Onward

Learn

Nobody’s done this before. That’s the point.

Most owners sell one business in their life, and most buyers buy one. This is the plain-English version of how it all works — free, no account needed, nobody contacts you. Pick your side.

A business owner and a buyer shaking hands in the owner's shop
I own a businessSelling, step by stepTen steps between first thinking about it and handing over the keys. Nobody needs to know you are reading.Start at step 1 I want to buy oneBuying, step by stepNine steps between getting ready to buy and signing at closing.Start at step 1

Selling, at a glance

Go straight to a step, or start at the beginning.

Decide

4 steps

Take the time you need here. Once you go to market, most sales take seven to twelve months to close, and preparation makes it faster.

Get ready

2 steps

Find the right buyer

2 steps

Close

2 steps
Step 1 of 10 · Decide

Build your team

The people who help you do this well.

You don't have to work this out alone. The attorney who wrote your lease or your will is not the right fit here. You want an M&A attorney, sometimes called a business transaction attorney, who closes business sales for a living. Add an accountant who knows how these sales are taxed, and a valuation professional who can give you an independent view of what the business is worth. If you decide to use a broker, they join that team too.

Read step 13 lessons

Quick reference

The terms, the documents and the SBA loan sequence, on one page, for when you need one thing and not a whole guide.

GlossarySelling step 3 · Buying step 5The documentsSelling step 5 · Buying step 7The SBA loan, start to finishSelling step 9 · Buying step 8The questions to ask, by stageSelling step 7 · Buying step 5Diligence, item by itemSelling step 9 · Buying step 7The letter of intent, annotatedSelling step 8 · Buying step 6ToolsEstimator, checklists, worksheets