Best 5 Due Diligence Checklists

This article will briefly discuss (1) where common red flags are found during due diligence, (2) powerful mobile tool for conducting due diligence, and (3) free digital due diligence checklists.

Where to Look for Red Flags During Due Diligence

Investors and consultants need to review key aspects of a business to determine if it will be worth the investment and find red flags that may negatively impact profitability. Here are some of the key aspects to look into and some key due diligence questions to ask:

Organization

Is the business in compliance with legal requirements? Is the company open to sharing requested company information or were there reservations?

Products and services offered

What is the business selling? Do the products and services meet required certification and legal criteria? How about the product development and manufacturing processes?

Finances

Review all financial records, including all debts acquired and taxes paid. Check for compelling reasons to investigate further and be wary of how the company manages its finances. Does the company exhibit transparency in providing access to financial records?

People

How are employees treated? How competitive is the employee benefit package? Is there a history of legal action initiated by or against employees? What is the professional history and reputation of the key executives?

Reputation

Public perception can impact profitability. Find out what the media, competitors, and the target market has to say about the business. How is the business’ corporate social responsibility? Any legal issues or environmental concerns raised against the company? What is the company’s overall reputation in the industry?

3 Major Types of Due Diligence

There are three main types of due diligence, these are: 1) Legal, 2) Financial, and 3) commercial. All three types help contribute in providing the right information thoroughly assessing the company of interest’s business, assets, capabilities, and financial performance.

Legal due diligence

Legal due diligence is the examination and review of legal documents and contracts. This includes exploring areas such as:

• Legal structure
• Contracts
• Loans
• Properties
• Employment
• Pending litigations

Financial due diligence

Financial due diligence focuses on verifying and evaluation of financial records of the target company. It covers areas such as:

• Earnings
• Assets
• Liabilities
• Cash flow
• Debt
• Management

Commercial due diligence

Commercial due diligence is the thorough understanding and examination of the market that the target company operates in. This involves activities such as conversing with customers, assessment of competitors and an analysis of the business plan.

iAuditor as a Company Due Diligence Tool

Conducting due diligence to assess the viability of businesses for investment, mergers, and acquisitions entails going through a lot of company records in as little time as possible. iAuditor, the world’s most powerful mobile auditing app, can help business owners and consultants conduct effective due diligence by providing the following benefits.

Convenient highlighting of findings

• Take photos using your mobile device to highlight findings during due diligence
• Make quick notes referenced to specific points on your checklist that you can easily review while creating the due diligence report

Digital record-keeping

• No more dealing with paper-based checklists and illegible handwritten notes that can get lost or damaged
• Paperless records can be shared via weblink or as a PDF or Word document

Secure information

• iAuditor uses secure cloud storage so there is no fear of leakage or unauthorized access to data
• Only designated or authorized person/s can access information

Continuity

• One go-to app for the duration of conducting due diligence
• Continue where you last left off and make updates based on findings
• Integrate iAuditor with other platforms as needed