Selling a business is exciting in theory. In practice, most owners hit the same wall fast: “What actually happens next?”
A good broker turns the sale from a stressful guessing game into a managed process with clear steps, clear timelines, and fewer surprises. Here’s what to expect when you sell with a business broker like Murphy Business – Emerald Coast, from valuation through closing and transition.
A broker helps you price the business realistically, market it without blowing your confidentiality, and keep buyers moving through the deal instead of drifting. They also quarterback the communication between you, the buyer, and the professionals involved (attorney, CPA, lender) so the sale stays organized.
You’ll start with a conversation about your goals, timing, and what you need from the sale. This is where you surface constraints early, like a lease renewal, partner issues, or how involved you want to be after closing.
Next comes valuation: reviewing financials, normalizing earnings (often through add-backs), and pressure-testing the price against market reality. A broker also helps align price with deal terms, because a strong offer is usually a mix of price, structure, and certainty of closing.
Before the business goes to market, the broker helps you get buyer-ready. That means tightening up financials, assembling key documents, and creating marketing materials like a teaser and a confidential business profile. The goal is simple: answer the questions serious buyers always ask, without handing over sensitive details too early.
Marketing is typically confidential. Buyers start with limited information and sign an NDA before seeing identifying details. A broker screens for buyer fit and financial capacity so you spend time with real prospects, not curiosity seekers.
As interest builds, you’ll have calls and meetings with qualified buyers. Offers come in, and your broker helps you compare them beyond the headline number. You’ll look at timeline, financing, contingencies, and how the buyer plans to run the business, because that affects how likely the deal is to close.
Once you accept an offer, you’ll typically sign a Letter of Intent (LOI). Then due diligence begins: the buyer verifies the financials, operations, and legal details. This phase goes smoother when your documentation is organized and responses are timely, and it goes sideways when either side tries to “figure it out as they go.”
Closing includes final agreements, lender requirements (if financing is involved), and funds transfer. After that comes the transition period: training, introductions, and a handoff plan that keeps customers and staff stable.
Every sale is different, but delays usually come from the same places: messy books, unclear add-backs, lease or landlord issues, slow buyer financing, and missing documentation during due diligence. Cleaning up the basics before you go to market saves weeks later.
If you’re considering selling and want to understand what your timeline and options could look like, book a call with Murphy Business – Emerald Coast. We’ll walk through your goals, the value drivers in your business, and what a smart sale process would look like for your situation.
If you’re ready to explore the sale of your business, reach out to the experts at Murphy Business – Emerald Coast. With their experience in business sales, they can help you navigate the complexities and guide you to make the right decision at the best time. Contact them at (850) 374-8884 or complete their contact form to get started on your business succession journey.
