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The Buying Process

From Offer to Completion: A Realistic Timeline

By Raphael Ramani, Acquisition Finance Specialist · Last reviewed · 6 min read

Six to ten weeks is normal. Here is what happens in each of them — and where deals actually lose time.

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Weeks one and two: the offer

Agree the price, the basis for stock at valuation, what fixtures transfer and the target completion date — all captured in Heads of Terms. Your finance case goes to the lender now, not later; the valuation and legal work run in parallel.

Weeks three to eight: finance and legals

The lender values the business and any property while solicitors handle the contract, the lease assignment or grant, and searches. Landlord consent is the classic bottleneck on leasehold deals — chase it from day one.

Where business purchase solicitors handle high volumes of transactions, instructing an experienced commercial solicitor early in the process materially reduces the risk of delays. The legal work — searches, lease review, and contract negotiation — typically runs in parallel with the finance, and the two need to be synchronised carefully to avoid a delay at the point of exchange.

Completion day

A handful of hours that repay months of preparation:

  • —Funds move and the balance of the price is paid
  • —Stock is counted by an independent valuer and settled
  • —Keys, codes, supplier accounts and platforms change hands
  • —Staff are told — by you and the seller, together, on the day

For a sector-specific view of how this works in practice, see our page on Pharmacies acquisition finance and loans, including how lenders assess these deals and the areas we cover.

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