Key Business Sale Terms Every Wisconsin Owner Should Know

📘 Why These Terms Matter

Whether you're planning to retire, transition leadership, or explore a strategic sale, you'll run into industry-specific terms that most business owners have never heard before. Knowing the difference between an Asset Sale and a Stock Sale, or what a Letter of Intent (LOI) actually means, could save you thousands—and help you avoid bad deals.

🔍 Top Terms You Should Know

• Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): A legal promise to keep sale discussions private.
• Letter of Intent (LOI): A buyer’s opening offer—non-binding, but serious.
• Asset Purchase Agreement (APA): The final contract if you're selling parts of your business.
• Stock Purchase Agreement (SPA): The final contract if you're selling the entire company entity.
• Capital Gains Tax: What you owe the IRS and Wisconsin for selling at a profit.
• Due Diligence: The buyer’s investigation of your business before closing.
• Disclosure Schedules: Lists of debts, contracts, and legal obligations that must be shared.
• Non-Compete Clause: Prevents you from starting a similar business post-sale.

🧰 Want the Full Glossary as a PDF?

We’ve put all the essential terms into a clean, printable document you can reference during your exit planning. It’s part of our free tools library for business owners.

📎 Bonus: Free Tools to Help You Sell Smart

We’ve created a full suite of resources—from checklists to spreadsheets—to make the selling process easier and less stressful. These are designed specifically for Wisconsin-based small and mid-sized businesses.