One of the first questions almost every owner asks me is:
“Julia, how long does it take to sell a business like mine?”
And it’s a fair question, because most people have no real frame of reference.
You can sell a car in a few days. A house might take a couple of months. But a business? That’s a whole different story.
Selling a company is more like running a marathon than a sprint, except the course has a few hills, some headwinds, and occasionally, a detour.
There’s no single timeline that fits every business, but there is a rhythm to how the process unfolds. And understanding that rhythm will help you stay calm, confident, and in control throughout the journey.
Most good businesses take six to twelve months to sell
Let’s start with a simple truth: a well-prepared, well-priced business usually sells within six to twelve months.
That’s not a hard rule, some sell faster, others take longer, but it’s a healthy expectation.
Think of it like this: if you start the process in January, you could easily be shaking hands at the closing table by fall. But if you start in January and your business needs cleanup or preparation, it might be the following spring.
The key is not speed, it’s steadiness. The goal isn’t to rush a deal; it’s to do it right.
Why it takes time
Selling a business involves a lot of moving parts. Each one takes attention and care, not because it’s difficult, but because it’s meaningful.
Here’s what typically happens:
Preparation (1–2 months)
Before the business ever goes to market, we gather information, organize financials, develop marketing materials, and make sure everything looks its best. This step matters, first impressions shape buyer confidence.
Marketing & Buyer Outreach (2–4 months)
Once the business is confidentially listed, the goal is to find serious, qualified buyers. That means filtering through inquiries, screening potential candidates, and sharing details only with those who have signed NDAs and shown genuine interest.
Negotiation & Letter of Intent (1–2 months)
Once a buyer is serious, we negotiate the key terms - price, structure, and timeline - leading to a Letter of Intent (LOI) or an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA). The LOI/APA is basically the framework of the deal.
Due Diligence (1–3 months)
This is when the buyer reviews your financials, operations, leases, and contracts. It’s the “prove it” phase, not because they don’t trust you, but because it’s how buyers confirm what they’re purchasing.
Closing (2–4 weeks)
Once due diligence is complete and financing is secured, attorneys prepare documents, approvals are finalized, and funds are transferred.
All told, that’s anywhere from six to twelve months, depending on complexity, buyer readiness, and how prepared the seller is from the start.
What can make a sale move faster
You can’t control everything, but there are a few things that absolutely speed up the process:
Clean financials. When your numbers are clear and organized, buyers move through diligence much faster.
Realistic pricing. Overpricing slows deals. Buyers today are smart, informed, and data-driven.
Prepared documentation. Having leases, contracts, and employee information ready reduces friction.
Availability. Being responsive helps momentum. Deals die in silence.
Flexibility. Sometimes being open to creative structures (like partial financing or transition support) can help the right deal close sooner.
In short: preparation + communication = momentum.
What can slow things down
Just as some things speed up a deal, others can drag it out.
The biggest culprits are:
Messy or incomplete records. This one’s huge, uncertainty creates hesitation.
Unrealistic expectations. If the price doesn’t match market reality, the listing lingers.
Poor timing. Trying to sell during a downturn or a slow season can delay buyer interest.
Fatigue. When sellers get impatient, they sometimes make emotional decisions. Selling well requires patience.
And sometimes, deals take longer simply because of people - lawyers, lenders, or third parties who move at different speeds. That’s normal.
Why “too fast” can actually be risky
Everyone loves the idea of a quick sale. But here’s the truth, not every fast deal is a good deal.
Sometimes, a buyer rushes to make an offer before they’re truly ready. Sometimes, owners get so excited that they skip steps or compromise terms.
A rushed deal can create headaches later as a result of misunderstandings, financing issues, or second thoughts.
The best deals don’t drag, but they also don’t sprint. They move with rhythm - steady, clear, and consistent.
When you feel like the pace is too slow, remember: this is likely one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions of your life. It deserves time.
It’s not just about time, it’s about readiness
What surprises many owners is how much of the timeline depends on them.
The more prepared you are, the more you control the process.
When I meet with owners who’ve taken the time to organize financials, clarify operations, and think through their personal goals, everything moves faster, not because the buyers are better, but because the seller is ready.
The ones who rush in without preparation often find themselves pausing midstream to fix things they could have fixed months earlier.
So yes, a sale might take months. But you can shave off a lot of waiting simply by being ready before you start.
The emotional timeline
There’s another timeline that isn’t printed on spreadsheets, the emotional one.
The decision to sell, the preparation, the first buyer call, the back-and-forth of negotiations, the moment you sign the contract; it’s a journey.
Most owners underestimate how personal this process feels. You’ll have moments of excitement, doubt, pride, and fatigue, sometimes all in the same week!
That’s normal.
The best thing you can do is trust the process, lean on your advisor, and remind yourself that slow doesn’t mean stuck.
Selling a business is like passing a baton, you want to make sure the handoff is smooth, not rushed.
When the right buyer shows up
Here’s something I tell every client:
You don’t need ten buyers. You need one right buyer.
The right buyer understands your business, respects what you’ve built, and has the means and mindset to take it forward.
When that person shows up, things start moving faster, naturally, not forced.
Until then, patience is power. You’re not waiting, you’re filtering.
What you can do right now
If you’re thinking about selling, here’s how to use the months (or even years) before listing wisely:
Get your financials organized.
Document key processes.
Review contracts and leases.
Identify any “red flags” a buyer might spot.
Have a conversation with an advisor, even casually, to understand timing.
Those steps don’t commit you to selling, but they prepare you for whenever the moment feels right.
And that preparation can turn a year-long process into a much smoother, faster transition.
The truth about timing
When you hear that it “takes six to twelve months to sell a business,” that number isn’t a rule, it’s a reflection of reality.
Some deals move faster because everything aligns - the owner is ready, the business is healthy, and the buyer fits perfectly.
Others take longer because there are layers to untangle.
Either way, the best thing you can do is start the process before you need to. That way, you make decisions from strength, not pressure.
Selling a business isn’t about racing to the finish line. It’s about arriving there ready, proud, and at peace with the outcome.
A final thought
You spent years building something valuable. It’s okay if selling takes time.
A good sale isn’t measured by speed, it’s measured by satisfaction.
When you reach that closing table, you’ll want to feel proud of the deal, proud of how it was handled, and ready for what’s next.
And if it takes a few extra months to get there, that’s time well spent.
If you’re thinking ahead
If you’re wondering what your own timeline might look like, whether you’d like to sell within the next year or are just exploring possibilities, I’m happy to talk it through with you confidentially.
You don’t need to be ready to sell. You just need to be ready to understand the process.
When you are, the rest becomes a lot easier.