---
title: "Books for Selling or Buying a Business (NJ) | MCC Solutions"
description: "Buyers look hard at the books. Clean up and document your financials before a sale or due diligence. Bookkeeping help for any type of NJ business."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/help/books-for-selling-your-business"
---

Selling or buying a business

# Books for selling (or buying) a business

A buyer will ask to see your numbers, and messy books cost you credibility and sometimes price. If you're the buyer, organized data helps you understand what you're getting.

[Get a Quote](/bookkeeping/#interest)

[![Intuit ProAdvisor Gold tier badge](/img/credentials/intuit-proadvisor-gold.png)](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. [See my Intuit listing](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)

![Matthew Coleman, founder of MCC Solutions](/img/matthew-coleman.jpg)

**Matthew Coleman**, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, accounting and finance degree. Cranford, NJ. Start with a free health check of your books. You get a quote after we review your books, before any work starts.

Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software)

## For sellers

Reconciled books for several years, financials that match your tax returns, a clear list of owner expenses run through the business, and organized support for the big numbers.

## For buyers

We can organize and summarize a seller's records into readable reports. We are not valuation experts or auditors, and a due diligence team should review the results.

## Who else you'll need

An attorney, and usually a CPA or business broker. We supply the bookkeeping side.

## What buyers look at

A buyer reviews several years of profit and loss, balance sheets, tax returns and bank statements, and checks that they agree. They look at owner pay, one-time items and personal expenses to estimate real earnings. Statements that tie out build confidence and support your price.

## Adjustments to prepare

We can list items a buyer may adjust, such as owner pay above or below market, one-time costs, personal spending run through the business and non-recurring income. Whether a buyer accepts each adjustment is a negotiation, so we present them clearly and document them.

## Timing

Start at least a year before you want to sell if you can. Clean monthly books and a track record of consistent reports are hard to build in a few weeks.

## Related

- [Books for a bank or SBA loan](/bookkeeping/help/books-for-a-bank-or-sba-loan)
- [Partner or owner dispute](/bookkeeping/help/partner-or-owner-dispute)
- [Bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check)
- [Bookkeeping guides](/bookkeeping/guides)
- [EBITDA calculator](/bookkeeping/ebitda-calculator)
- [Monthly reporting](/bookkeeping/monthly-reporting)

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency, lender or your professional. Updated October 2026.

FAQ

## Common questions

**Can you value my business?**

No. A broker or valuation professional does that.

**Do you talk to the buyer?**

Only with your permission, and only about the records.

**How far back should I clean?**

Ask your advisor. Buyers commonly look at several years.

**Will you set a price for my business?**

No. A business broker or appraiser values a business. We make sure the financial records can support the number.

**Can you work for the buyer?**

Yes, as a records review. We say clearly who we are working for.

Tallyfinch

### Books you keep on your own computer

Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. The free download records up to 60 entries.

[See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) [Download it free](/tools/pro/trial/mccBooks) [Compare the three apps](/software)

## Want clean books?

[Get a Quote](/bookkeeping/#interest)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)