THE OWNER DECISION GUIDES
Considering a sale?
Start with the decisions.
Understand your numbers, prepare for scrutiny, and compare what an offer would mean for you. Follow the questions that matter at your stage.
A practical path through the decisions.
Start with value and timing if you are exploring. Use preparation guides before marketing. Work through the offer guides with your advisors when terms become concrete.
These 16 guides received a source review on October 10, 2026. Each identifies its sources, review scope and hypothetical examples.
Understand what a sale could mean
What Is My Small Business Worth? A Seller’s Valuation Guide
Estimate business value from supported earnings, comparable sales and included assets. Separate an asking price from cash you would receive at closing.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDESDE vs. EBITDA vs. TTM: How Sellers Should Present Earnings
Understand SDE, adjusted EBITDA and trailing twelve months. Build an evidence-backed earnings bridge without double-counting owner draws or replacement payroll.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEBusiness Valuation Multiples by Industry: How to Use the Evidence
Learn how sellers should compare industry valuation multiples, reported cash flow and EBITDA. Check the sample, dates, metric and transaction inclusions.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEHow Long Does It Take to Sell a Business? A Seller’s Timeline
Plan the preparation, marketing and closing stages of a business sale. Understand reported days on market and the dependencies that can delay a transaction.
Read guide ↗Prepare and choose your representation
How to Sell Your Business: From First Decision to Closing
Follow a practical business-sale process: clarify goals, review earnings, protect confidentiality, qualify buyers, compare offers and coordinate closing.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEHow to Prepare Your Business for Sale: An Owner’s Checklist
Organize financial records, add-backs, contracts, owner roles and a buyer handover. Use a preparation checklist with evidence and next actions.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEHow to Sell a Business Confidentially: An Owner’s Disclosure Plan
Plan anonymous marketing, buyer qualification, NDAs and staged information sharing. Protect confidentiality while addressing staff and transfer obligations.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEHow to Choose a Business Broker: Questions Before You Sign
Compare business brokers on documented experience, confidential marketing, buyer screening, fee terms and service scope before signing an engagement.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEHow Much Does a Business Broker Cost? Fees Sellers Should Compare
Compare broker success fees, minimums, retainers, expenses and tail clauses. See why the fee base and payment timing matter more than a quoted percentage.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDESell Your Business in Chicago & Illinois: An Owner’s Planning Guide
Plan a confidential Illinois business sale using historical Chicago market context, financial preparation and Illinois bulk-sale requirements.
Read guide ↗Evaluate the offer and closing terms
Quality of Earnings for Sellers: Scope, Add-Backs and Buyer Questions
Decide whether your sale needs a quality-of-earnings review. Understand sustainable earnings, working capital, scope and the evidence buyers may request.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEWorking Capital in a Business Sale: The Seller’s Closing Worksheet
Understand a working-capital target, included accounts and closing adjustments. Work through an example before agreeing a purchase-price mechanism.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEEarnouts When Selling a Business: Price, Control and Payment Risk
Evaluate an earnout from a seller’s perspective. Compare closing cash, performance conditions, buyer control, reporting rights and downside outcomes.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDESeller Financing a Business Sale: Cash, Security and Tax Questions
Evaluate a seller note before accepting an offer. Review closing cash, buyer repayment capacity, collateral, lender restrictions and installment-tax exceptions.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEAsset Sale vs. Stock Sale: Tax Questions Before Selling a Business
Compare asset and equity sale structures, purchase-price allocation and seller tax questions. Plan after-tax proceeds without assuming a universal savings amount.
Read guide ↗OWNER DECISION GUIDEQSBS Before a Business Sale: Eligibility, Dates and the $15 Million Limit
Understand the July 2025 QSBS changes, acquisition and issuance dates, holding periods and eligibility questions before relying on a stock-gain exclusion.
Read guide ↗Bring the questions that affect your decision.
Your goals, owner role, timing, required closing cash and transition preferences shape the conversation. Start with general information; private financial documents can follow through an agreed secure channel.
Book a confidential conversation ↗YOUR BUSINESS. YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.
Let’s make the
next move a clear one.
Talk through your goals, timing, and the questions you want answered before making a decision.