When you decide to sell your service-based business, one question looms large: How long will this take? The uncertainty can feel paralyzing—will you be stuck in limbo for months, delaying your retirement dreams, or can you move quickly to your next chapter? Understanding the timeline is key to setting expectations and planning your future with confidence.
At TheBizBuyer, we acquire and scale businesses from retiring owners like you, and we’ve streamlined the process to make it as efficient as possible—typically wrapping up in 60-90 days. But the journey starts before you even reach out, and variables can influence the pace. In the sections below, we’ll break down the timeline into five key phases, offering a clear roadmap to set realistic expectations as you prepare to sell to us and step into your well-earned freedom.
1. Pre-Sale Preparation: Getting Your Ducks in a Row 📋
Before you even think about selling, preparation is critical—and this phase can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months, depending on your business’s readiness. Many owners overlook this step, jumping straight to listing, only to face delays or lower offers. At TheBizBuyer, we recommend starting early to ensure your business shines, speeding up the sale once you engage with us.
Begin by organizing your financials—profit and loss statements, tax returns, and cash flow reports for the past three to five years. Document your processes, from client onboarding to service delivery, so we can step in seamlessly. Train your team to operate without you, reducing dependency. For example, a consultancy owner spent six months streamlining operations, which later helped us close the deal in just 65 days. Preparing now means you’ll be ready when we start, setting the stage for a faster, more profitable sale.
Financial Cleanup: 💰 Organize records early. Clean books impress buyers like us.
Process Setup: 📝 Document workflows. A turnkey business speeds the process.
2. Initial Consultation and Evaluation: Laying the Groundwork 🗣️
Once you’re ready to sell, the first step with TheBizBuyer is understanding your goals and evaluating your business—a phase that typically takes 1-2 weeks. Traditional broker-led sales can drag this out with endless back-and-forth, but our direct acquisition model cuts through the noise, setting a clear foundation for the sale.
During this phase, we meet with you to discuss your vision—your financial needs, timeline, and legacy goals. We then review your business’s size, revenue, and operations, assessing its financial health and growth potential. For instance, we recently evaluated a marketing agency in 10 days, identifying its scalable digital services to justify a strong offer. Selling to us means a swift, transparent evaluation, ensuring we’re aligned from day one and paving the way for a faster process.
Goal Alignment: 📅 Discuss your needs upfront. Clarity sets the pace.
Quick Review: 🔍 Expect a 1-2 week evaluation. Speed keeps momentum high.
3. Negotiation and Offer: Reaching a Fair Deal 💡
The negotiation phase is where many sales falter, with traditional processes stretching weeks or months as brokers juggle multiple buyers. At TheBizBuyer, as the end buyer, we negotiate directly, typically finalizing an offer within 2-3 weeks. This efficiency ensures you’re not left waiting, wondering if your retirement plans will stall.
We present a fair offer based on our evaluation, factoring in your business’s current performance and future potential under our scaling strategy. We often include a mix of upfront payment and earn-outs, as seen in a recent deal where a coaching firm owner received $800,000 upfront with a $200,000 earn-out over two years. We also agree on transition terms, ensuring a smooth handover. Selling to us means a focused, streamlined negotiation, keeping the timeline on track for a 60-90 day total process.
Direct Talks: ⚖️ Negotiate with us in 2-3 weeks. Efficiency drives closure.
Clear Terms: 📝 Agree on payment and transition. Transparency avoids delays.
4. Due Diligence and Finalization: Crossing the T’s and Dotting the I’s 📜
Due diligence is the nuts-and-bolts phase, where we verify your business’s details before closing—a step that takes 3-4 weeks with TheBizBuyer. Traditional sales can extend this phase with multiple parties and unexpected hiccups, but our direct model minimizes delays, keeping the process within our 60-90 day target.
We review your financials, contracts, and legal standing, ensuring there are no surprises like undisclosed debts or pending lawsuits. You’ll provide documents like client agreements, employee records, and licenses, which we help you organize if needed. For example, a recent sale of a consultancy required 25 days of due diligence, streamlined by our hands-on support. Selling to us means we manage the details, ensuring a swift finalization while you prepare for what’s next.
Document Prep: 📋 Gather records early. Readiness speeds due diligence.
Support Edge: 🛠️ We guide you through. Our help keeps things on track.
5. Transition and Closing: Handing Over with Confidence 🌍
The final phase—closing the deal and transitioning your business—typically takes 2-3 weeks with TheBizBuyer, rounding out our 60-90 day timeline. Traditional sales often leave owners in limbo, with transitions dragging on or falling apart, but our focus on legacy preservation ensures a smooth handover, giving you closure as we scale your business.
We finalize the sale with legal paperwork, often completed in a week, followed by a transition period—usually 30-90 days—where you help us take over. You’ll introduce us to your team and clients, ensuring continuity, while we retain key staff and honor existing commitments. A recent agency owner spent 60 days transitioning, leaving with confidence as we grew her firm. Selling to us means a clear end date, letting you step into retirement without lingering ties, knowing your legacy is secure.
Quick Close: 📅 Finalize in 2-3 weeks. A swift end frees you up.
Smooth Handover: 🌱 Transition with ease. Legacy care ensures peace of mind.
Ready to Sell on Your Timeline? Let’s Set Your Expectations! 📞
Selling your business doesn’t have to be a drawn-out ordeal. At TheBizBuyer, we acquire and scale service-based businesses in 60-90 days, offering a clear, efficient timeline that maximizes your profit and preserves your legacy. With preparation and our direct acquisition model, you can set realistic expectations and plan your retirement with confidence.
Wondering how this timeline applies to you? Our free business evaluation provides a tailored roadmap, assessing your readiness and outlining your sale process. Reach out at +1 (305) 268-4243 or request your evaluation below. Let’s partner to sell your business on a timeline that works for you, setting you free for your next adventure.
Ready for a clear timeline? Get your free business evaluation from TheBizBuyer today!
