Workshops for Business Successors & Sellers

Practical knowledge and peer exchange for the most important transaction of your life

Buying or selling a business is not something most people do more than once. The stakes are high, the process is complex, and the decisions made along the way have lasting consequences — financially, professionally, and personally. Yet too often, owners and successors enter these processes without a clear understanding of what lies ahead.

Our workshops are designed to change that.

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What We Offer

We run focused, practical workshops for two distinct audiences — business owners preparing for succession or sale, and successors or searchers preparing for acquisition. Each workshop combines structured input with open peer exchange, creating a learning environment that is both rigorous and grounded in real-world experience.

For Business Owners & Sellers:

• Understanding the succession and sales process from start to finish

• How to prepare your business for a successful transition

• What buyers and successors are really looking for

• Valuation fundamentals — how your business is valued and what drives it

• Navigating vendor due diligence and buyer scrutiny with confidence

• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

For Successors, MBI/MBO Candidates & Searchers:

• The ETA and MBI/MBO landscape in Switzerland — opportunities and realities

• How to define your search criteria and identify the right target

• Evaluating a business — commercial, strategic, and financial fundamentals

• Understanding due diligence — what to look for and how to interpret findings

• Deal structuring, financing, and negotiation basics

• The transition from candidate to owner-operator

 

Format & Approach

Our workshops are intentionally kept small — allowing for genuine discussion, honest questions, and meaningful peer connections. Sessions are led by practitioners with direct transaction experience, not theorists. Every workshop includes real-world case examples, structured frameworks, and dedicated time for open Q&A.

Workshops are offered as half-day or full-day formats, in German and English, and can be tailored for specific groups or organisations upon request.

 

Who Should Attend

• Swiss SME owners beginning to think about succession or sale

• Family business members preparing for an ownership transition

• Managers considering a management buy-in/buy-out

• Entrepreneurs pursuing Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)

• Advisors and fiduciaries supporting clients through succession processes

 

If you are interested in attending an upcoming workshop or would like to organise a tailored session for your organisation or network, please reach out directly:

stefan.ruessli@ruessli-ventures.ch