Perhaps the most beneficial thing you can do to maximize the value of your business is to get your books in order.
That doesn’t mean they need to show a great performing business but they need to be clear, understandable in good order.
Financial accounts will be carefully examined by any potential buyer (and their accountant or adviser) so its vital not only are the accounts in order but that you know them inside out.
Typically you’ll need to show 3 years of accounts when selling a business (although this is not a rule).
Most importantly you need to be able to explain the accounts and explain away any significant increases or decreases in revenue of costs.
For example if you had a big revenue increase in between years 1 and 2 and then it dropped back in year 3 you need to be able to explain why that one year was a ‘one off’ and doesn’t show a declining business. Perhaps you had a big one off client, orsold a particularly large one off contract.
As long as you can explain it then it shouldn’t affect your prospects of a sale.