Preparing Your School For Sale

Step-By-Step Process To Prepare Your School for Sale

Position Your Institution for Maximum Value and a Smooth Transaction

Selling a private school is a significant decision—one that requires careful preparation to ensure a successful outcome. Whether you operate a K–12 private school, boarding school, ESL institute, or career college, taking the time to properly prepare your institution for market can increase your sale price, reduce buyer objections, and accelerate the transaction timeline.

At Halladay Education Group (HEG), we’ve advised hundreds of school owners through the sale process. The most successful outcomes always begin with a well-prepared seller and a market-ready school.

🔹 Step 1: Organize Your Financials

Buyers will expect clear, accurate, and transparent financial information. Ideally, you should have at least three years of financial statements, including:

  • Profit & Loss (Income) Statements

  • Balance Sheets

  • Adjusted EBITDA Schedules

  • Tuition revenue breakdown (domestic vs. international, if applicable)

  • Historical and projected enrollment figures

If possible, prepare a normalized version of your financials that excludes one-time expenses and owner-specific compensation, allowing buyers to assess the school’s true operating performance.

🔹 Step 2: Review Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Before taking your school to market, ensure your institution is in full compliance with local and national regulations. This includes:

  • Business licenses and incorporation documents

  • Accreditation or registration with education authorities

  • Lease agreements, if the property is rented

  • Staff and employment contracts

  • Policies related to student safety, privacy, and academic standards

Resolving any regulatory or operational issues upfront will give buyers greater confidence in your school’s integrity and reduce delays during the due diligence process.

🔹 Step 3: Assess Your Physical and Operational Assets

Prepare an internal audit of all assets that will transfer with the sale:

  • Real estate (if owned) or leasehold terms

  • Furniture, fixtures, and equipment

  • Curriculum and proprietary courseware

  • Licenses, IP, or brand trademarks

  • Online delivery platforms and LMS systems

Also, consider your organizational structure and leadership team—buyers value stability, so having key staff under contract strengthens your position.

🔹 Step 4: Prepare an Enrollment & Marketing Summary

Buyers will want to understand enrollment patterns and future growth potential. Summarize:

  • Student demographics (age, program, geographic source)

  • Retention and graduation rates

  • Current marketing channels and lead generation strategies

  • Seasonality of enrollments and program intake dates

This builds a clear picture of your school’s positioning and scalability.

🔹 Step 5: Work with an Experienced M&A Advisor

Partnering with a specialized education-sector M&A firm ensures your school is positioned for the right buyers and that confidentiality is maintained throughout the process. HEG provides:

  • Professional valuation and buyer targeting

  • Preparation of Teaser and CIM documents

  • Management of buyer outreach and NDA process

  • Guidance through negotiation, LOI, and due diligence

  • Coordination with legal and regulatory advisors

📈 Ready to Prepare Your School for Sale?

At Halladay Education Group, we make it easy for owners to plan their exit, maximize value, and sell with confidence. Whether you’re thinking of selling this year or want to understand your options, we’re here to help.

📧 Email: info@halladayeducationgroup.com
📞 Call: +1-800-687-1492
🔗 View our current listings or contact us to schedule a confidential consultation