Information memorandum writer

An Information Memorandum (IM) writer helps business owners and advisors prepare the key document used to market a business for sale. It lays out how the company operates, how it performs financially and how it’s positioned in the market. A specialist IM writer helps streamline the process and ensures the document presents the business clearly to serious buyers.

Key components of working with an information memorandum writer:

• End-to-end project handling: Manages the full process from initial briefing to final delivery.
• Structured data gathering: Uses templates and interviews to collect financial and operational information from the seller and their accountant.
• Strategic messaging: Writes a clear, accurate narrative that explains how the business runs, where its value lies and how it could grow.
• Full-length IM production: Produces a 20–30 page document including an executive summary, company overview, financials, operations and asset list.
• Supporting materials: Provides copy for teaser ads and introductory NDA text to support the sales process.

Why use an information memorandum writer:

• Quicker to market: Speeds up the timeline by removing a major administrative bottleneck.
• More time for dealmaking: Saves advisors 15–20 hours per sale, freeing them up to focus on higher-value tasks.
• Clearer for buyers: Gives buyers the clarity they need to move forward confidently.
• Fewer late-stage issues: Surfaces and explains risks early, reducing the chance of renegotiations later in the deal.

An information memorandum is the main document used to present a business to potential buyers. It gives a detailed overview of the company’s operations, financials, and market position, helping buyers assess the opportunity. It’s typically shared after an NDA is signed and forms the basis for due diligence if interest develops further.

A good information memorandum writer knows how to:

• Ask the right questions to find out what really makes the business tick
• Understand and explain financials clearly
• Tell the company’s story in a way that makes sense to buyers
• Keep the process moving by managing timelines and stakeholders

It helps sell the business by highlighting its strengths, but it also gets ahead of potential deal blockers by sharing key risks upfront. That way, buyers can’t use them later to renegotiate the price.

The writer lays out the information in a way that’s easy to follow—starting with a summary, then going into more detail section by section. The idea is to help the reader find what they need quickly, without getting lost.

Things like: team structure, management bios, key customers and suppliers (anonymised if needed), property info, major contracts, and how the sales and marketing engine works.

The writer will usually draft:

• A one-page teaser (used for early-stage outreach)
• Short ad copy for listing sites or broker platforms
• Sometimes a pitch deck for shortlisted buyer meetings

All of these match the content and tone of the main CIM, so everything feels joined up.

Time and focus. In-house teams are usually busy with deal origination, financial modelling, and buyer calls. Outsourcing the CIM frees them up while ensuring the document gets the attention it needs. External writers also bring structure, consistency, and the ability to handle difficult or sensitive content neutrally, something that’s harder to do from inside the firm.

An information memorandum writer sets the tone early on, usually professional but plainspoken. They then apply it to all sections. It’s part of their job to make the document feel consistent, even if it’s based on input from multiple sources.

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Leaving out risks damages the seller's credibility. Buyers expect to see both strengths and challenges laid out clearly, along with any mitigation. It shows the seller is being upfront and helps avoid issues later in the process.

They cross-check what they’re told with the financials and documents provided, and they flag any inconsistencies. Ultimately, the seller signs off the content, but the writer plays an important role in making sure it all holds together.

Use my service on businesses with a turnover of £500,000 or more. At that size, your client’s sign-on fee and success fee will usually cover my work comfortably.

Some brokers also use me for smaller businesses if the multiple is likely to be high or the owner is motivated to sell fast. The vast majority of my clients are on the sell side, working to attract the right kind of interested buyers with a clear, credible IM.

If you’re planning to take your own business to market and want a clear, buyer-focused information memorandum, I’m happy to help.

Most brokers focus on businesses turning over £1m or more, so if you fall below that threshold, you'll find fewer brokers willing to take your company to market. If you want to sell your own business, I can write your IM and point you to some valuable resources but I won't be able to help you in the sales process.

Just to be clear: I used brokers for my own exits, and I recommend you do the same if possible. They know how to position your firm to achieve maximum value.

Offering memorandums show serious buyers how a company makes money, where it stands in the market in relation to rival firms and where it could grow. They highlight key considerations like financial performance, operational strengths and competitive risks to help buyers assess how much the business might be worth to them.

A well-written offering memorandum can really speed up the deal process. It gives buyers the confidence to get through pricing negotiations and heads of terms faster so they can start the due diligence process sooner. It’s far more detailed than a pitch book, but often follows the same core structure.

I sign non-disclosure agreements for every project and treat all data as confidential. That includes financials, intellectual property, details about key employees and anything else your client wouldn’t want in the public domain.

You’ll make sure prospective investors and investment bankers have signed NDAs before they see the IM. Your client decides what goes into the document, so they control what’s shared and when. I write with discretion and will flag any key aspects they want to include that seem too sensitive, but the final responsibility for the content rests with them.

Each IM typically includes financial projections like cash flow forecasts, recent company sales volumes and other key selling points buyers look for like recurring revenue, strong margins and stable customer relationships. I include crucial information on market size, target market, and how the company’s products generate revenue.

I build each IM to help buyers see value first and fast by explaining in plain English what the business does, how it performs and why it’s worth a closer look. Most IMs I write also include a legal disclaimer written by my client (the broker or M&A advisor) based on their preferred NDA form.

A good IM doesn’t just list the facts behind a business for prospective buyers. It also provides information on the firm's financials, sales patterns, the industry a business operates in, the leadership team, any competitive advantages and immediately actionable ways to boost revenue (from new activities to the sale of underused assets).

I write each IM as a conversation starter. The goal is to get buyers interested, not to promise the world to them. I flag risks early for buyers so they know about the strengths and weaknesses of a business for sale. That way, those issues don’t come back later to bite your seller.

In my experience, no one ever buys a business that’s already perfect. There’s just less room to add value.

A pitch deck is a concise, visual presentation designed to capture investor interest quickly, while an information memorandum provides a comprehensive overview of your business for thorough due diligence.

IMs are used earlier in the sales process to gauge buyer interest while Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM)s are used in later stages of a sale.

Investment banks, M&A advisory firms and business owners usually prepare a CIM which can span between 50 to 150 pages. They are normally used in mergers and acquisitions to convey important information about a selling business.

The purpose of a CIM is to present a business in the best possible light to attract potential buyers and maximize sale value. CIMs include detailed sections on topics like market overview, company overview, financials, and management structure.

A CIM is not a legally binding contract; it is a marketing document intended to attract buyers. Before brokers and M&A consultants send over a CIM, potential buyers typically review a teaser document that provides a high-level overview of the business.

CIMs help streamline the sale process by preemptively addressing common buyer questions and concerns. The CIM can help to de-risk the sale by disclosing potential issues early in the process.