Test the legal position before you commit further to the purchase

The main value is seeing whether the legal records back up the commercial picture. Buyers often agree headline terms based on revenue, assets, customer relationships or intellectual property, but the underlying documents may tell a more complicated story. For example, a key contract might not be assignable, a lease may restrict the business use you expected, or ownership of important IP may be unclear. A due diligence review helps you spot those issues early enough to renegotiate, ask more questions, seek stronger protections or reconsider the deal.

Common findings include unsigned or outdated contracts, change-of-control or assignment restrictions, weak intellectual property ownership records, licences that do not clearly support the current business model, missing website or trading terms, and obligations that continue after completion. Sometimes there is no single dramatic issue, but a pattern of smaller gaps that changes the risk profile of the purchase. Those gaps can affect valuation, the wording you want in warranties and indemnities, or whether you should ask the seller for further disclosure before moving ahead.

It is usually a good fit for buyers who want a structured legal review before spending more on the full transaction. That includes business owners acquiring a smaller competitor, founders buying an existing business, or investors purchasing a company where the legal records need checking before the next stage. If you mainly need help with one sale agreement, a document-specific service may be enough. If you want broader buyer-side support across the whole acquisition, including negotiations and completion, a larger transaction service may be more suitable.

That depends on the deal and what the seller provides, but the review often covers customer and supplier contracts, leases, licences, terms and conditions, intellectual property records, key commercial agreements and other core business documents relevant to the acquisition. We assess what those documents say, where there are obvious gaps and what follow-up questions may be needed. Missing documents can be a finding in themselves, because absent paperwork may affect certainty around ownership, obligations, transfer rights or the practical value of what you are buying.

This service is centred on investigation and reporting, rather than running the entire acquisition. It gives you a legal review of the target business and a written explanation of the main issues that appear from the documents provided. It does not automatically include drafting or negotiating the sale agreement, handling completion steps or managing the whole deal through to closing. If the findings show that you want help with warranties, indemnities, disclosure issues or transaction documents, that next stage can be quoted separately once the diligence picture is clearer.

Working with us is simple. Start by submitting an enquiry through our website using the form at the top of this page or on our Get Started page. A legal project manager will review your enquiry within 1 business day and reach out to understand your needs.

They'll send you a fixed fee quote outlining costs, scope, and timing. If you're happy, you can accept and sign our engagement letter online. Once that's done, we'll connect you with an expert lawyer who will complete your project via email, phone, or video chat, with the timing confirmed in your quote.

If you're not looking for help with a specific matter, explore our platform, which offers free templates, tools to get your business set up, and even a free tier to get started. Whether you need legal support or just want to browse resources, we've got you covered.

At Sprintlaw, our pricing is transparent and designed for startups and small businesses. Many one-off legal services, including document drafting and reviews, are provided for a fixed fee with an upfront quote before you proceed.

Prices typically range from £100 to £1,500 depending on the complexity and scope of the work. For ongoing support, Sprintlaw Memberships include options such as legal templates, consultations, a legal helpline and credits for services.

If your project is larger or more complex, we will provide a tailored quote after understanding what you need.

Sprintlaw UK operates fully virtually, with the team working online across the UK to provide support to startups and small businesses nationwide. Many of our team are based in London and often meet at co-working offices, but our operations remain fully digital, ensuring flexibility and efficiency for both our clients and team.