Congrats, you’re the boss now. You’ve just crossed the finish line… and the start line. Buying a business through Sherpa is a major milestone, but now the real adventure begins.

This quick start guide is built for Sherpa buyers—people who take ownership seriously and want to drive their new business forward from day one. Here’s how to go from “I bought it” to “I’m running it.”

1. Understand What You’ve Got

First step. Orient yourself. Before making changes, get a clear picture of the business as it stands.

Review the landscape. Do a quick SWOT—Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.
Audit assets. Take stock of physical equipment, digital assets, inventory, and contracts.
Understand the numbers. Review past financials and reconcile what you were told with what’s on the ground.
Meet the people. Employees, freelancers, suppliers—get to know who does what, and how they feel about the transition.

Sherpa tip. Upload key files and notes to your Sherpa buyer dashboard so everything’s in one place.

2. Evaluate the Operations

Look under the hood. What’s running smoothly, and what’s clunky?

Check the systems. From sales to customer service to inventory—what’s manual, what’s automated, and what needs fixing?
Assess performance. Identify leaks in cash flow, missed sales opportunities, or outdated tools.
Understand the market. Is the business still aligned with current customer demand? Has the industry shifted?

3. Set Your Course

Why did you buy this business? Whether it’s a passion project, a revenue play, or a long term investment—your strategy should match your why.

Clarify your goals. Are you stabilising, growing, or flipping?

Build a 12 month roadmap. Set milestones for revenue, operations, and team development.

4. Connect with the Team

Your people are your greatest asset—or your biggest risk. Lead with clarity and empathy.

Be visible. Meet with the team early. Reassure, listen, and share your vision.

Fill the gaps. Identify missing skills and bring in training, hires, or consultants.

Align culture. What kind of business culture do you want to shape?

Sherpa tip. Keep your employee records and internal SOPs organised in your Sherpa buyer portal.

5. Reintroduce the Business to Its Customers

Buyers want to know the new owner isn’t going to rock the boat—unless it's for the better.

Reach out. Send an intro note or make direct calls to key clients.
Ask for feedback. Run a quick survey or ask in person—what do they love, what’s missing?
Deliver value fast. Improve a pain point quickly—whether it’s faster service, new stock, or better communication.

6. Get On Top of the Money

Cash is king—and now you’re the monarch.

Forecast cash flow. Know what’s coming in, going out, and what needs to change.

Cut the waste. Review recurring expenses. Renegotiate contracts where possible.

Track what matters. Pick three to five key metrics, such as gross margin, CAC, or churn rate, and check them weekly.

7. Tighten Operations

Make sure your backend is as solid as your ambitions.

Standardise processes. Document your workflows and create SOPs.

Automate where you can. From invoicing to inventory alerts, tech can do the heavy lifting.

Fix bottlenecks. Identify where time or money is being lost—and address it fast.

8. Reboot the Marketing

What got the previous owner results may not work for you. It’s your brand now.

Audit current marketing. What’s working? What’s wasting money?

Refine the message. Make sure your value proposition reflects your vision and target market.

Be present. Show up on social media, reconnect with past customers, and generate buzz.

9. Plan for Smart Growth

Now that you’ve settled in, look for low risk ways to grow.

Set short term wins. Focus on wins that bring cash and confidence.

Expand carefully. Add new products, services, or locations when systems can support them.

Increase retention. Loyal customers equal sustainable business.

10. Keep the Future in Mind

Whether you plan to sell again in one year or ten, build like you’ll exit.

Document everything. Processes, finances, staff responsibilities.

Build value beyond you. The less reliant the business is on you, the more valuable it is to others.

Think scalable. Can the business grow without burning you out?

Embrace the Role of an Owner

Delegate with intent. Don’t do it all. Focus on strategy, not just tasks.

Keep learning. Read, join networks, talk to mentors. Your growth is the business’s growth.

Celebrate progress. Wins are fuel. Acknowledge milestones—big and small.

Welcome to the Sherpa Way

At Sherpa, we believe you don’t need a broker to buy smart or lead well. You’ve got the tools. You’ve got the insight. Now, you’ve got the business.

Stay agile. Stay proactive. And remember—you’re not alone.

Need help or want to check in with a Sherpa advisor?

Drop into our Buyer Portal and chat with our support AI. We’re here for every step of your journey.