Here’s What I Learned When I Tried to Go It Alone (Spoiler: It Was a Mess)
That Time I Thought I Could Sell My Business Solo…
So here’s the deal—I used to think I had it all figured out.
I built my business from scratch, wore all the hats (sometimes five at once), and survived more close calls than I care to admit. After a decade of hustle, burnout, and caffeine-fueled 3AM brainstorming sessions, the time finally came: I wanted out.
Not in a “sell everything and live in a van” kind of way (though I did Google camper van renovations more than once). I just wanted to move on, maybe start something new, maybe take a long nap first.
And like any proud, slightly stubborn business owner, I thought, Why pay someone else to do what I can figure out myself?
Cue the dramatic music.
Spoiler Alert: It’s Not as Easy as Listing it on Craigslist
I thought selling my business would be kind of like selling a car. Clean it up, list the specs, slap on a price tag, and boom—interested buyers lining up around the block.
Yeah… no.
What actually happened was more like this:
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I posted in a few online marketplaces.
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Got a flurry of inquiries from “serious buyers” (read: tire kickers and dreamers).
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Spent hours on calls explaining what EBITDA is (bless their hearts).
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And then watched as all momentum fizzled out like flat soda.
Oh, and don’t get me started on pricing. I had no clue what my business was actually worth. One guy offered me a number so low I thought he was joking. He wasn’t.
I started to realize something painful: knowing how to run a business isn’t the same as knowing how to sell one.
The Broker I Swore I Didn’t Need
After a couple of botched conversations and one potential deal that dragged on for three months before collapsing entirely, I was toast. Emotionally. Mentally. Even physically—my back went out from stress, I swear.
A friend of mine (you know, the one who always gives good advice but you rarely listen until it’s too late?) suggested I talk to a broker. I rolled my eyes but figured, what’s one more phone call?
Turns out, it was the call that changed everything.
The broker asked questions I hadn’t even thought about:
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“Have you prepared a CIM?”
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“What’s your add-back strategy?”
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“Do you have clean books?”
I just blinked and nodded like I understood. (Google was my best friend that night.)
Brokers Speak Fluent Buyer
Here’s the thing: a broker doesn’t just list your business. They package it. Like a five-star sushi chef making your tuna tartare look like modern art. They take the raw materials (your numbers, your systems, your story) and frame it in a way that makes sense to the right buyer.
My broker helped me:
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Get a real valuation that wasn’t pulled out of thin air.
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Organize my financials in a way that didn’t look like a shoebox full of receipts.
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Market the business confidentially so my employees didn’t freak out.
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Vet actual buyers instead of wasting time with wannabes.
I mean, imagine dating where your friend filters out all the red flags before you even meet. That’s what a good broker does.
What I Got Wrong (That You Don’t Have To)
I used to think paying a broker’s fee was money down the drain. Like, why should I hand over a percentage of my hard-earned exit?
But here’s the truth: without a broker, I probably would’ve accepted a lowball offer just to get it over with. Or worse, I’d still be stuck in that weird limbo of almost-deals and ghosted emails.
The broker got me multiple offers, handled the awkward conversations I didn’t want to have, and negotiated like a shark in a suit (in the best way). And yeah, they took a cut—but I walked away with a much better deal, and way less stress.
Sometimes it costs money to save your sanity. Worth it.
Selling a Business Is Emotional—Let Someone Else Be the Cold One
Here’s something I didn’t expect: letting go of the business felt like breaking up with a longtime partner. There were moments I got weirdly defensive when buyers poked holes in the business. I even caught myself trying to justify stuff that needed fixing.
A broker doesn’t have that emotional baggage. They’re not sentimental about the logo you designed in your garage or the quirky team traditions you hold dear. They’re focused on the numbers, the market, the deal. And that objectivity is exactly what you need.
They’re like a therapist and a bouncer rolled into one. They listen, they advise, and they keep the nonsense out.
Final Thoughts from a Former Skeptic
Listen, I’m not saying you can’t sell your business without a broker. You absolutely can. Just like you can cut your own hair, represent yourself in court, or build a deck from YouTube tutorials.
But should you?
If your business is worth anything more than a used Honda Civic, you owe it to yourself to get a pro in your corner. Someone who’s been down this road before. Someone who knows what buyers actually want. Someone who isn’t too proud to ask for help—unlike me, circa 2022.
Trust me on this one. Use a broker. Your future self (the one sipping cocktails on a beach or diving headfirst into your next venture) will thank you.
Takeaways:
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why use a broker to sell your business
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benefits of hiring a business broker
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do I need a broker to sell my company
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selling a business without a broker
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how business brokers help with selling a business
Real Talk Summary:
Using a broker might not feel necessary at first, especially if you’re used to doing everything solo. But when it comes to selling your business—the thing you poured your life into—it’s smart to have an expert who knows the game, can talk the talk, and won’t let you walk away with less than what it’s worth.
Don’t learn the hard way like I did. Get help. Sell smart. Then exhale.