. If the landlord does not consent, if guarantees are not released, or if the lease terms are unsuitable, the transaction may not deliver what the buyer expects.
The legal review commonly includes the sale contract, lease, franchise or licence documents, PPSR, ownership of assets, employee arrangements, key supplier/customer arrangements, plant and equipment, stock and completion obligations.
A seller should prepare the contract position, lease materials, asset list, equipment details, stock process, employee information, licences, franchise materials where relevant, and a clear handover plan.
Yes. The page covers reviewing relevant franchising and licensing documentation and assisting with franchisor consent and transaction conditions where applicable.
Ready to buy or sell?

Send us the contract, lease and transaction details before the timetable becomes urgent.

We can help identify the legal issues, required documents and approval steps for your business purchase or sale.
Contact Ensure Legal
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Disclaimer: This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Advice should be obtained for your specific transaction before signing, settling or varying any business sale arrangement.