Ready to sell your business?
You built something a buyer will pay for. The job now is to price it right, keep it confidential, and get it to a qualified buyer who can close, while you keep running the company.
What happens when you sell with Main Street Exits
1. A private first conversation
We talk about why you are selling, your timing, what you want after the sale and what the business looks like on paper. Nothing about this call is shared with anyone.
2. Valuation and pricing
We recast your financials to show Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE): your profit plus your own salary, perks and one-time expenses added back. Then we compare that to what buyers are actually paying for similar businesses. The asking price comes from that math, not from a wish. Overpriced businesses sit, and businesses that sit get stale.
3. Packaging
We build a confidential information memorandum (CIM) that tells the story a buyer and their lender need: what the business does, how it makes money, the people, the customers, the numbers and the opportunity. We also flag problems up front so they do not blow up in due diligence.
4. Confidential marketing
Your listing goes out blind, with no business name, no address and no details that give it away. Buyers have to sign a non-disclosure agreement and show they are qualified before they learn who you are. See How We Protect You for the full list.
5. Buyer meetings and offers
You meet only screened buyers, usually after hours or off site. We help you compare offers on more than price: cash at closing, financing, seller financing, earnouts, your role after the sale and the conditions attached.
6. Due diligence, financing and closing
Once there is a signed letter of intent, the buyer and their lender verify everything. We manage the document requests, keep the timeline moving, and coordinate with your attorney, your CPA, the buyer's lender and the closing agent.
7. Transition
Most buyers want help learning the business. We negotiate a transition period that is clear about how long, how many hours and whether it is paid, so you are not on call forever.
What to have ready
- Three years of business tax returns and profit and loss statements, plus the current year to date
- A list of owner perks and one-time expenses run through the business
- Your lease and any key contracts with customers, vendors or franchisors
- An equipment and inventory list
- A simple org chart: who does what, and what only you do
Missing some of it? That is normal. We will tell you what matters most.
How long it takes
The IBBA and M&A Source Market Pulse survey for Q2 2026 found main street deals averaged six to 10 months from engagement to close (source). Clean books, a realistic price and a business that runs without you are the biggest things that shorten it.
Fees
Our brokerage fee is success based, paid at closing. Fees are typically 5-10% of the sale price and depend on the size and price of the business. The exact terms are in writing before you sign.
Will my employees find out?
Not from us. Listings are blind, every buyer signs an NDA before getting identifying information, and showings are scheduled so staff are not tipped off. Most owners tell key employees near or after closing, and we help plan that conversation.
Do I have to keep working after the sale?
Usually for a transition period so the buyer can learn the business. The length and terms are negotiated and written into the deal.
What if I get an offer from someone I already know?
Tell us before you sign anything. A known buyer still needs to be qualified and the deal still needs to be structured to protect you.