How long does it take to sell a business in Texas?

Most confidential business sales take 7-9 months from listing to closing, though preparation can begin 1-3 years earlier depending on readiness. Lion Business Advisors achieves a 70-80% success rate compared to the industry average of 20-30%.

What is my business worth?

Business valuation depends on financial performance, market conditions, industry multiples, and growth potential. Our valuation process benchmarks your business against current market data to establish a defensible price range. We specialize in businesses valued between $1M and $50M with annual revenues of $2M-$50M.

How do you protect confidentiality during a business sale?

We use controlled data systems, require NDAs before sharing information, vet all buyers for financial qualification, and maintain anonymity until you approve disclosure. Confidentiality is the most important ingredient in the successful sale of your business.

What makes Lion Business Advisors different from other business brokers?

We combine experienced M&A advisory with advanced valuation tools, rigorous buyer qualification, and full-cycle deal support. Our advisors hold certifications including CBI (Certified Business Intermediary) and CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor). We achieve a 70-80% success rate and are recognized as M&A Advisors of the Year 2023 by Acquisitions International.

What types of businesses does Lion Business Advisors specialize in?

We specialize in owner-operated, founder-led trades and service businesses including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, construction, metal fabrication, landscaping, commercial cleaning, pest control, dental practices, medical practices, equipment rental, and staffing/recruiting firms. Our typical clients have revenues between $2M-$50M and enterprise values of $1M-$50M.

What is the 7-Step Lion Selling Process?

The 7-Step Lion Selling Process includes: (1) Valuation & Readiness Review using advanced models, (2) Preparation & Packaging with secure data rooms, (3) Buyer Targeting & Marketing with qualified prospects, (4) Negotiation & Due Diligence management, (5) Closing & Transition support. Every stage blends data-driven insights with hands-on advisory support to keep you informed and in control.

Do you work with buyers or just sellers?

While we primarily focus on seller representation (98% of our engagements), we also provide buyer representation services for qualified purchasers. We maintain an extensive buyer network reaching virtually 100% of business buyers through strategic marketing channels including BizBuySell, Axial, LoopNet, and direct outreach.

What are your fees for selling a business?

Our success fees follow the Modern Lehman formula structure, with an upfront administrative fee of $7,500-$20,000 covering valuation, preparation, and marketing. We compete on service quality and marketing expertise rather than fees, ensuring you receive comprehensive support throughout the entire transaction.

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The Exit Planning Roadmap: From Assessment to Action in Q1 2026

The Exit Planning Roadmap: From Assessment to Action in Q1 2026

You got your valuation. Now what?

This is where most business owners get stuck. They have a number, but they don’t have a plan. They know what their business is worth, but they don’t know how to get from here to a successful exit.

That’s what this roadmap is for.

Exit planning isn’t a one-time event. It’s a strategic process with clear phases, milestones, and decision points. In this guide, we’ll walk through the exact framework we use with our clients to turn a business valuation into a concrete, actionable exit plan.

Whether you’re selling in 6 months or 3 years, this applies to you.

The 3-Phase Exit Planning Framework

Phase 1: Assessment (Weeks 1-4)

This is where you are right now if you’ve just gotten a valuation.

What happens:

You understand your business’s current market value
You’ve identified your biggest value gaps (owner dependency, customer concentration, financial cleanliness, etc.)
You’ve clarified your exit vision (What does success look like? What’s your timeline? What are your financial goals?)
You’ve assessed your readiness (Are you ready to sell now, or do you need prep time?)

Key questions to answer:

What is my business actually worth today?
What’s my timeline? (6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years?)
What are my financial goals? (How much do I need to net after taxes?)
What does freedom look like to me post-exit?
What are my biggest value gaps?
Am I ready to sell now, or do I need prep time?

Typical timeline: 2-4 weeks

Outcome: A clear understanding of where you stand and what you need to do to get to your exit goal.

Phase 2: Preparation & Strategy (Weeks 5-24)

This is the longest phase, and it’s where real value gets created.

If your assessment showed you’re not ready to sell yet, Phase 2 is where you fix that. If you’re ready now, Phase 2 is where you create your strategic marketing and buyer outreach plan.

What happens (if you need prep time):

Owner dependency reduction (6-12 months)
Financial cleanup and optimization (3-6 months)
Systems documentation and process improvement (3-6 months)
Customer concentration reduction (6-12 months)
Revenue growth and recurring revenue development (6-18 months)

What happens (if you’re ready to sell):

Strategic buyer identification and research
Marketing materials and offering memorandum development
Buyer outreach campaign planning
Confidentiality and data room setup
Deal structure and financing options analysis

Key milestones:

Month 3: First progress check-in (Are we on track?)
Month 6: Mid-phase assessment (What’s working? What needs adjustment?)
Month 9: Value optimization review (Have we closed the gaps?)
Month 12: Readiness evaluation (Are we market-ready?)

