Should the Seller move offices?

April 15, 2026

by a searcher from University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School in Danville, CA, USA

I'm about to acquire a company. Should the seller move from his office to another office on day 1 to ensure the team knows who's in charge? Or should I move into the junior office and keep his office in place for a few weeks or months? The transition is that the seller is giving 1 month full time, and 2 months part time.

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Reply by a professional-advisory
from University of Utah in Sandy, UT, USA

I just wrote a piece about this in my book, The Due Diligence Bible. Here is an excerpt: The Physical Exit: Reclaiming the Throne The most difficult part is often the physical office. As long as the seller is sitting in their chair, the staff will treat them as the boss. You must move the seller out of the primary office as quickly as the training allows. If they are staying on for 90 days, move them to a secondary desk or, ideally, transition them to remote consulting. Reclaim the "Big Chair" by Day 15. Change the decor, update the family photos, and make the space yours. This isn't about ego; it’s about visual cues. The team needs to see a new captain at the helm to stop the "Shadow" from casting a cloud over your new leadership. A clean break isn't mean; it’s the only way to let the business—and the seller—move on to their next chapter.

Reply by an intermediary
from The University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, USA

I disagree with most of the above inputs. I presume you are buying a profitable business with good history. Your first focus should be preserving profit drivers; especially the culture. Hence let the seller continue in the office. Over 40 years I have sold businesses that have been ultra-ultra success. In each, the buyer has found an empty office near seller's office or added a desk in seller's office! The buyer who acts like a BOSS GUARNTEES FAILURE. I have seen many like that in my early days as M&A Intermediary. Today, we don't advance such buyer.

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