There are several legitimate reasons why a successful business might be for sale: The owners could be relocating, retiring, or looking to scale back on their workload. But in order to fully assess the long-term success of an existing business, you should hire an outside party to evaluate the company's finances. Andrey Doichev, founder of Inc and Go, an online business formation resource for entrepreneurs, says "An accountant who is independent of the business must assess the financial records to ensure that everything has been done legally and with diligence so you can avoid any potential trouble with taxes or collections."In addition to financial records, you'll want to evaluate any potential issues with employees and/or customers as these can also affect a smooth transition between owners. Harriet Chan, co-founder and marketing director of Cocofinder, an online background checker engaged in software development, suggests reviewing documents related to employees and customers. According to Chan, "Other essential items for reviewing are employee contracts, environmental audits, income tax returns for the last three years, customer information, and a schedule of the company's insurance claims and litigation history."