THE SHORT ANSWER
Prepare a dated repair-ticket and device register, reconcile job results and identify which stock and equipment the shop owns. Separate customer devices from sale assets and explain open work, deposits, warranty obligations and technician duties. Review customer information and manufacturer arrangements through authorized diligence. A crowded repair bench is neither sale inventory nor proof of transferable earnings.
Reconcile tickets and the devices behind them
Connect intake, authorization, work performed, parts used, billing and collections in the actual records. Separate diagnostics, hardware repairs, recovery services and refurbished sales. Identify refunds, rework, uncollected bills and customer deposits. Explain the accounting for unfinished work with the accountant.
Prepare a dated custody list showing ticket identity, location, work status, customer communication and proposed return or completion arrangements. Keep customer-owned devices separate from loaners and owned resale units. Do not treat an uncollected device as abandoned property available to sell without counsel’s review.
Use the financial evidence checklist and the closing working-capital worksheet to link open jobs to the proposed transaction treatment.
Separate device data from sale evidence
| Shop handoff record | Evidence to assemble |
|---|---|
| Customer devices | Custody, job status and authorized completion/return |
| Owned resale stock | Title, condition, model and supported recorded cost |
| Bench equipment | Ownership, maintenance and included scope |
| Open commitments | Deposits, warranty work, credits and complaints |
| Technical coverage | Repair types, escalation and proposed staffing |
| Systems | Permitted access, retention and provider consent questions |
FTC data guidance supports necessary collection and restricted access.
(FTC: protecting personal information in business)Use approved, redacted ticket examples. Keep credentials and copied customer files out of marketing materials. Investigate known security issues with qualified advisors instead of claiming a written policy proves compliance.
Review refurbishment and disposal practices
Identify who owns the media and who authorizes its treatment. Review the shop’s actual refurbishment, data-retention and disposal records with qualified personnel. Do not wipe a customer device simply because the business is being sold.
NIST’s Revision 2 abstract describes a sanitization program based on information sensitivity.
(NIST: media sanitization guidance, Revision 2)Use specialist review of actual methods and records; this guide does not prescribe a command or certify any device. Distinguish evidence of the process from a seller’s general assurance.
Verify program status and the operating handoff
List manufacturer programs, technician credentials, parts sourcing and diagnostic subscriptions. Apple’s Independent Repair Provider page covers out-of-warranty iPhone/Mac work and specific participation requirements; it is distinct from its Authorized Service Provider program.
(Apple: Independent Repair Provider program)Confirm the actual shop status, agreement and buyer approval questions directly. The public page establishes no sale-transfer entitlement. Describe the program accurately in marketing.
Use the coverage worksheet and the shop valuation guide to define who performs profitable work after your departure. Publish supported claims and unresolved conditions, without a promised preparation premium or automatic license transfer.
Owner questions
Are customer laptops included in inventory?
Separate customer property from stock the business owns; review custody and authorized handoff.
Can unused customer files be included in the data room?
Use approved necessary evidence and restricted access; review the legal and contractual basis.
Does Apple program participation transfer with the shop?
Confirm the actual agreement and approval questions with Apple; the public page does not establish transfer.
Sources and review scope
Source review completed . The sources below support the identified concepts or rules; they do not validate hypothetical amounts or a valuation of your business.
- FTC: protecting personal information in business
Information inventory, necessary access, authentication, encryption, service-provider oversight, retention and incident planning. General security guidance; not an M&A privacy-law compliance certification.
- NIST: media sanitization guidance, Revision 2
September 2025 Revision 2 publication landing-page abstract: program, sensitivity and applicable controls for sanitization and disposal. Publication replaces Revision 1. No full PDF, algorithm verification, device certification or universal legal mandate claimed.
- Apple: Independent Repair Provider program
Current US program page: out-of-warranty iPhone/Mac scope, company and technician requirements, confidential tools and acceptance uncertainty. Distinct from Authorized Service Provider status; does not state that a sale transfers approval.
Confirm tax, legal, accounting and lending applications with the relevant professionals. Historical market observations describe the stated period and reported sample.
This is educational material. Industry figures and program rules can change; check the original sources and your advisors before applying them to a transaction. Calculator scenarios are not appraisals, lending decisions, or offers.
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