Sell your business when the price buyers will pay today beats what you expect to gain by keeping it, and when it fits your goals for money, time and life after the sale. You don't need to be ready to sell to find out where you stand.
At Exit Advisor (exitadvisor.io), we call this the Open Door Rule: you do not need to be ready to sell to start exploring. Knowing your value and your options today is how you keep the door open.
See What Your Business Could Be Worth Today
7 Questions to Ask Before You Decide
1. What do you want out of the sale?
Price, timing, how long you stay on, what happens to your team. Owners who know their must-haves negotiate better and walk away from the wrong offer faster.
2. Is the business still growing, or has it plateaued?
Buyers pay for durable, steady profit. If growth has flattened and the next stage needs capital or skills you don't want to add, a buyer who has them may value the business more than you can. Why some businesses sell for premium valuations
3. How much does the business depend on you?
If every key relationship runs through you, a buyer will discount for it. That is something you can fix, and an early look tells you how much it is costing you. What lowers the value of a business
4. Are your financials ready for a buyer?
Three years of clean P&Ls, balance sheets and tax returns that match, with every add-back documented. How to prepare your financials
5. What is the business worth today?
Most businesses sell on a multiple of SDE or EBITDA. A valuation is information, not a commitment. Sell-side valuation explained
6. What happens if you wait?
Growth can raise value, but markets, multiples, buyer appetite and your own energy all change. "Later" is not guaranteed to be worth more. When is the right time to sell
7. Who will be on your side?
Before you hire anyone to sell your business, ask whose side they are on. Seller-only representation
Signs It May Be Time to Sell
- You've lost the energy the next stage of growth needs
- A competitor or buyer has already approached you
- Most of your net worth is tied up in one business
- Growth now needs capital or skills you don't want to add
- You'd rather sell from strength than wait for a dip
Signs It May Pay to Wait
- Profit has dipped this year for a fixable reason
- One customer or channel makes up most of your revenue
- The business can't run a month without you
Waiting doesn't mean doing nothing. An early conversation shows what would raise value, so any growth from here is aimed at what buyers actually pay for.
Should I Sell My Business FAQs
Should I sell my business now or wait?
Sell now if today's price meets your goals and the business is ready for a buyer's checks. Wait if a fixable issue, like owner dependence or a one-off dip in profit, is holding the price back. Either way, a valuation and a quiet look at buyer interest tell you which applies.
Does talking to an exit advisor mean I have to sell?
No. Exploring is not committing. A free consultation with Exit Advisor gives you your options and what the business could be worth, and you decide what to do with that.
Is my business too small to sell?
No. Buyers exist at every size, from under $1M to $10M+. Exit Advisor works with profitable businesses of any size, in the US and internationally.
How long does it take to sell a business?
It depends on preparation, size and buyer interest, and a well-prepared business moves faster. How long it takes to sell a business
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See what your business could be worth today, with no pressure to sell.