Tips for selling a business in 2026

It’s not uncommon to be considering the future of your business at this time of year. As a new year dawns, the thought of ‘do I really want to still be doing this next year’ might well be niggling at the back of your mind. If you’re approaching retirement or your health is a concern, you might feel under a little more pressure to make progress and get the ball rolling in 2026. Deciding to sell your business is a huge decision and achieving both maximum profit, favourable terms and the best outcomes for everyone involved are always our objectives.

Current challenging market conditions mean selling a business is not without its risks, so if you are thinking about selling in 2026, improving sellability should be your focus. Read on for some top tips to help prepare your strategy, make your business attractive to buyers, and put it in the best possible position to sell.  

1. Start with your Why

Where do you see yourself having sold your business? What are your personal and financial goals from the sale. These goals are your starting point and the motivators you should keep in mind throughout what can be a long, drawn-out business sale process. In the case of joint or multiple owners, your individual Whys could become a sticking point during negotiations. Aligning expectations now will help you over the months to come.

It’s not unusual for a lone vendor to feel at a loss once they’ve sold, so make plans now to enjoy what comes next and prepare yourself mentally. Of course, selling your business doesn’t always mean you have to leave after signing on the dotted line. Many owners choose to remain in the business as a consultant or in another capacity under the terms of a deal. 

2. Assess business readiness

Is your business fit for its future owner? You may feel ready to sell on a personal level, but if selling is something you have only been considering for a few weeks or months, there may be work ahead to prepare your business for sale. Developing staff to step up and replace you, growing your customer base to add value to the bottom line, refining processes and reviewing governance are areas to consider.

3. Why would a buyer want to purchase your business?

Write a list of all the positive attributes of your business and the reasons why a buyer might find these an attractive proposition. This will assist you in the future when positioning your business or negotiating the terms of a deal.

4. Get your records in order

We’ve lost count of the number of vendors who regret not maintaining up-to-date business records prior to due diligence. If you want to prepare thoroughly, start reviewing key financial, commercial and people records before you engage in the sale process. It will speed up due diligence, eliminate errors, and showcase a well-managed business to interested buyers.

5. Box off challenges and issues

Are there any current internal issues that may cause problems in a future sale? Identifying and resolving these now will help reduce the risks for interested buyers. Think about key employees due to retire, contract negotiations, ongoing legal action or client/supplier disputes. Make sure to document every action to provide evidence during due diligence, if required.

6. Work on building value

As mentioned in point two, identifying the areas in which you might be able to add value to your business will help you achieve the most profitable outcome. Recurring revenue streams, healthy cashflow, secure contracts, and a scalable business model are all attractive to buyers. If you’re not sure how or where to start, your local business broker can help you.

7. Keep a close eye on market conditions

In our experience, it is very much a business buyer’s market. In 2024, deals took longer to complete due to buyers’ cautiousness and the complexities of each sale. Data from Branta confirms that the average deal duration in the UK is taking 258 days, and this trend looks set to continue in 2025. With this in mind, keep an eye on whether businesses like yours are selling on the open market or to private buyers. Take time to understand the economic factors that affect a sale (e.g. interest rates, obtaining finance, regulation) to inform your decisions and time your sale wisely.

8. Consider the tax implications of selling

The financial impact of increasing capital gains tax, rising employer national insurance contributions and minimum wage rates could represent significant costs to you and your business. This in turn can affect business sellability and the profit you take home. From both a vendor and buyer perspective, tax implications are a consideration in every business sale, but they shouldn’t be the primary driver. Focus on increasing the quality of your business to attract a buyer and you are more likely to receive offers that are higher than any tax you were looking to mitigate.

9. Enlist the services of a business broker

We’ve covered lots of things to think about before you put your business on the market, and appointing a business broker can help you with so much more. From reaching a realistic sale value and marketing your business through an extended network, to devising detailed deal structures, negotiating terms, and providing calm reassurance. Get in touch to discuss options for selling your business in 2026.