How long does it take to sell a business?

Timing varies with the type of business, the asking price and the state of your financial records. From listing to closing, a sale commonly runs anywhere from a few months to around a year. Reviewing your books at the start helps the final stretch go faster, because due diligence turns up fewer surprises.

How do I know what my business is worth?

We offer free, confidential valuations. We look at your earnings, add-backs, industry and market conditions, then explain the range and the reasoning behind it so you can decide whether to sell now or prepare first.

Should I clean up my books before calling you?

Call first. We can tell you which issues matter to buyers and which do not, so you spend your effort where it pays off. Your Exit Planning conversation can start at the same time.

I own the building too. Can I sell both?

Yes. Selling the business and the real estate together, or selling the business and leasing the property to the buyer, are both common. Our Business and Property Sales page explains the options.

Do I have to offer seller financing?

No, but many buyers ask for it, and lenders often like to see the seller carry a small part of the price. We will show you how it affects your total proceeds and your risk before you decide.

A man photographs an empty restaurant dining room with his phone while a woman watches, with a laptop and printed binder on a wooden table nearby

ServicesSell a Business

Sell a Business in Bee Cave

Before we suggest a price or a plan, we sit down with your financials and tell you plainly what a buyer will see. Then we market your business quietly, screen every buyer, and stay with you from the first offer through closing day.

Get a free consultation at (512) 881-7039

A sale that starts with an honest look at your business

Selling a business you built is a big decision, and most owners only do it once. Our job is to help you get a fair price from a qualified buyer without your staff, customers or competitors hearing about it too early.

We start by reading your tax returns, profit and loss statements and lease before we recommend anything. You get plain findings: what makes the business attractive, what a buyer will question, and what is worth fixing before you list. Some owners learn they are ready now. Others learn that six months of cleaner books will be worth the wait.

Sellers from Bee Cave, Lakeway, Dripping Springs and nearby communities meet with us in person, or over a phone or video call when that fits their schedule better.

What selling with us includes

A close review of your financials

We go through at least three years of returns and statements, identify legitimate add-backs like owner perks and one-time expenses, and show you the earnings figure a buyer will actually use.

A price buyers can support

Your asking price comes from a business valuation grounded in your numbers and current market activity. A price that holds up in due diligence keeps deals from falling apart late.

Confidential marketing

Your listing describes the type of business and its performance in general terms, without naming it. Every buyer signs a confidentiality agreement before we share who you are, where you operate or any financial statements.

Buyer screening

We ask buyers about their funds, experience and financing before introducing them. You spend time only with people who can close.

Negotiation and deal structure

We help you compare offers on more than price, including down payment, seller financing, earnouts, and how long you stay on to train the new owner.

Coordination through closing

We keep your attorney, CPA, the buyer and any lender moving on the same timeline so paperwork does not stall the sale.

Two men seen from behind at a restaurant booth reviewing a ring binder of documents beside a laptop showing a spreadsheet and a yellow legal pad with a pen

Signs it may be time to sell

Retirement is on the calendar: A good sale often takes many months. Starting a year or two before you want to step away gives you room to prepare and choose the right buyer.
You are getting unsolicited offers: An inquiry from a competitor or investor is a signal there is demand. We can tell you whether the number is fair before you reply.
The work no longer energizes you: Burnout shows up in the numbers eventually. Selling while revenue is steady usually brings a better price than selling after a slide.
Co-owners are pulling in opposite directions: If one of you is ready to cash out while the other still wants to build, an outside sale is one answer and a structured buyout is another. Our Partner Buyouts and Succession page covers the buyout route.
Growth needs capital you would rather not commit: Someone with new money and the appetite to expand could take the business further than you care to. A sale lets you get paid for what you built while they fund the next chapter.

How the sale works, step by step

1
Free consultation
We talk about your goals, your timeline and what you want for your employees. Nothing is signed and the conversation stays confidential.
2
Review and valuation
We study your books and operations, then walk you through our findings and a supportable price range in plain language.
3
Prepare and list
We write a short anonymous profile of the business, plus a fuller information packet that only screened buyers receive. New listings go to registered buyers first, so serious interest often arrives early.
4
Offers and due diligence
We screen inquiries, arrange meetings, and help you negotiate a letter of intent. During due diligence we answer buyer questions and keep documents organized.
5
Closing and handoff
We work with both sides' advisors to reach closing, then help set the transition plan so customers and staff stay steady under the new owner.

What it costs to sell, and what shapes your price

You pay nothing up front when you list your business with us. There is no retainer to sign, and nothing is buried in fine print. Our payday comes only after yours does, and we put our fee in writing before you list so there are no surprises.

How clean your books are: Clear, consistent financials let buyers and lenders trust your earnings. Messy records lower offers or slow the deal.
How much the business depends on you: If customers and key decisions all run through the owner, buyers see risk. Documented systems and a capable team raise value.
Lease and location terms: Buyers and their lenders want a lease that can be assigned to a new owner and has plenty of term left on it. If yours expires soon, loan approval can be delayed until it is renewed.
Customer concentration: When a few accounts make up most of your revenue, buyers price in the chance of losing one.
Deal structure: Offering some seller financing or a longer training period can widen your buyer pool and support a stronger price.

Questions owners ask about selling

Will my employees or customers find out I am selling?: We work hard to keep that from happening. Our listing descriptions leave out your business name, and each buyer signs a confidentiality agreement before learning anything that identifies you. When it helps, we set buyer meetings and site visits for after hours.
How long does it take to sell a business?: Timing varies with the type of business, the asking price and the state of your financial records. From listing to closing, a sale commonly runs anywhere from a few months to around a year. Reviewing your books at the start helps the final stretch go faster, because due diligence turns up fewer surprises.
How do I know what my business is worth?: We offer free, confidential valuations. We look at your earnings, add-backs, industry and market conditions, then explain the range and the reasoning behind it so you can decide whether to sell now or prepare first.
Should I clean up my books before calling you?: Call first. We can tell you which issues matter to buyers and which do not, so you spend your effort where it pays off. Your Exit Planning conversation can start at the same time.
I own the building too. Can I sell both?: Yes. Selling the business and the real estate together, or selling the business and leasing the property to the buyer, are both common. Our Business and Property Sales page explains the options.
Do I have to offer seller financing?: No, but many buyers ask for it, and lenders often like to see the seller carry a small part of the price. We will show you how it affects your total proceeds and your risk before you decide.

Two people in business attire shake hands across a wooden table with a stack of documents and a pen, inside a bright, empty restaurant dining room

Find out where your business stands

Start with a free consultation. We will listen to your goals, look at your numbers, and give you an honest read on your options before you commit to anything.

Talk through your sale free at (512) 881-7039