Should I use a business broker or sell my business myself?

A broker makes the most sense when you lack M&A experience, your business is main-street sized, and you want someone to run a full marketing process. A traditional broker handles the valuation, builds the marketing package, advertises the opportunity, screens buyers, and quarterbacks negotiations and due diligence through closing. For that they typically take 8-12% of the sale price, often with a $10,000-$15,000 minimum.

Selling it yourself makes sense when you already have an interested buyer, the deal is small, or you have a strong deal attorney and CPA in your corner. The savings are real, but so are the risks: undervaluing the business, leaking your intent to employees or competitors, reaching too few buyers, and the time the process pulls away from running the company.

There is a third path that avoids both the DIY grind and a listing commission. DealSeam is not a traditional business broker; it introduces owners to qualified buyers — private equity firms, search funds, family offices, and strategics — and is paid a success fee by the buyer where there's a fit, so the seller pays no commission. That keeps the sale off-market and confidential.

Whichever route you choose, start with an independent valuation. Knowing your number — roughly 2-4x SDE for small owner-operated firms or 4-8x EBITDA for larger, professionally managed ones — is what lets you judge any offer, broker pitch, or introduction on its merits.