How to Sell Your Business

Selling a business is not a single event—it’s a process.
And most owners don’t realize how early that process truly begins.

This course was created to give you clarity, structure, and protection before decisions are made, documents are signed, or leverage is lost.

If you are thinking about selling your business—whether that’s months or years from now—this course will walk you through how business sales actually work.

Most business sales start long before an offer appears. You’ll learn what truly triggers a sale, the early decisions that create legal and financial risk, and how to protect yourself before engaging buyers or brokers. This lesson shows how to avoid costly missteps and position your business correctly from day one.

Not all business sales are the same. This lesson breaks down the most common types of business sales, including asset sales, stock or equity sales, partial buyouts, and internal transitions. You’ll learn how each structure affects taxes, liability, control, and risk—so you understand which sale types may align best with your goals before entering negotiations.

Waiting to hire an attorney can expose you to avoidable risk. This lesson explains why legal counsel should be engaged before you decide to sell, how early legal planning protects you personally, and how it strengthens deal structure, confidentiality, and leverage throughout the sale process.

What you keep after a sale of your business depends on early planning. This lesson explains why your CPA and/or wealth advisor must be involved before selling, how tax strategy and timing affect proceeds, and how coordinated planning protects your long-term financial outcome.

Business value is more than a multiple or online calculator. This lesson explains how buyers actually value businesses, the factors that increase or reduce valuation, and common mistakes owners make when estimating worth. You’ll learn how to assess value realistically and position your business to support a stronger sale price.

You’ve now learned how a business sale works, why your lawyer and your wealth advisor/CPA is important BEFORE you decide to sell your company.

After exploring these topics, are you ready to sell your business?

Before sharing financials or sensitive information, you need a properly structured NDA. This lesson explains why NDAs matter in a business sale, what key terms protect you as the seller, and common mistakes that leave owners exposed. You’ll learn how to use an NDA to control information, protect leverage, and reduce risk early in the sale process.

A teaser package introduces your business without revealing sensitive details. This lesson explains what a preliminary offering should include, what to leave out, and how to position your company to attract qualified buyers while protecting confidentiality. You’ll learn how a strong teaser sets expectations, filters buyers, and supports a smoother sale process.

Working with a broker can expand buyer reach—but only if done strategically. This lesson explains when to engage a broker, how brokers are compensated, and what sellers must clarify before signing a listing agreement. You’ll learn how to evaluate brokers, protect confidentiality, and avoid conflicts that can weaken your position in a business sale.

Due diligence is where most deals slow down—or fall apart. This lesson explains what due diligence really involves, what buyers examine, and why unprepared sellers lose leverage. You’ll learn how to assess your readiness, organize key information, and avoid common issues that delay closing or reduce purchase price.

A data room is a controlled environment where all diligence materials live. Poor organization = perceived risk. I’ll show you how to prepare your own data room in advance, so you’re ultra-prepared.

What financial documents are required for due diligence in a business sale? We’ll cover each document, why it’s important and how to test your financials for accuracy.

Tax returns to proof of tax payments. It’s all required in the due diligence phase.

How much money your company makes is important to the buyer, but so is your operational efficiency & effectiveness. Your operations should be documented. If it’s not, I’ll teach you how to document it so you’re prepared for this part of due diligence.

How much your employees get paid, their bonus structure, benefits and employment agreements matter to the buyer.

Customer and revenue diligence is where buyers decide:

• how predictable your cash flow really is

• whether revenue is transferable or fragile

• how much concentration risk they are assuming

• whether contracts protect them—or expose them

This is one of the most common areas where:

• valuation multiples get adjusted

• escrows or earn-outs appear

• buyers quietly reframe risk late in the deal

Buyers expect organized, complete documentation early in due diligence. This lesson outlines the key financial, legal, and operational documents buyers request and why delays raise red flags. You’ll learn how preparing documents in advance protects leverage, speeds the process, and reduces the risk of price reductions or failed deals.

