Specialist Security Business Brokers, United Kingdom
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Add-backs: which security business costs really stop?

Show the cost of the work that stays

Build an evidence-backed security business profit schedule that shows which costs stop and what replaces the owner's work.

For sellers 14 pages 9-minute read Updated Oct 2026

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Who this guide is for

For security business owners preparing their accounts for a possible sale. Use it when an expense looks removable but the work behind it may continue.

What you will take from it

  • Reconcile proposed changes to the same starting profit period.
  • Show a priced replacement plan for the owner's actual duties.
  • Keep continuing obligations and unresolved adjustments visible.

What is inside

  1. Reconcile the starting profit
  2. Price the owner's actual work
  3. Keep continuing obligations in the cost
  4. Test the claim that a cost is finished
  5. Give every adjustment one home

The tool: security add-back evidence worksheet

A two-page fillable worksheet for proposed adjustments, supporting records, replacement costs and buyer questions.

It comes as its own file as well as a page of the guide.

Two pages from the guide

Page 6 of the guide
Page 6 of 14
Page 11 of the guide
Page 11 of 14

Get the guide

Tell us who you are and the guide opens on this page, with the security add-back evidence worksheet as its own file.

PDF 14 pages 407 KB

Your details go to Simon Read's team at Security Business Sales. We do not sell them or share them for marketing. Privacy policy.

Simon Read

Prepared by Simon Read

Founder & Managing Director, Reads Advice Partners Ltd

Simon founded Reads M&A Advisory to specialise in trades such as HVAC, electrical, fire safety and facilities management, and has spent many years selling businesses to independent buyers, trade companies and private equity-backed groups across the UK.

Updated Oct 2026. The Autumn Budget is scheduled for Oct 2026, and we review every guide after it.

Start with a free first conversation: 01285 704466. Meet the team.

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