I’ve been writing this week about riding shotgun with a founder as he sells his VC-backed start-up. A new topic that came up today, the closing day, was transferring the money. How this is handled depends on the size of the deal. If it’s big enough, lawyers handle the transfer of funds to owners and investors. But if it’s a smaller deal, how the funds are transferred can impact the ability to close.

If the transfer is made via ACH, the funds aren’t available immediately. ACH transfers are processed in batches, and it can take from one to three days for the money to be posted in the buyer’s account. This can create issues if the closing is on a specific date. Also, ACH transfers can easily be canceled, which could cause an issue if the buyer is given possession of the assets before the seller receives the funds. ACH transfers are often free or relatively cheap.

Wire transfers are different because funds are transferred immediately. Each wire transfer is processed individually. Once the buyer initiates the wire, the funds are often received within minutes. Wires are often used to close transactions that involve closing dates and the transfer of ownership via paperwork, such as real estate deals. And not only are wire transfers faster, they can’t be easily canceled. Once a wire has been submitted for processing, you can’t easily recall the funds. Wires usually cost more than ACHs.

If you’re selling a company, ideally, you want to receive funds via wire transfer. It eliminates the waiting period, which can seem like an eternity when you’re selling a company. It costs a few more dollars, but it’s often worth it.