Business Sales Process
We streamline our 6-step sales process through a proven, efficient 2-phase system.
Selling a business is complex—confidentiality, precision, and timing are key. That’s why we follow a 6-step sales process, streamlined into two phases: Phase 1 – Marketing to protect your business and attract qualified buyers, and Phase 2 – Escrow to manage negotiations and ensure a smooth closing.
PHASE 1 - Marketing (Confidential Sales Process)
STEP 1
Business Opportunity (Teaser)
We create a high level, anonymous summary of the business highlighting its key strengths and market potential. This teaser is used to generate buyer interest without revealing confidential details.
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Buyer Engagaement (NDA)
Qualified buyers sing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before receiving sensitive information. This step ensures confidentially while allowing us to begin the buyer screening process.
Marketing Campaign (CIM)
A detailed Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) is shared with vetted buyers, providing a comprehensive overview of the business. The CIM highlights financial operations, growth opportunities and sale drivers.
Step 1 - Business Opportunity (Teaser)
We create a one-page, confidential summary—called a teaser or blind profile—that highlights your business’s key strengths without revealing its identity.
Why We Start with a Teaser Marketing Piece.
The teaser—also known as a blind profile—is the first step in our confidential marketing process. It provides a high-level overview of your business without disclosing its name, location, or other identifying details. The purpose is to generate interest from qualified buyers while protecting your company’s confidentiality, staff morale, customer relationships, and competitive position.
By sharing just enough information to attract serious inquiries—such as industry, revenue, cash flow, and key highlights—we can begin screening buyers without exposing sensitive details. Only after a buyer signs a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) do we share the full Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) and begin deeper discussions.
This approach ensures your business stays protected while we identify the right buyer candidates.
Step 2 - Buyer Engagaement (NDA)
Interested buyers are required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and provide a buyer profile before receiving confidential information, ensuring that only serious, qualified buyers gain access—saving time and protecting the integrity of the sale.
All buyers must complete a Profile with these details
- Personal and business background
- Financial capability (liquidity, net worth)
- Acquisition criteria and timeframe
- Relevant industry experience (if applicable)
- Business experience and intent
- Reasonable expectations of what business ownership can do for him or her
- The ability to make his or her own decisions
- Alignment with the seller’s criteria
Step 3 - Marketing Campaign (CIM)
We create a Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM)—a detailed, professionally written document that presents the business to qualified buyers.
We create the CIM to present the business in its best light, clearly outlining its strengths, financials, and growth potential.
We begin by creating a Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM)—a detailed, professionally written document that presents the business to qualified buyers. It includes financials, operations, growth opportunities, and other key value drivers.
Once completed, we use the CIM to support a targeted, confidential marketing campaign across online platforms, broker networks, and our internal buyer database. The CIM is only shared with buyers who have signed an NDA and passed our screening process. Qualified buyers receive access to the Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) or full business summary. They are then invited to schedule a follow-up call or meeting with the broker (and later the seller, if appropriate).
PHASE 2 - Escrow (Transaction Management Process)
Negotiations (LOI & PA)
We guide the seller through negotiating key deal terms, beginning with a Letter of Intent (LOI) and leading to a formal Purchase Agreement (PA). Our role is to protect seller interests while facilitating deal momentum.
Due Diligence (Package)
We organize financials, legal documents, and operational data into a due diligence package, streamlining the buyer’s review and minimizing delays or deal fatigue.
Closing & Transition (Exit)
We coordinate attorneys, escrow, and lenders to finalize the transaction. After closing, we support a smooth transition to the new owner to protect your legacy and business continuity.
Step 4 - Negotiations (LOI & PA)
We guide sellers through early deal negotiations—starting with the LOI, which outlines key terms. Once accepted, we help draft a formal Purchase Agreement to protect the seller’s interests and move the deal toward closing.
We manage negotiations to protect your interests and keep the deal moving forward.
Once a qualified buyer is identified and has reviewed the CIM, we move into formal negotiations. This begins with the Letter of Intent (LOI)—a non-binding agreement that outlines the key deal terms, including:
Proposed purchase price and structure (asset vs. stock sale)
Initial deposit and funding source
Due diligence timeline and scope
Contingencies and exclusivity period
Proposed closing date
Transition expectations (e.g., seller training)
We advise the seller on negotiating favorable terms while maintaining deal momentum and buyer engagement. Once the LOI is executed, the deal moves into binding contract negotiations. This leads to the Purchase Agreement (PA), a comprehensive legal document that solidifies all aspects of the transaction.
We work closely with legal counsel, CPAs, and escrow officers to review and finalize the PA, ensuring that the seller is protected from post-sale liabilities and that all negotiated points are accurately documented.
Step 5 - Due Diligence (Package)
Once the LOI is accepted signed the due diligence process begings
A completed Due Diligence Package includes:
With the LOI signed, the buyer begins a detailed examination of the business—called due diligence—to confirm that the business is as represented.
We manage this process from start to finish by preparing a complete Due Diligence Package prior to buyer engagement. This package typically includes:
3+ years of financial statements and tax returns
Year-to-date financials and trailing 12-month reports
Customer contracts and vendor agreements
Leases, loan documents, and equipment lists
Employee lists, wages, and benefit plans
Licenses, permits, and insurance coverage
Intellectual property details, if applicable
Policies, procedures, and operational manuals
By having this information ready in a secure data room, we reduce deal fatigue, prevent renegotiations, and maintain control over the flow of sensitive information. We also act as a liaison between buyer and seller, coordinating document delivery, answering questions, and resolving issues as they arise—while keeping the process confidential and on schedule.
Step 6 - Closing & Transition (Exit)
Once the Purchase Agreement is signed, we initiate escrow, finalize the sale, and oversee the transfer of the business to completion.
We coordinate closing and transition to ensure a smooth handoff and successful exit.
After due diligence is complete and the PA is signed, the deal enters the closing stage. This includes:
Coordinating escrow services for fund handling
Finalizing asset lists and schedules
Assigning or transferring leases, licenses, and contracts
Verifying lien releases, payoffs, and legal clearances
Confirming satisfaction of all contingencies and conditions
Signing all closing documents
Once funds are released and ownership is transferred, the focus shifts to transition planning. We help the seller and buyer agree on a transition plan that supports continuity, such as:
Onboarding/training period for the buyer
Introduction to employees, vendors, and key customers
Retention plans for critical staff
Transfer of systems, accounts, and operational know-how
Our goal is to ensure a smooth exit for the seller and set the buyer up for post-sale success—minimizing disruption and preserving the business’s value during the handoff.
Insider Tip
The best buyers often come from targeted outreach, not public listings. That’s why confidentiality and positioning are everything. A strong CIM, paired with direct outreach and broker relationships, attracts serious, motivated buyers—often before the business is ever widely marketed. This approach leads to faster, cleaner deals with better terms.
What we charge
Our fee structure is simple, transparent, and aligned with standard industry practices.
Our pricing follows the Double Lehman Scale, a common structure in business brokerage. Under this model, the commission is 10% on the first $1 million of the sale price, 8% on the second million, 6% on the third million, 4% on the fourth million, and 2% on any amount above $5 million. The fee you pay is entirely based on the final purchase price of your business, which we work hard to maximize. To get a clear understanding of what our fee would be for your specific situation, we recommend starting with a business valuation.
