Sell Your Business Smarter, Faster, and for More
The 7-Step Lion Selling Process
Let the Next Chapter in Your Story Begin with Us
Are you thinking, “How do I sell my business without leaving money on the table, exposing confidential information, or wasting time with unqualified buyers?”
At Lion Business Advisors, we make the complex process of selling your business simple and successful. Our proven 7-Step Lion Selling Process helps you maximize your business value, protect confidentiality, and find the right buyer, all while achieving the highest return possible.
✅ Over 90% closing success rate
✅ Sale prices within ±10% of appraised value achieved on average
✅ Fewer days on market compared to public listings
✅ Trusted business brokers across Texas and beyond
Step 1: Discovery & Strategic Alignment
Concern: “How do I make sure we’re lining up the right goals before jumping into a sale?”
What We Do:
We begin by exploring your personal and business objectives. your ideal timeline, target value, legacy aspirations, confidentiality parameters, and post-exit plans. As an experienced business broker in Texas and beyond, we ask the right questions so you don’t waste time or value.
What You Gain:
A clear exit roadmap aligned with your business’s potential and personal goals around “sell my business” and timing. You’ll know exactly what to expect, when to expect it, and how to prepare for maximum value.
Step 2: AI-Enhanced Valuation & Scenario Modeling
Concern: “Is my business really worth what I hope, and will a buyer pay it?”
What We Do:
We apply our AI-powered valuation engine, peer-group benchmarking, scenario simulations, and real buyer behavior data to arrive at a defensible range. This step leverages our expertise as valuation specialists and M&A advisory professionals.
What You Gain:
Confidence in your value, clarity about the “market-real” number, and a foundation for pricing, positioning, and negotiation. No guesswork, just data-driven insights that maximize your family’s wealth.
🔹 Case Example: A $12M HVAC business owner received three valuation scenarios (conservative, market, optimistic) with AI-driven comps analysis. Result: Listed at market value, received offers 8% above target within 45 days.
Step 3: Preparation & Packaging
Concern: “Will buyers see red flags? Will confidentiality leak? What if operations get disrupted?”
What We Do:
Our advisors work to optimize buyer-facing elements: reducing owner dependency, improving documentation, setting secure virtual data rooms, refining EBITDA, and establishing anonymity protocols for the confidential business sale.
What You Gain:
A business positioned for sale with fewer risk areas, a stronger story, and a streamlined process so you stay in control and confidential. Your employees, customers, and competitors remain unaware until you’re ready to disclose.
🔹 Proof: 87% of our clients complete preparation within 30 days, reducing time-on-market by an average of 45 days compared to unprepared listings.
Step 4: Marketing & Buyer Targeting
Concern: “How do I reach serious buyers, not just tire-kickers or public listings that drag on?”
What We Do:
We use advanced buyer-targeting tools, predictive matching, and our proprietary network to identify strategic, corporate, and private-equity buyers who fit your industry, size, and culture. Then we execute a discreet marketing campaign designed to generate interest without exposing your business prematurely.
What You Gain:
Access to high-quality buyer options, faster traction, and reduced time-on-market, all under the umbrella of confidentiality. Typical result: 60–90 qualified buyer inquiries within the first 60 days.
🔹 Technology Edge: Our AI-driven platform scans off-market buyer databases, industry trend analysis, and competitor mapping to surface the best-fit acquirers before they even know your business is available.
Step 5: Negotiation & Offer Structuring
Concern: “What’s the right structure? How do I avoid selling for less than I deserve? How do I protect legacy and manage risk?”
What We Do:
Our M&A advisors guide you through multiple offer structures, establish leverage, and negotiate terms like earn-outs, rollover equity, seller financing, and tax-efficient exits. We ensure you don’t confuse a ‘first offer’ with the ‘best offer’, and we never let you leave value on the table due to poor term structure or rushed decisions.
We analyze each offer through multiple lenses: total proceeds, risk profile, tax impact, timing, legacy protection, and post-exit flexibility. Using scenario modeling and comparative analysis, we show you exactly what each offer means for your family’s wealth, retirement security, and future lifestyle.
What You Gain:
Maximized proceeds, suitable terms, and a deal structure that aligns with your goals, rather than leaving value behind. Strong negotiation can add 10%–20% or more to your final sale price. You’ll also gain peace of mind knowing you’ve protected your legacy, minimized risk, and secured the best possible outcome for your family.
🔹 Case Example: A manufacturing business received three offers ranging from $8.2M to $9.5M. We negotiated the second-highest offer (initially $9.1M) to a final price of $10.4M—14% above the initial bid, with favorable seller financing terms, a shorter earnout period, and a tax-efficient structure that saved the owner an additional $340K in capital gains taxes.
Step 6: Diligence & Execution Management
Concern: “What if the buyer backs out? What if due diligence uncovers surprises? Will this derail everything?”
What We Do:
We proactively manage the diligence timeline, anticipate key questions, coordinate secure data rooms, handle buyer inquiries and keep momentum firmly on your side. Our experience as business brokers and deal managers means fewer surprises and faster execution. We use structured diligence checklists, track document requests in real-time, and shield you from buyer pressure tactics that can derail deals.
What You Gain:
Reduced risk of deal collapse, less disruption to operations, and a smoother path to closing. We shield you from direct buyer pressure and emotion-driven mistakes. Your business continues running smoothly while we manage the behind-the-scenes complexity.
