Buying or Selling a Business

Buy or Sell Your Business with Professional Business Sale Agreements, Contracts and Checklists

two people shaking hands on a deal


Buying or selling a business is one of the most significant financial decisions most entrepreneurs will ever make. Whether you are purchasing an established company, selling a family business, transferring ownership to a partner, or acquiring the assets of an existing enterprise, having the right legal documents is essential.

Our professionally drafted business sale agreements, contracts, forms and checklists help buyers and sellers organize the transaction, document their intentions, and protect their interests throughout the process.

All templates are downloadable, fully editable, affordable, and designed for practical business use.


Business Sale Documents for Buyers and Sellers

Every business transaction is different. Some involve the sale of shares in a corporation, while others involve only the sale of business assets such as equipment, inventory, intellectual property, customer lists, or goodwill.

Our collection includes legal templates that can assist with many stages of a business purchase or sale, including:

  • Business purchase and sale agreements
  • Asset purchase agreements
  • Letters of intent
  • Confidentiality (Non-Disclosure) Agreements
  • Due diligence checklists
  • Bills of sale
  • Assignments and transfer documents
  • Non-competition and non-solicitation agreements
  • Corporate resolutions and related business documents

These professionally prepared templates can save considerable time while helping you prepare well-organized documentation for your transaction.


Buying a Business: Look Beyond the Financial Statements

When evaluating a business, the assets shown on the balance sheet are only part of the picture.

An established business often derives much of its value from assets that cannot easily be measured, including:

  • Customer loyalty
  • Brand recognition
  • Goodwill
  • Reputation within the community
  • Supplier relationships
  • Employee experience and expertise
  • Established operating systems
  • Intellectual property
  • Corporate culture

A successful acquisition depends not only on purchasing these assets, but also on maintaining and strengthening them after the transaction closes.

Prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before completing any purchase and ensure they fully understand both the opportunities and the risks associated with the business.


Selling Your Business Successfully

For many owners, selling a business represents years—or even decades—of hard work.

A successful sale is about more than negotiating the purchase price. It also involves presenting the business professionally, preparing accurate documentation, protecting confidential information, and ensuring a smooth transition for customers, employees, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

Many sellers also want reassurance that the purchaser intends to preserve the reputation, values, and relationships that have contributed to the business's success.

Proper legal documentation helps provide certainty for both parties and reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings after closing.


Why Use Professionally Drafted Business Sale Templates?

Our legal templates are designed to help business owners prepare clear, practical documentation without the cost of having every document drafted from scratch.

Benefits include:

  • Immediate digital download
  • Fully editable Microsoft Word templates
  • Professionally written legal forms
  • Affordable one-time purchase—no subscription required
  • Reusable for future transactions where appropriate
  • Suitable for a wide range of business transactions

Every transaction is unique, and professional legal and accounting advice should always be obtained where appropriate, particularly for larger or more complex acquisitions.

Why Choose Our Legal Templates?

Our legal documents are professionally drafted by experienced legal practitioners—not generated by AI.

Every template is written in plain English, fully editable, and designed for practical business use. Many documents are periodically updated to reflect changes in applicable legislation, business practices, privacy requirements, electronic commerce, and emerging technologies.


Frequently Asked Questions

What documents are needed to buy or sell a business?

The required documents depend on the structure of the transaction. Common documents include a purchase and sale agreement, confidentiality agreement, letter of intent, due diligence checklist, bill of sale, assignments, corporate resolutions, and other supporting documents.

What is the difference between an asset sale and a share sale?

In an asset sale, specific business assets are transferred to the purchaser. In a share sale, ownership of the business corporation itself changes hands through the transfer of shares. Each structure has different legal and tax implications.

Should I conduct due diligence before buying a business?

Yes. The importance of a due diligence review cannot be emphasized strongly enough. Due diligence allows a purchaser to verify the financial condition, legal obligations, contracts, licences, liabilities, and overall health of the business before completing the purchase.

Do I need a lawyer to buy or sell a business?

Many smaller transactions can begin using professionally prepared legal templates, but independent legal and accounting advice is strongly recommended before completing any business acquisition or sale.


Additional Resources

To help you make informed decisions before buying or selling a business, we recommend these practical guides:

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Affidavit of Bona Fide Purchase of Assets | Canada

Prepare an Affidavit of Bona Fide Purchase with this template form for the purchase of a business in Canada.

  • The Affidavit must be sworn by an officer of a company that is purchasing the assets of a business.
  • The Affidavit attests that the purchase is a bona fide purchase and is not being made for the purpose of keeping the assets out of the hands of creditors.
  • This form can be used in any Canadian province or territory. A French language version may be required in some provinces.
$0.00

Affidavit of Residency for Sale of Business | Canada

Selling shares or assets of a Canadian business? Provide the purchaser with this Affidavit of Residency of Vendor.

  • The Affidavit is made under section 116 of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
  • The Affidavit must be sworn by either the vendor (if an individual) or a corporate officer (if the shares being transferred are owned by a company).
  • The vendor attests that it is not a non-resident of Canada, as that term is defined in the Income Tax Act.
  • This free form is provided in MS Word format. Easy to download, print and fill in.
  • Intended for use only in Canada.
$0.00

Affidavit of Seller of Business Assets | USA

When you sell a business in the United States, you may be required to provide this Affidavit of Seller in accordance with bulk sales act legislation.

