Sign inGet started free
Get started free

A good sale starts before you list.

Know what your business could be worth, fix what buyers will ask about, and sell when the business, and you, are ready. Free to start.

Answer what a buyer will ask.

Buyers tend to ask four things. Line up each answer from your own records, and turn each gap into a next step.

  • Can I trust the numbers?

    Keep your books caught up and matching your tax returns. Missing a year? Finding it is your first step.

  • Will it run without you?

    Buyers pay less when the owner does every job. Write down how you price and schedule the work, and hand one task to someone else.

  • Will the customers stay?

    Work that renews, like service plans or regular orders, shows a buyer the sales will keep coming.

  • Does the lease come with it?

    Check that your lease, contracts and licenses can pass to a new owner. If they can’t, ask early.

Share in stages, not all at once.

A buyer doesn’t need your name to decide if they’re interested. Share more, file by file, as they get serious.

  • Anyone interested: a one-page summary, with no name or address.
  • After they sign an NDA: earnings, the lease and how the work comes in.
  • After you accept an offer: customer names, staff details and the rest.
How data rooms work
Fieldwork PlumbingData room · Sale

Review the files in SMB for Sam, the buyer we met last week.

SMB

Five files are in SMB. Check which ones Sam needs.

One file is missing.

Profit and loss, 2023 to 2025QuickBooks
Business tax returns, 3 yearsGoogle Drive
Vans and equipment listGoogle Drive
Shop leaseGoogle Drive
Sales by month, 2025QuickBooks
Lease renewal termsNot foundAsk your landlord
Sam Ortega · BuyerCan view · Accepted Sep 22
Choose a reader and review their access.Plan sharing

Questions about selling a business.

How do I sell my small business?

Most sales go through five steps: get ready, choose your help, meet buyers, agree on terms while the buyer checks everything, then close and hand over. A listing, an offer or a signed letter of intent isn’t a sale until it closes.

The full guide to selling

How much is my business worth?

Start with a range, not one number. Your Bestimate uses your books and what you tell SMB. What you hope to get, what it looks worth today and the deal a buyer agrees to are three different numbers. A buyer’s offer depends on their own checks and how they’ll pay.

Get my free Bestimate

Do I need a business broker?

Not always. A broker helps most when you want a wide search for buyers or a hands-off process. Compare what they do, what it costs and how long the agreement lasts.

Find a business broker

Can I get ready to sell without anyone knowing?

Yes. You can organize records, get your Bestimate and fix gaps privately. You decide what to share, and with whom.

What if I want to stay on after the sale?

Many sales include a handover period, and some include payments over time. Your attorney and accountant can explain what that means for you.

Build a business someone will want to take over.

Start your sale plan. SMB begins with your timeline, what the business does and what you already have.

Compare other ways to leave