Receiving a letter of intent is exciting—but it’s not the finish line. This lesson explains what an LOI really means, which terms matter most, and what to review before moving forward. You’ll learn how to assess risk, involve your advisors, and decide whether to proceed, negotiate, or walk away.

Before responding to or signing an LOI, it must be reviewed by legal counsel. This lesson explains why attorney review is critical, which LOI terms can create risk, and how legal guidance protects you before exclusivity or diligence begins. You’ll learn how your lawyer helps clarify exposure, leverage, and next steps. You’ll also learn why red-lining is important, but not as critical as the final contract.

The deal looks great, you’re excited and ready to sign….but wait! You need to understand how this will impact your taxes, personal wealth and more. The lawyer will protect you from legal blind spots, your CPA will help you navigate how much you actually get after tax from the sale of your company at the end of the day.

Once the LOI is signed, the sale feels real—but it is not guaranteed. This is the most dangerous period for employee panic, rumor spread, and value erosion.

Your job now is not transparency at all costs.
Your job is stability, trust, and continuity.

Handled well, employees become an asset to the deal.
Handled poorly, they become a liability that can kill morale and possibly your deal.

Remember the quote, “Loose lips, sink ships”? Don’t make the mistake of telling people you’re selling your company. This means friends, neighbors and some family members too.

This section teaches you how to manage diligence like a process, not a reaction: how to control disclosure, protect leverage, and avoid negotiating against yourself.”

This lesson covers the due diligence phase after an LOI is signed and a data room is prepared. You’ll learn how disclosure should change based on the type of business sale, including asset, stock, and hybrid transactions. It explains when full financials may not be required, how to avoid over-disclosure, and how sellers protect leverage, confidentiality, and deal momentum during due diligence.

This lesson explains due diligence when only specific assets are being sold, not the entire business. You’ll learn what information is relevant to disclose, when full financial statements are not required, and how sellers avoid unnecessary exposure during partial asset transactions.

This lesson covers due diligence in asset sales involving substantially all business assets. You’ll learn which financial, operational, and legal disclosures are typically required and how sellers protect themselves while satisfying buyer diligence expectations.

This lesson walks through due diligence in a stock sale, where the buyer acquires the entire legal entity. You’ll learn why disclosure is broader, what buyers expect to review, and how sellers limit risk while supporting representations and warranties.

This lesson explains due diligence for membership interest sales in LLCs. You’ll learn how ownership transfer impacts disclosure requirements, governance review, and liability exposure from a seller’s perspective.

Learn how final purchase agreements really work—and where deals are won or lost. This lesson breaks down price adjustments, buyer discounts, risk-shifting language, dispute resolution, non-competes, and red flags sellers must understand before signing. Essential guidance for business owners approaching closing.

One of the most frustrating moments in a deal is when the buyer comes back — late in the process — asking for a price reduction.

Here’s the truth:
Not all discounts are bad. But not all discounts are real. Some discounts are legitimate.

Contracts are not written to sound fair. They’re written to be enforced. “Shall vs. May” and “Best of Sellers Knowledge” actually matter and mean something. We’ll go over what you need to be watching for in your contract.

Promises made through contract language, even if you don’t realize that’s what you’re doing.

Where you fight your battle (if you must) matters! Know what you’re agreeing to in advance.

What will you do with your knowledge, career and life after signing the non-compete. Know what limitations you have and for how long after the closing of the sale.

Not every bad term kills a deal, but some should.

Most sellers believe their job is to “hire a good lawyer and stay out of the way.”
That mindset costs money.

This lesson teaches how to work with counsel strategically — not defer blindly — so the seller remains the decision-maker, not just the signature.

Every deal has risk, it simply cannot be eliminated. Know which terms you’ll be ok accepting risk on and which ones may kill your deal.

Selling your business is not the finish line people think it is. It’s a handoff, a reckoning, and often an identity shift. This lesson prepares you for the after—so you don’t make costly mistakes emotionally, financially, or professionally.