  • The seller confirms that:
    • the seller has the right to sell the business, assets, inventory, goodwill and equipment of the business,
    • no taxes are owing with respect to the business being sold,
    • no litigation is pending, and
    • the seller has not done anything which would give rise to a claim against any of the items being sold.
  • This affidavit is a downloadable digital template which you can easily fill in, print and sign in front of a notary.
  • Available in MS Word format.
  • Intended to be used only in the United States.
$5.99

Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Business Assets | New Zealand

Prepare a contract for selling a business in New Zealand in this customisable Asset Purchase Agreement template.

  • The balance of the purchase price is secured by way of a promissory note, which is included in the document package. The note provides for regular instalment payments of principal and interest.
  • The agreement contains the standard representations, covenants and warranties of the seller regarding corporate status, authority, financial position of the business, title to assets, conduct of business until closing, and other material items.
  • The buyer also makes representations, covenants and warranties to the seller regarding its corporate status, authority, ability to finance the transaction, insurance, and other relevant matters.
  • Each of the parties agrees to keep all information of the other party confidential. The parties have the right to an injunction or a suit for damages for a breach of this provision.
  • Available in MS Word format.
  • Intended to be used only within New Zealand.
$37.99

Arizona RV Park Purchase and Sale Agreement

Buy an RV park in Arizona with this comprehensive Purchase and Sale Agreement template.

  • The property being sold includes the land on which the park is located, all personal property belonging to the business, leases and intangibles, the business name, licenses and permits, and all documentation connected with the development and operation of the RV park.
  • The buyer will have a specified time period during which to inspect the site and perform its due diligence. The sale is conditional upon a satisfactory due diligence, and the buyer will have the right to terminate the agreement during this period upon written notice to the seller.
  • The parties will each be responsible for their own closing costs.
  • All taxes, rents, income, costs and assessments for the year will be prorated as of the closing date.
  • The parties mutually indemnify each other against claims and liabilities.
  • Earnest money deposits will be held by the escrow agent until closing, with interest accruing to the buyer.
  • Intended for use only in the State of Arizona.
$29.99

Asset Purchase Agreement | Canada

Draw up the terms for purchase of the assets of a Canadian business with this comprehensive Asset Purchase Agreement.

The business is sold as a "going concern", including assets, inventory and goodwill.

Purchase Price of Inventory

The amount of the purchase price allocated to inventory will be adjusted prior to closing based on the actual physical inventory at that time.

Conditional Transaction

The transaction is conditional in part upon the parties completing all of their covenants that must be performed prior to closing.

Schedules Included

Schedules include Definitions, Representations and Warranties of Seller, and a Non-Competition Agreement.

Format and Governing Law

The Asset Purchase Agreement package is available in MS Word format and is fully editable to fit your specific needs. It is governed by Canadian law and is intended for use only in Canada.

$49.99

Asset Purchase Agreement | USA

This standard form USA Asset Purchase Agreement includes a set of schedules and documentation you need to transfer the assets of the business from the seller to the buyer. The package contains:

  1. Asset Purchase Agreement setting out the terms and conditions of the purchase and sale;
  2. Schedule of Definitions used in the Agreement;
  3. Representations and warranties of the seller regarding the corporate status of the business, contractual obligations, taxes, financial statements, condition of the assets, and other material items;
  4. Miscellaneous standard contract provisions, including a bulk sales law compliance provision;
  5. Non-Competition Agreement to be signed by the seller.

You can customize and tailor the USA Asset Purchase Agreement template to fit the specific conditions of your transaction. This digital download can be used for brokered and non-brokered sales.

$29.99

Asset Purchase Provisions for Management by Purchaser

Add these provisions to your Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement to provide for management of the business by the purchaser in the period prior to the closing.

  • The purchaser will take over managing the business between the effective date of the Asset Purchase Agreement and the closing date.
  • The provisions set out the particulars of how the business is to be operated, and what the purchaser's responsibilities are.
  • Accounts receivable remain the property of the vendor (seller), and the vendor is responsible for invoicing and collecting the receivables.
  • The Asset Purchase Provisions for Management by Purchaser can be used as a means to smoothly transition the business operations from the seller to the buyer without interruption.
  • Available in MS Word format.
$6.49

Assignment of Business Assets

Assign and transfer ownership of the assets of a small business from a seller to a purchaser with this downloadable Assignment of Assets form.

Purpose of Assignment

An assignment of assets would form part of the paperwork involved in the sale of a business. Under this contract, the seller assigns its interest in the business' assets to the purchaser without any set-off.

Key Provisions of Assignment Agreement

  • The seller certifies the accuracy of the records and accounts of the business.
  • The business assets being assigned will include all of the accounts payable, contracts, leases, inventory, and good will.

Format and Laws

The Assignment of Assets template is provided in MS Word format and is fully customizable. This is a generic legal document which does not contain specific references to the laws of any country or jurisdiction. It can be used almost anywhere.

$7.99

Assumption of Obligations Agreement

Use this Assumption of Obligations Agreement as part of a purchase of business assets when the buyer agrees to assume the liabilities.


Purpose of Agreement

An Assumption of Obligations Agreement is used as part of the documentation of the purchase of a business when the buyer has agreed to assume all or part of the obligations and liabilities of the business following the closing.

Mutual Indemnification

Each of the parties indemnifies the other party against claims or actions, with the seller indemnifying the buyer up until the time of closing, and the buyer indemnifying the seller from the time of closing onward.

Format and Jurisdiction

The Assumption of Obligations Agreement template is available in MS Word format. It is downloadable and fully editable, and can be easily customized to meet your specific needs.

This is not a country-specific legal template and it can be used almost anywhere.

$12.49