How long should I expect it to take to sell my business?

In short, the answer to this question depends on many factors.  In general, 80% of businesses close within 12-14 months of listing.  Keep in mind that this figure is just an average.  However, if you get together the information needed to begin the marketing process, the overall time period will decrease.  Pricing your business properly from the start can also make a big difference.

While some sellers want to overprice their businesses with the idea that they can always come down in price, this strategy usually backfires.  Many buyers won’t even look at overpriced businesses.   Another aspect that can be a key ingredient to a quick sale is the down payment.  When a down payment is lower, the time to a successful sale is typically shorter.  When there is a reasonable down payment it also tells a buyer that the seller has confidence in the business’s ability to make the payments.