Sticking to Your Knitting: Why It Matters in a Business Sale

Why the Best Buyer Is Usually Closer Than You Think

You’ve probably heard the phrase “stick to your knitting.” It’s an old saying, usually wheeled out by grandparents or old-school bosses whenever someone starts meddling in things they don’t understand. It means stick to what you know best. And when it comes to selling your business, that advice might just make your grandmother a better buyer than the financial investor who’s just emailed you.

The Folly of the “Financial Buyer”

Assess each investor’s committed funding, sector knowledge and proposed transition arrangements rather than drawing conclusions from the buyer’s label.

Financial buyers vary in their operating experience and investment approach. Test their understanding of the business and their plans for management.

A buyer may request a transition period or deferred consideration. The duration, responsibilities and payment conditions must be negotiated; neither is inevitable.

Your Grandmother Would Know Better

If you told your grandmother you’d sold your business to someone who doesn’t understand what you do, who wants you to keep working for years, and who’s paying you in instalments, she’d call you daft. And she’d be right.

A competitor, supplier or other trade buyer may bring sector knowledge, but suitability depends on funding, strategic fit and proposed terms.

Trade buyers may recognise synergies, but an upfront cash payment, short handover or higher price is not assured.

The Trade Buyer Advantage in your Business Sale

A trade buyer may seek scale or operational efficiencies, but integration benefits remain uncertain.

The right acquirer can often:

• Offer upfront consideration where funding and negotiated terms permit
• Propose terms that need independent legal and financial review
• Discuss staff and legacy plans without assuming sector familiarity protects either

This isn’t nostalgia, it’s practical business sense. The buyer who knows your world is the one who can extract the most value from it, and therefore pay the most for it.

Sector understanding may support a buyer’s assessment of value, but does not establish who will offer the highest price.

Old sayings survive because they make sense. “Stick to your knitting” isn’t just a quaint expression, it’s good commercial advice. If you’re selling your business, look for buyers who already understand it. Don’t get distracted by the noise of “investment vehicles” and “earn-out opportunities.”

If you want a clean, fair, and rewarding exit, sell to someone who actually gets it. The best deals are built on understanding, not spreadsheets.

Know When to Pick Up the Needles

If you’re starting to think about your own exit, whether this year or next, speak to an adviser who can help you identify the right kind of buyer and prepare your business properly.

Understand your options before deciding. If you would like to discuss your own circumstances, you can request a confidential business exit review; enquiries are reviewed by experienced advisers who can discuss suitable options.