How long does it take to sell a business?
Short Answer
A well-run sale process usually takes six to twelve months from going to market to completion, but the preparation that determines your price should begin twelve to twenty-four months earlier.
Full Explanation
There are two clocks in a business sale, and owners often only count the second. The visible clock is the sale process itself: from the point you go to market to completion typically runs six to twelve months. It covers preparing marketing materials, approaching buyers, fielding indicative offers, agreeing heads of terms, granting exclusivity, and then the due diligence and legal drafting that lead to the sale and purchase agreement. Complex businesses, regulated sectors or reluctant buyers can extend this; a competitive process with a well-prepared seller can shorten it. The hidden clock is preparation, and it is the one that sets the price. The best outcomes come from owners who spend the twelve to twenty-four months before going to market reducing founder dependency, tidying contracts and intellectual property, and building the evidence base a buyer's diligence will test. Compressing that work into the final quarter is the most common reason a sale disappoints. For the sequence, see the [24-month exit plan](/insights/sell-your-business-exit-plan-24-months) and the [sell your business hub](/sell-your-business).
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