Sell it yourself
You keep control and avoid a broker fee, but you must handle valuation, buyer screening, confidentiality, documents, and follow-up.
Private owner guide
Can I sell my business without a broker?
Maybe. The better first question is whether your business is ready for buyers to inspect it. DealPilot gives you a private value range and a plain-English prep path before you decide who should help with the sale.
Free to start. No credit card. Nothing is published without your explicit choice.
Private by default
Hire a broker
A broker can manage the process, but many owners still want to know the numbers first so they can judge advice and pricing.
Get prepared first
Start with a private estimate and readiness check, then decide whether you need full broker support, attorney help, or a slower prep period.
What you should know before talking to buyers
Buyers do not only ask what you made last year. They ask how dependable the profit is, whether the team can run without you, and which private details should stay protected until trust is earned.
- Your last 3 years of revenue, profit, and owner pay
- A plain answer for why you want to sell now
- A list of customers, contracts, or jobs that would worry a buyer
- A first estimate of yearly take-home profit, called SDE
- A decision about what stays private until a buyer signs an NDA, meaning a confidentiality agreement
Start with your own estimate before taking advice from anyone who wants the listing.
Keep the company name, customer list, and sale intent private while you learn.
Use the result to decide whether a broker, attorney, or accountant should be pulled in next.
Know your starting number before you choose a sale path
A private valuation estimate gives you a grounded first number and a short prep list. From there, you can decide whether to sell yourself, slow down, or bring in outside help.
Start my free private estimate