Share Purchase vs. Asset Purchase (UK): A Guide for Business Buyers
If you are buying a business in the UK, the structure you choose will shape your financial future more than almost any other factor. It dictates your personal risk, your tax position for the next five years, and whether the seller's past mistakes become your current headaches.
In the simplest terms:
A Share Purchase means you buy the company entity itself, including its entire history.
An Asset Purchase means you buy selected parts of the business (equipment, brand, customers), leaving the "entity" and its past behind.