According to recent research, for every 100 businesses that seek a buyer, only ten manage to successfully sell and maximise their value. Worse, an abortive sale process could cost up to £100,000, not to mention the hidden costs of a distracted management team. That said, hundreds of companies change hands every year and, while I’d be cautious about the claimed multiples, many of these businesses do realise their true value. So, how can you seize this once-in-a-lifetime opport