Any person who has bought more than a handful of businesses has undoubtedly run into a challenging seller. You probably know the type of seller I am referring to: they are hesitant to hand over requested information, they make very strong (and sometimes seemingly nonsensical) demands, they may be unsure about continuing with an accepted offer, and yet they push for a faster and faster closing. Working with a challenging seller can be extraordinarily stressful – believe me, I’ve worked with my share of challenging clients. But with a little understanding, and following a couple of simple principles, you can bring most deals with challenging sellers to a successful (and happy) closing. Here are some tips for working with a less-than-helpful seller.