ServicesSell a Business
Sell a Business in Elgin
Selling the company you built is a big step, and the calendar matters as much as the price. We value your business, find qualified buyers quietly and give you a realistic timeline from day one. When something shifts, you hear it from us first.
How a sale with us works
Almost every owner starts with two questions: what is my business worth, and how long will it take to sell? We answer both up front, with actual numbers and actual dates, before you sign on to anything.
A typical small business sale runs through pricing, confidential marketing, buyer meetings, due diligence and closing, and every stage has its own pace. A single missing tax return can stall due diligence, and lenders often ask for one more document. We tell you how long each stage usually takes and what could hold it up, and we call you when the plan shifts so you are never guessing.
You pay nothing up front to list with us: no retainers and no hidden fees. Our pay comes only when the seller gets paid.
What's included when you list with us
A real valuation
We look at your tax returns, profit and loss statements, owner benefit and assets to set an asking price buyers can back up with a lender. Free, confidential valuations are part of how we start.
Confidential marketing
Listings go out without your business name. Buyers sign a nondisclosure agreement before they see details. New listings go to registered buyers first.
Buyer screening
We ask about funds, financing and experience before a buyer ever sits down with you. That saves you from long meetings with people who were never going to close.
Offer and deal help
We walk you through each offer, including price, down payment, seller financing, training period and noncompete terms. You decide. We explain what each term means for you.
Due diligence and closing
We keep the document list moving, stay in touch with the buyer's lender and keep the closing date on track. If a date has to move, you get a new one and the reason.
Signs it may be time to sell
- You're thinking about retirement
- A clean sale takes time to set up. Starting a year or two before you want out gives you room to pick the right buyer.
- The business needs more than you want to give
- Growth means new hires, new equipment or longer hours. Some owners would rather hand that to a buyer with fresh energy.
- Health or family changes
- Life changes plans. Selling on your schedule beats selling in a rush later.
- Your numbers are strong right now
- Buyers pay for recent, steady earnings. Selling after two or three good years usually works out better than waiting for a slow one.
- A partner wants out
- If one owner is ready to leave and the other isn't, our Partner Buyouts and Succession service may fit better than a full sale.
How the sale moves, step by step
- 1
Free consultation
We sit down at our office or talk by phone or video. You share your goals and timing, and we give you a straight answer on whether this is a good time to sell.
- 2
Valuation and prep
We go through your financials and arrive at a price. If your records need work first, we tell you and estimate how much time that adds.
- 3
Confidential listing
We draft a listing that doesn't name you and a fuller packet for screened buyers. Registered buyers get it first, and then we reach further.
- 4
Offers and due diligence
You meet buyers who are serious, compare offers and pick one. Through due diligence we track a checklist and send a weekly update, so you always know what remains.
- 5
Closing and handoff
We work with the buyer, the lender and the closing attorneys or title company. You settle on a training period so the new owner starts on solid footing.
What affects the cost and the timeline
There's no fee to list, and our pay comes from the sale itself at closing. What really moves your outcome is how the business is priced and structured, and how fast the deal can get through each stage. These are the things we look at first.
- Sale price and structure
- Our commission is tied to the final deal. A cash sale, an SBA-financed sale and a sale with seller financing each close differently and on different schedules.
- Condition of your records
- Clean tax returns and books that match them speed everything up. Messy records slow due diligence and can make lenders nervous.
- Real estate in the deal
- Selling the building with the business adds an appraisal, title work and more lender steps. Our Business and Property Sales service covers that side.
- How easy the business is to hand off
- A business that runs without the owner every day draws more buyers. One that depends on you may need a longer training period.
Questions about selling your business
- How long will selling my business take?
- From listing to closing, many small business sales run several months up to a year. The price, the financing and how organized your records are matter most. You get a realistic range up front, and we revise it as the deal moves.
- Will my staff and customers hear about the sale?
- Not through us. Your business name stays off the listing, and buyers sign a nondisclosure agreement before seeing details. When it helps, we hold meetings after hours or somewhere other than your location.
- What should I gather to begin?
- A solid starting set is three years of tax returns, recent profit and loss statements, a balance sheet and an equipment list. If anything is missing, we'll help you work out what to collect and in what order.
- Will I need to stay on once the business sells?
- Most buyers want a training period, usually anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Its length is written into the deal, so you agree on it ahead of time, and we help you set terms that fit your plans.
- Is it worth offering seller financing?
- It can widen your pool of buyers and sometimes lift the price, but part of your money arrives over time. We spell out the tradeoffs so you can choose. Buyers relying on bank loans can also turn to our Acquisition Financing Guidance.
Find out what your sale could look like
One conversation gets you an honest read on value, timing and next steps. It's confidential, and there's nothing to pay up front.