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 private review. 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 planning range and readiness check, then decide whether you need full broker support, attorney help, or a slower prep period.
What you should know before confidential sharing
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers for owners comparing DIY sale prep, brokers, and a private first estimate — nationwide.
How do I value a small business without hiring a broker first?
Start with a private planning range based on revenue, owner take-home profit (often called SDE — Seller's Discretionary Earnings), industry context, and owner involvement. DealPilot walks you through those inputs so you can see a planning range and the assumptions behind it before you share sensitive details or hire outside help.
Is a free business value estimate the same as a certified appraisal?
No. A DealPilot planning range is an informational owner tool — not a certified appraisal, formal valuation opinion, or guarantee of sale price. Use it to organize numbers and readiness notes. Bring in a qualified appraiser, CPA, or attorney when you need formal opinions for financing, tax, or legal decisions.
Can I sell my business without a broker using DealPilot?
Many owners prepare privately first, then decide whether to sell themselves, hire a broker later, or pause. DealPilot is owner-led software for planning ranges, readiness work, and review-ready materials. It does not replace brokerage, legal, or tax advice, and it does not promise buyer pools or marketplace inventory.
What information do I need to start a private planning range?
Rough annual sales and yearly take-home profit are enough to start. Tax returns, add-backs, customer mix, and how much the business depends on you make the range more useful later. You can refine inputs over time without publishing anything.
Will my business stay private while I use DealPilot?
Yes. Your planning work stays in a private workspace by default. Nothing about your company name, financials, or sale intent goes public unless you choose a specific share or publish step.
How is DealPilot different from listing my business on a public marketplace?
Public listing sites focus on exposure. DealPilot focuses on preparation first: a private planning range, readiness gaps, and organized seller materials. You decide if and when to share with anyone. DealPilot does not invent buyer demand or promise listing liquidity.
What does Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) mean?
SDE is a common small-business profit measure: roughly the yearly cash benefit to one full-time owner-operator after adding back owner salary, personal expenses run through the business, and one-time costs. Buyers often apply an industry multiple to SDE when forming an offer range.
How long does it take to prepare a small business for sale?
Timelines vary by industry, bookkeeping quality, and how owner-dependent the business is. Many owners spend weeks to months cleaning financials, documenting processes, and reducing key-person risk before a serious process. A private planning range helps you see which prep steps matter most for your situation.
Do I need perfect financials before I start?
No. Start with the best numbers you have, then tighten them. Cleaner P&Ls, tax returns, and documented add-backs usually improve buyer confidence later. DealPilot helps you see readiness gaps early so you are not learning them under diligence pressure.
What does DealPilot cost after the free planning range?
The initial planning range is free to start. Optional paid tools include a documented planning report, a seller launch kit, and a monthly deal room when you are actively managing a process. Pricing is flat and listed on the pricing page — not a percentage of sale price. If you have a promo code such as TRACTION129, you can enter it at checkout when offered.
Know your planning range before you choose a sale path
A private planning range gives you assumptions-backed context and a short prep list. From there, you can decide whether to sell yourself, slow down, or bring in outside help.
Start my free planning range