SEVEN STAGES
Go to Is it actually time to sell?
1
Deciding
Is it actually time to sell?
Go to The year before you go to market
2
Getting Ready
The year before you go to market
Go to How buyers really get found
3
Going to Market
How buyers really get found
Go to You've been handed an LOI
4
The LOI
You've been handed an LOI
Go to Where deals get re-traded
5
Diligence
Where deals get re-traded
Go to The paperwork that decides what you keep
6
Closing
The paperwork that decides what you keep
Go to Nobody prepares you for the year after
7
After
Nobody prepares you for the year after

Selling a Business — Stage 1: Deciding

Is it actually time to sell?

What's actually happening

You are testing whether a sale fits your goals, timing, and financial picture. The useful work here is clarifying what you want the transaction to accomplish before you start a process.

Where your broker is right now

An advisor is usually trying to understand your motivation, financial reporting, customer mix, management depth, and likely buyer universe before recommending a path.

What this costs you if it goes wrong

Starting before the business is ready can narrow the buyer pool and leave you negotiating from a weaker position.

What I'd be doing here

I help separate the decision to sell from the decision to go to market, then identify the questions that should be answered first.

Related Insights for this Stage

The average multiple is not your multiple

There is a widely cited number for what middle-market companies sell for. It is real, it is well sourced, and it describes a set of transactions that probably does not include yours.

Are you in this stage right now?

If you are navigating deciding and need a second set of eyes on the details, let's talk.

Start a conversation