Selling and Preparation
How to Sell a Distribution Business
Follow the sale process, from financial preparation and confidentiality to buyer discussions, diligence and closing.
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The Resource Library
Distribution Business Owner Guides
Practical guides for distribution and wholesale owners considering a sale. Find answers on value, preparation, buyer diligence and the operation a buyer will inherit.
Start with the question in front of you. Each guide covers one part of the decision.
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Valuation and Earnings
How Are Distribution Businesses Valued?
Understand how earnings, operating risk, inventory, working capital and transferability inform an assessment of value.
Read GuideValuation and Earnings
Gross Margin Quality in a Distribution Company Sale
Separate durable margin from changes in product mix, freight, supplier rebates, pricing and accounting presentation.
Read GuideBuyers and Diligence
Distribution Business Due Diligence Checklist for Sellers
Organize financials, inventory, contracts, customers, suppliers and operating records for controlled buyer review.
Read GuideSelling and Preparation
How to Choose a Distribution Business Broker
Evaluate industry knowledge, valuation reasoning, confidentiality, buyer qualification and engagement terms.
Read GuideValuation and Earnings
SDE vs. EBITDA for Distribution Businesses
Compare earnings measures and the treatment of owner compensation, replacement management and supported adjustments.
Read GuideOperations and Relationships
Inventory and Working Capital When Selling a Distribution Business
Examine stock quality and normal cash requirements without assuming inventory is automatically added to the price.
Read GuideBuyers and Diligence
What Buyers Look For in Distribution Companies
See how buyers evaluate financial quality, concentration, inventory, management and continuity after a sale.
Read GuideValuation and Earnings
Distribution Business EBITDA Multiples: What Owners Should Know
Understand what a multiple can tell you, what it leaves out and why business-specific context matters.
Read GuideSelling and Preparation
Preparing Financials Before Selling a Distribution Company
Prepare reporting that supports discussions of earnings, margins, adjustments, inventory and working capital.
Read GuideBuyers and Diligence
Strategic vs. Financial Buyers for Distribution Companies
Compare how buyer types may assess operating fit, synergies, management needs, risk and transaction terms.
Read GuideOperations and Relationships
Customer Concentration When Selling a Distribution Business
Consider how reliance on key accounts affects buyer diligence, risk assessment and sale preparation.
Read GuideOperations and Relationships
Supplier Relationships When Selling a Distribution Business
Review supplier terms, rebates, exclusivity, consents and continuity before buyer questions arrive.
Read GuideOperations and Relationships
Owner Dependence When Selling a Distribution Business
Identify which relationships, decisions and day-to-day responsibilities must transfer beyond the current owner.
Read GuideOperations and Relationships
Warehouse Systems and ERP in a Distribution Business Sale
Assess the reporting, inventory controls and warehouse processes that support a transferable operation.
Read GuideSelling and Preparation
Sell a Wholesale Business vs. a Distribution Business: What Owners Should Know
Compare how wholesale channels and distribution models affect positioning, buyer fit and diligence.
Read GuideFrom Research to Your Business
Discuss Selling Your Business
General guidance cannot determine your company’s value or the right time to sell.
Talk with us about your business and goals, or request a company-specific valuation review.