How long will it take to sell my business? The honest answer no broker gives you

I’m Michelle Regner, founder of Business Brokers of America. I help business owners navigate every step of the sale—from organizing financials to negotiating the right deal—so they feel supported, informed, and in control. My mission is simple: to make sure you exit on your terms—with confidence, clean financials, and a strategy that protects what you’ve built.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how long it takes to sell a business. Many brokers will offer a standard timeline, often something like “four to six months.” It sets a general expectation, but the truth is, the process is rarely that simple.

At Business Brokers of America, here’s what I tell every client: It usually takes six to twelve months to sell a business, and often, it’s closer to twelve.

Why? Because selling a business is not like selling a house. You’re not handing over keys; you’re transferring years (or decades) of operations, relationships, financials, systems, and reputation. It’s complex. It’s emotional. And how long it takes depends on how prepared you are, how the market responds, and how good your broker is at keeping the deal on track.

Related: Planning to sell your business in 2025? These SBA loan changes could make or break your deal

So… how long does it really take to sell a business?

The full timeline breaks down like this:

Valuation & prep (30–60 days):

At BBA, we can turn around a valuation analysis in a week. But preparing your business for sale—getting clean financials, crafting marketing materials, identifying deal points—takes time. Most sellers underestimate the lift here. If your books are messy or your narrative isn’t clear, you’ll lose serious momentum down the line.

Pro Tip: Want to know where you stand? Start with our free business valuation tool.

Listing & outreach (3–6 months):

Once we go to market, we’re actively sourcing and screening buyers. Whether there are 10 interested parties or 1000, each one needs to be vetted, NDAs signed, meetings scheduled, and follow-ups managed. A great deal doesn’t mean a fast deal, especially if the wrong buyer makes it past the gate.

Offer, diligence & close (2–3+ months):

After an LOI (Letter of Intent), due diligence begins. This is where deals stall or die if the prep work wasn’t airtight. It’s also where financing, legal review, and emotional readiness get stress-tested.

All in, six to twelve months is the honest window. And the more prepared you are, the faster we can move.

Why most deals take longer than sellers expect

Even when the numbers are strong and the business is in-demand, here’s what can still slow things down:

• Emotional hesitation:

Many sellers aren’t emotionally ready to let go—even if they think they are. We’ve seen clients pause mid-onboarding. Some back out entirely, then come back months later. That’s normal. But it impacts the clock.

• Inflated valuations:

If we value the business at $3M and you insist on listing it at $3.5M “just to see what happens,” that decision alone could add months to your timeline or turn off serious buyers altogether.

• Disorganized books:

Buyers want clarity. If we’re spending weeks cleaning up your P&Ls or explaining add-backs, that’s time we could’ve spent negotiating terms.

• Buyer financing:

We screen for this hard at BBA because I’ve seen too many brokers skip it. If a buyer can’t prove they’re capitalized (or are vague about how they’ll finance the deal), we don’t move forward. No exceptions.

Related: Thinking of selling without a business broker? These 10 risks could cost you the deal—and a whole lot more

The fastest deal we’ve ever done (and why it worked)

At BBA, our fastest deal ever closed in just 30 days. It wasn’t a fluke—it was a perfect storm of readiness:

• The seller was emotionally prepared to exit immediately.
  
• The business was priced realistically.
  
• The buyer was fully capitalized and well-vetted.
  
• And most importantly? Both parties liked and trusted each other.
  

Speed happens when the groundwork is solid. But we don’t promise fast. We promise to be thorough.

Related: 6 quirky (but very real) reasons buyers walked away after signing the LOI

Want to sell faster? Start preparing earlier.

Most sellers come to us thinking they’re ready. But readiness isn’t just about wanting to move on. It’s about:

• Having clean, current financials
  
• Understanding your deal-breakers and non-negotiables
  
• Being open to earnouts, creative financing, or buyer fit
  
• And trusting your broker to guide you—every step of the way
  

The more prepared you are, the faster we can go.

And if you’re not prepared? That’s exactly why we’re here, to help guide you throughout the process.

Related: You found a buyer—now what? How to protect yourself before signing the LOI

Final thoughts

If you’re asking, “How long will it take to sell my business?” you’re already ahead of the curve. Because the sellers who treat this process like a project, not a panic button, are the ones who see the best results.

At BBA, our job isn’t just to list your business. It’s to know it so well that we can sell it to a stranger in an elevator and never need to check a single note. That’s how we move deals forward with confidence, even in complex conditions.

Selling your business is a process. We won’t sugarcoat the timeline. But we will help you get there—smartly, strategically, and with your goals at the center.

Ready to get started? See what your business is worth today.

More about Michelle Regner, Founder & CEO of Business Brokers of America

Michelle Regner is a powerhouse entrepreneur and business strategist with a proven track record of founding and successfully exiting three SaaS technology companies. As the Founder and CEO of Business Brokers of America, she’s on a mission to elevate business brokerage standards nationwide, also serving as President and Managing Partner at Business Brokers of Utah.

Drawing on her firsthand experience launching and scaling startups, Michelle offers unparalleled insight into the realities of small business ownership. She specializes in advising entrepreneurs on growth strategies, exit planning, and digital transformation, having coached dozens to leverage digital marketing, overcome obstacles, and build scalable operational systems.

A Silicon Valley native, Michelle’s entrepreneurial journey began after earning her B.A. in Business from Notre Dame de Namur University and a stint at Morgan Stanley. Her impact quickly gained national recognition, leading to features in Fast Company and being named one of the top business leaders by The Economist in 2014. She’s also a sought-after speaker and previously hosted a five-year podcast series.