🔹 Impact: Our clients experience a 92% success rate from LOI to close, compared to the industry average of 60–70%. We reduce average diligence timelines by 3–4 weeks through proactive issue resolution and organized documentation.
🔹 Technology Advantage: Secure virtual data rooms with granular access controls, automated document tracking, and real-time buyer activity monitoring ensure confidentiality and efficiency throughout the process.
Step 7: Closing & Transition
Concern: “How do I ensure a clean hand-off, protect reputation and move into what’s next with confidence?”
What We Do:
We coordinate legal, financial and deal-document logistics; ensure regulatory and compliance steps are complete; and help you prepare for post-acquisition transition. As your exit advisor, we don’t disappear when signatures are signed—we guide the hand-off, facilitate employee communication strategies, and ensure legacy preservation through structured transition planning.
What You Gain:
A confident exit, operational continuity for your business, and a transition that respects your legacy while maximizing your reward. You walk away knowing you achieved the best possible outcome—financially, emotionally, and reputationally.
🔹 Regional Support: Hands-on closing support in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and beyond.
🔹 Post-Close Guidance: We provide transition playbooks, employee announcement templates, and customer communication strategies to protect relationships and preserve goodwill during ownership transfer.
Why This Matters — Consistency, Predictability & Value
When you engage Lion Business Advisors as your business broker in Texas and beyond, you’re not just selecting a listing service. You’re stepping into a proven 7-Step framework built to deliver above-market results, with confidentiality at its core and strategic clarity at every turn.
📊 Our Track Record:
- – Over 83% closing success rate — We close deals that others can’t, thanks to disciplined process management and proactive issue resolution
- – Consistent sale prices within ±10% of appraised value — Our AI-powered valuations and strategic positioning eliminate guesswork and maximize proceeds
- – Fewer days on market compared to public listings — Quality buyer sourcing and targeted outreach generate 60–90 qualified inquiries within the first 30–60 days
- – 92% success rate from LOI to close — Compared to the industry average of 60–70%, our diligence management and deal structuring expertise keep transactions on track
- – Higher buyer match scores — AI-driven predictive matching and industry trend analysis connect you with strategic acquirers who value what you’ve built
What Sets Us Apart:
- – AI-Enhanced Intelligence: Advanced valuation modeling, buyer targeting algorithms, and market trend analysis
- – Ironclad Confidentiality: Secure data rooms, anonymity protocols, and controlled disclosure processes
- – Award-Winning Expertise: CBI-certified advisors, NACVA valuation specialists, and M&A professionals with decades of combined experience
- – Full-Cycle Support: From initial consultation to post-close transition, we’re with you every step of the way
Ready to experience the difference a structured, strategic approach makes? Let’s talk about your exit objectives.
Common Mistakes We Help You Avoid:
- – Accepting the first offer: 73% of sellers who accept the first offer leave 8–15% on the table
- – Ignoring deal structure: A higher purchase price with poor terms (long earnouts, unfavorable escrow, buyer-friendly contingencies) often yields less net proceeds than a lower offer with clean terms
- – Overlooking tax efficiency: Structuring asset vs. stock sales, installment sales, and qualified small business stock (QSBS) exemptions can save 15–30% in taxes
- – Emotional decision-making: We shield you from buyer pressure tactics and help you evaluate offers objectively based on data, not emotion
Frequently Asked Questions About the 7-Step Lion Selling Process
What is the difference between the 7-Step Lion Selling Process and the 8-Point Seller Lifecycle?
The 8-Point Seller Lifecycle is our detailed, behind-the-scenes operational roadmap that guides every transaction. The 7-Step Lion Selling Process is the strategic brand promise—what you experience as a seller. It’s the high-level framework that ensures consistency, predictability, and above-market results.
How does Lion’s AI-powered valuation work?
Our AI-powered valuation engine uses peer-group benchmarking, scenario simulations, real buyer behavior data, and comps analysis to arrive at a defensible valuation range. You receive three scenarios (conservative, market, optimistic) with data-driven insights that maximize your family’s wealth. Learn more about our business valuation services.
How does Lion protect confidentiality during the sale process?
We establish anonymity protocols, secure virtual data rooms, redacted marketing materials, and NDA requirements for all potential buyers. Your identity, financials, and business details remain confidential until you authorize disclosure. Employees, customers, and competitors remain unaware until you’re ready. Read more about our confidential business sale approach.
How long does the 7-Step process typically take?
Timelines vary based on business complexity, market conditions, and seller readiness. On average, our clients complete the process in 6–9 months from initial consultation to closing. Well-prepared businesses with strong financials and clear value propositions often close faster. Use our Sellability Assessment™ to gauge your readiness.
What makes Lion’s buyer targeting different from traditional listing approaches?
We use advanced buyer-targeting tools, predictive matching, and AI-driven platforms to identify strategic, corporate, and private-equity buyers who fit your industry, size, and culture. This proactive approach generates 60–90 qualified buyer inquiries within the first 30–60 days, compared to passive listing models that rely on inbound interest.
What is Lion’s closing success rate?
Our clients experience a 92% success rate from LOI to close, compared to the industry average of 60–70%. This is due to our proactive diligence management, deal structuring expertise, and experience anticipating and resolving issues before they derail transactions.
What industries and business sizes does Lion specialize in?
We specialize in owner-operated businesses valued between $1M and $50M, with annual revenues typically ranging from $2M to $50M. Our focus is on service, industrial, and trade sectors including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, pest control, and landscaping firms.
