Guide
How to Sell Your Business, From First Thought to Closing Day
Nine steps, six to twelve months, and the decisions that move the price, set out plainly with every figure sourced.
Read the guide2.7×SDE
Average cash-flow multiple on small businesses sold in Q2 2026
Source: BizBuySell Insight Report3–7×EBITDA
Multiples private equity add-on buyers typically pay in the lower middle market
Source: CT Acquisitions, 2026Featured Guides
See all guidesValuation
What your business is worth, and why buyers disagree
Most small companies sell on a multiple of earnings. Which earnings, and which multiple, is where the money is.
Taxes
Capital gains, asset sales and what you actually keep
Two offers at the same price can leave you with very different checks after tax.
Buyers
Selling to private equity: how the offer really works
Rollover equity, earnouts and the second payday, explained for first-time sellers.
Industry Focus
Selling an Accounting or CPA Firm
Private equity has moved into the accounting profession quickly, and firm owners now have more buyers than at any point in recent memory. Here is how practice sales work and what firms are selling for.
Explore the industry guides- How CPA practices are valuedRevenue multiples, retention clauses and why recurring clients matter most.
- Private equity and the accounting professionWhat a PE-backed firm offers a retiring partner, and what it asks in return.
- When no partner wants to buy you outSuccession options for sole practitioners and small partnerships.
Start Here
What Is My Business Worth?
How buyers price a company like yours, the earnings they use, and the multiples typical in your industry.
Check the multiplesStay Informed
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Owners Ask
How long does it take to sell a small business?
Most sales take six to twelve months from preparation to closing.
Do I need a business broker?
No. Brokers typically charge 10–15% of the price on deals up to about $1 million. Many owners sell directly to a buyer they already know. A broker helps most when you need a wide search.
What will I pay in tax when I sell?
It depends on how the deal is structured. Long-held assets are usually taxed as capital gains, but parts of a price can be taxed as ordinary income.