Selling a software agency or IT company? The build record has buyers

Floors usually sit at 20 to 30 staff, and software ranks first for several buyers. Dev shops with stable engineering teams and tidy issue trackers stand out.

Client contracts usually assign the code to the client. What remains yours is often internal tooling, templates, process documents, estimation history and the internal discussion. Expect buyers to exclude client-owned repositories.

Less of your code will qualify than you expect. SimpleClosure found about 37% fell away after removing duplicates, generated output and outside libraries.

Some buyers start with read-only access to the repositories and tools you approve. Payment typically lands three to six weeks after signing. Foley & Lardner notes that acquirers now review training-data rights in diligence.

• Is this a license of a copy, or a sale of the records outright?
• Is it exclusive, and for how long? Can I license the same data elsewhere later?
• Which systems and date ranges are in scope, and can I leave folders or whole tools out?
• Who removes names and personal details, how, and do I approve a sample before anything leaves?
• When does payment arrive, and does the clock start at signing or at your acceptance of the delivery?
• Do I pay anything, and does anyone in the chain take a cut?
• How long do you keep the copy, and what happens to it if you are acquired?