Possibly.
But before choosing the DIY route, understand what you are taking on.
Selling your company yourself does not simply mean finding a buyer and negotiating a price. You are managing another demanding job while still protecting the performance of the business you spent years building.
A DIY sale requires you to:
PREPARE THE BUSINESS
Clarify your goals, estimate value, identify likely buyer types, organize financials, support add-backs, reduce owner dependency and address licensing or documentation gaps.
MARKET IT CONFIDENTIALLY
Create the teaser and marketing materials, research buyers, conduct outreach, and protect employees, customers and sensitive information.
QUALIFY THE BUYER
Verify financial capability, financing, experience, decision-making authority and the ability to operate the business after closing.
EVALUATE AND NEGOTIATE OFFERS
Compare cash at closing, seller financing, earnouts, working capital, contingencies, transition requirements and probability of closing.
MANAGE DUE DILIGENCE AND CLOSING
Coordinate documents, questions, attorneys, CPAs, lenders, landlords, licensing professionals, deadlines and hundreds of moving pieces—while continuing to run the business.
PLAN THE TRANSITION
Transfer relationships, knowledge, responsibilities and systems, then track any obligations that survive closing.
Each Tuesday and Thursday, I’ll explore what Arizona business owners should prepare for when selling their companies themselves, including where AI can help, where it may introduce risk and which mistakes can cost owners time, leverage, money or even the deal.
Whether your sale is six months or six years away, preparation creates options.
Know your value. Know your buyer options. Know your path.
Which part of selling your business would you feel least comfortable handling yourself? #ArizonaBusiness #SellMyBusiness #ExitPlanning