"Where Do I Even Start?" Selling Your Business, Step One
- Business Brokerage Services Team
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
July 2026
At some point, almost every owner starts asking the same two questions. First, what can I actually get for this business? Then, where do I even start?
It's a fair question, and maybe an uncomfortable one. Most business owners have never sold a business before. There's no test run. You're making decisions with real financial impacts, often without knowing what you don't know yet. This unknown is usually what stalls people before they even start moving.
Here's how to start selling your business, the right way.
Start With Your Numbers
The big question: “what is my business worth?” can only be answered by diving into the business financials.
If you're trying to figure out how to start selling your business, this is genuinely where it begins: understanding the numbers behind the business.
A buyer, and a broker for that matter, is going to want three years of clean financials to gain a clear picture of the state of the business. If your books have personal expenses mixed in, or your Profit and Loss Sheet doesn't reflect the revenue your business actually generates, that's the first thing to navigate. Your numbers are the foundation everything else gets built upon, including the valuation number.
Figure Out How Much the Business Needs You
A business that runs because you personally show up every day, know every client, and hold every relationship together is a harder sell, often at a lower price point, than a business that functions without your presence. Before you go any further, it's worth asking honestly: what happens operationally if you're not there? If the answer is "everything stops," then strategizing a path towards changing this is key, otherwise a buyer will price that in.
Get Honest About Timing
Most owners underestimate how long this takes. Although there are exceptions to the rule, and under the right circumstances, we can complete a sale/purchase in less time, six months to a year is the average.
Owners who expect it to move faster tend to get frustrated, or worse, rush decisions they shouldn't. Knowing this upfront changes how you plan the rest of your year. Start the sales process with this timeframe in mind. From there, business decisions can be made strategically to keep operations running and ensure a successful sale.
Decide What "Sold" Actually Means to You
Owners skip this question more often than any other, and it's arguably the most important.
Do you want a clean break? Are you open to staying on for a transition period?
Would an earnout structure work for you, or does that feel like too much risk tied to a business you no longer control?
Interested buyers will structure offers very differently depending on what you're looking for after the sale, so if you haven't thought about it, that's worth doing before you're sitting across from someone making an offer.
You Don't Have to Map This Out Alone
Before You Buy. Before You Sell. Let's Talk.
Whether you're buying your first business or preparing to sell the company you've spent years building, every decision carries financial consequences.
Sellers often leave money on the table when a business hasn't been properly valued or positioned for sale. Buyers can overpay or miss risks that only surface after closing.
We help clients maximize value, minimize risk, and navigate every stage of the transaction, including financing solutions and strategic resources that aren't always available independently.
One conversation today can shape your outcome tomorrow.
This glimpse into the initial steps of selling your business introduced a few of the decisions that greatly affect what your business is worth. Learn more about how to start selling your business.
No pressure, just a one-on-one chat about your goals. Some of our best client relationships started years before there was a deal on the table. If you are thinking about it, that is early enough. If you aren’t, it’s time to start.