Your life's work, represented with care.
Confidential, senior-led representation from first valuation to closing day — so you can keep running the business while we run the sale.
Selling a business is rarely done twice. It should be done right.
Most owners sell once. The outcome affects your family, your employees and the legacy you built. A disciplined process — accurate pricing, careful preparation and competitive tension among qualified buyers — is what separates a fair price from a great one.
Douglas Elliman Business Brokerage pairs you with a licensed advisor who manages every step: valuation, packaging, discreet marketing, buyer screening, negotiation and the long road through diligence to closing.
A complete service, under one roof
Market valuation
A defensible price range built from normalized earnings, comparable transactions and industry multiples — reviewed by a second advisor.
Offering memorandum
A polished confidential information package that tells your business's story and answers buyers' questions before they ask.
Confidential marketing
Anonymous teasers, NDA-gated materials and tiered access so employees, customers and competitors don't find out early.
Buyer qualification
We verify proof of funds, experience and financing readiness before a buyer ever gets your time.
Negotiation & LOI
We create competition, compare offers on more than price — terms, structure, seller notes, transition — and negotiate on your behalf.
Diligence to closing
Checklists, document rooms and coordination with attorneys, accountants and lenders, keeping the deal on schedule.
Five stages, one clear path
- 01Week 1
Consultation
A private conversation about your goals, timing and what matters most after the sale.
- 02Weeks 2–5
Valuation & prep
We normalize financials, set a price range and prepare the information package.
- 03Weeks 6–16
Discreet marketing
Anonymous listing, targeted buyer outreach and NDA screening.
- 04Months 3–6
Offers & LOI
Buyer meetings, competing offers and a signed letter of intent.
- 0560–90 days
Diligence & close
Verification, financing, legal documents and a planned transition.
Timelines are typical ranges, not guarantees; every business and market is different.
Confidentiality isn't a feature. It's the foundation.
A leak can unsettle staff, worry customers and invite competitors. Every listing we market is anonymous until a buyer signs an NDA and is approved by you.
- Anonymous teaser — no name, no address
- Signed NDA before any detail is shared
- You approve which buyers receive materials
- Access expires and can be revoked at any time
Founders planning retirement
Transition the business you built to a buyer who will care for your team and customers.
Owners ready for what's next
Free up capital and time for a new venture, with a structured exit.
Partners and families
Partner buyouts, estate planning and multi-owner sales handled with care for every stakeholder.
Owners not ready yet
Start with a valuation and readiness review; we'll help you build value for a sale in one to three years.
What helps us help you
- 1Three years of tax returns and profit & loss statements
- 2A current balance sheet and list of major assets
- 3Key customer, supplier and lease agreements
- 4Your goals: price, timing, role after the sale
Frequently asked
Begin with a private conversation.
Tell us about your business and your goals. We'll come back with an honest view of value, timing and the right path.
All conversations are confidential. No obligation, no upfront fee for an initial consultation.