For instance, one client was keen to sell because he wanted to leave the stresses and strains of running a business to become a gamekeeper. Yes, really!

On paper, their business was turning over £25 million but it was making just £250,000 a year profit. By cleaning up their accounting records, migrating bookkeeping to the cloud and showing them how to deal with persistently late payers, we helped them get to £800,000. In taking our advice to be patient for a year, they wound up with a much better deal.

Our job is to maximise the sale price and minimise your tax liabilities.

When they start to think about retirement, most business owners also start thinking about who might take over the reins. Family? Other shareholders? Loyal employees? Maybe you’re in this situation yourself?

Our first piece of advice is: don’t rush into anything! We have learned over many years that patience really is a virtue.

Before you give away or sell anything, how much do you want to take out of the business yourself?

Do you want cash now or are you happy to take it over a period of years?

We also make sure you are not hit by unexpected Inheritance Tax or Capital Gains Tax liabilities.

Our job is to help you negotiate the minefield.

As an example “Ted” works for “XYZ” company and is very good at his job. Frank, who owns the company, wants to tie Ted in. But how? If he pays Ted big bonuses, as much as 47% of the money will disappear in taxes. If he gives him shares, Ted will get a hefty tax bill he can’t afford and may have to wait years before he can sell them.

In this instance, the solution could be Growth Shares. They’re a relatively new way of rewarding people (not just employees) in the success of the company from the day they are issued. Obviously, they have to be valued accurately or, later on, HMRC will want to know why.

Our job is to set up the incentive scheme that works for you.

Shareholder battles are often deeply distressing for everyone involved. They can involve friends who have fallen out or families at loggerheads with each other.

One property company came to us for mediation. An uncle and his nephew were trying to divide the business so they could go their separate ways. They could either go to court, which would cost them as much as 40% of the business, or they could make sealed bids for the properties they particularly wanted.

They took our advice and for the price of a few envelopes we saved them hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Our job is to bring common sense to bear.

A client came to us to ask for help. In their divorce proceedings his wife had had her business valued. The valuation was, he said, “derisory”.

It didn’t take long to find that the lady had been “losing” all the costs of her several horses, stables and vet bills in the accounts.

Once again, common sense prevailed. By establishing the true value of the business, we helped our client get a fairer settlement. And, arguably, helped his former wife stay out of serious trouble.

Our job is to come up with solutions that both parties can accept.