GUIDES · DUE DILIGENCE
Due Diligence Checklist for Buying a Business
Organized by the three phases every acquisition actually moves through — before you sign an LOI, during the deep-diligence period after, and in the final stretch before close. Check items off as you verify them; your progress saves in this browser. New to the process? Start with the full step-by-step guide to buying a business. Checking a specific listing right now? Run a free Deal Check for an instant score before you work the checklist.
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Phase 1 — Pre-LOI (screening)
Phase 2 — Post-LOI (deep diligence)
Phase 3 — Pre-close
Buying a specific type of business?
This master checklist applies broadly. These businesses have their own category-specific red flags, seller questions, and valuation norms layered on top of it.
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21-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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21-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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21-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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21-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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22-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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21-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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22-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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21-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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20-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
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21-point checklist, red flags, and valuation norms for this category.
Frequently asked questions
Is this checklist different from a business-specific one?
Yes. This is the master checklist that applies across almost any acquisition. Specific business types (laundromats, car washes, franchises) have category-specific red flags and valuation norms on top of this — see the buyer’s guides below.
Do I need every item on this list for a small deal?
No. Scale it to deal size — a $150k single-location acquisition doesn’t need the same depth as a $3M platform deal. The pre-LOI phase matters at every size; post-LOI depth should scale with the check size.
Does completing this checklist replace a quality of earnings report?
No. This checklist tells you what to check and why; a QoE is a paid, independent verification of the seller’s numbers by an accountant. Use this checklist to decide if a listing is worth a QoE in the first place.
My progress disappeared — what happened?
Checked items save to this browser only (localStorage), not an account. Clearing browser data, using a different device, or private/incognito mode will reset it. Use "copy as markdown" to save a permanent copy.
BUYING A BUSINESS?
Get a Due Diligence Scan — the market read on any listing before you spend thousands on due diligence.
This checklist tells you what to check. A Due Diligence Scan checks it for the specific listing — demand, competition, and red flags, before you spend on lawyers or a QoE.