SOP #48 — "A seller who'll stay on means it's safe" is wrong

SOP #48 — "A seller who'll stay on means it's safe" is wrong

Myth: a long handover/training period guarantees a smooth transfer. Correction: dependence on the seller is a risk, not a feature — it means the asset isn't truly transferable yet. Stress-test the dependency:

1. List every task only the seller knows how to do — each one is a single point of failure.
2. Check for relationships, not just logins: does revenue depend on a personal contact at an ad network or affiliate manager?
3. Confirm content can be produced without the seller's voice/expertise, or budget for a replacement writer.
4. Require all processes documented in writing during handover, not held in the seller's head.
5. Cap the training period (30–60 days) and confirm the site survives a test week with zero seller input.

If it only runs because the seller runs it, you bought a job, not an asset.

Save this — run it every deal.