Typical timeline: 6-24 months (depends on your starting point)

Outcome: A business that’s optimized for sale and a clear go-to-market strategy.

Phase 3: Execution & Close (Weeks 25+)

This is where the sale happens.

What happens:

Buyer inquiries and screening
Confidential buyer presentations
Offer negotiations
Due diligence
Deal structure finalization
Closing and transition

Key milestones:

Week 1-2: First buyer inquiries received
Week 4-6: Qualified buyers identified
Week 8-12: Offers received and negotiated
Week 12-20: Due diligence period
Week 20-28: Deal finalization and closing

Typical timeline: 7-12 months from first buyer contact to close

Outcome: A successful exit at or above your target valuation.

The Decision Tree: What’s Your Timeline?

Your timeline determines your strategy. Here’s how to think about it:

Selling in 6-12 months?

You need to be largely prepared already
Focus on marketing, buyer outreach, and deal structure
Expect to make minor operational improvements during the sale process
Timeline: Phase 1 (2-4 weeks) → Phase 3 (7-12 months)

Selling in 1-2 years?

You have time for meaningful operational improvements
Focus on owner dependency reduction, financial optimization, and recurring revenue development
You can be more strategic about buyer targeting
Timeline: Phase 1 (2-4 weeks) → Phase 2 (6-12 months) → Phase 3 (7-12 months)

Selling in 3+ years?

You have time to make transformational improvements
Focus on building systems, reducing owner dependency, and growing recurring revenue
You can afford to be selective about buyers and deal structure
Timeline: Phase 1 (2-4 weeks) → Phase 2 (18-24 months) → Phase 3 (7-12 months)

Not sure when you’re selling?

Start Phase 1 anyway
Understanding your valuation and value gaps is always valuable
You can adjust your timeline once you have the data
Timeline: Phase 1 (2-4 weeks) → Quarterly check-ins and adjustments

Common Roadmap Scenarios

Scenario 1: The Prepared Owner

Current state: Business is well-run, financials are clean, systems are documented
Assessment: Valuation is solid, minor value gaps
Strategy: Focus on marketing and buyer outreach
Timeline: 3 months from assessment to first buyer contact
Outcome: Faster sale, higher valuation, more buyer choice

Scenario 2: The Owner Who Needs Prep

Current state: Business is profitable but owner-dependent, financials are messy, systems aren’t documented
Assessment: Valuation is lower than desired, significant value gaps
Strategy: 12-18 months of operational improvements, then market
Timeline: 12-18 months prep + 7-12 months sale = 19-30 months total
Outcome: 20-30% higher valuation, faster sale once on market, better deal terms

Scenario 3: The Strategic Owner

Current state: Business is growing, but owner wants to optimize before selling
Assessment: Valuation is good, but wants to maximize value
Strategy: 2-3 years of strategic improvements (recurring revenue, customer diversification, systems)
Timeline: 2-3 years prep + 7-12 months sale = 27-48 months total
Outcome: 30-50% higher valuation, premium buyer interest, maximum leverage

Scenario 4: The Uncertain Owner

Current state: Not sure if/when they want to sell
Assessment: Want to understand valuation and options
Strategy: Quarterly check-ins, stay informed, adjust as needed
Timeline: Flexible, based on life circumstances
Outcome: Informed decision-making, confidence in timing

Your 90-Day Action Plan

Week 1-2:

Schedule Phase 1 assessment meeting

Gather financial documents and business metrics

Clarify your exit vision and timeline

Identify your biggest value gaps

Week 3-4:

Complete valuation assessment

Review Phase 1 findings with your advisor

Decide: Are you ready to sell now, or do you need prep time?

Create your Phase 2 strategy (if needed)

Week 5-12:

Begin Phase 2 work (prep or marketing, depending on your readiness)

Schedule 30-day check-in

Start tracking progress against milestones

Adjust strategy as needed

The Bottom Line

Exit planning is a journey, not a destination. It starts with understanding where you are (Phase 1), moves into optimizing your business (Phase 2), and ends with executing the sale (Phase 3).

The owners who get the best outcomes are the ones who start early, stay focused on their milestones, and adjust their strategy as needed.

You don’t need to have all the answers right now. You just need to take the first step: understanding your current valuation and value gaps.

Everything else flows from there.

Next Steps

Ready to start your exit planning journey?

Schedule your Phase 1 assessment – Understand your current valuation and value gaps
Clarify your exit vision – Define what success looks like for you
Create your roadmap – Get a clear timeline and strategy based on your situation

Start Your Exit Planning Assessment

About Lion Business Advisors

We’ve guided hundreds of business owners through this exact process. Our valuation-first approach and 70-80% success rate mean you’re in good hands. Whether you’re selling in 6 months or 5 years, we can help you navigate the journey.

Schedule Your Consultation

Our Brands: Lion Business Brokers, Lion Group Real Estate , BizFlipExit, Blue Collar Business Brokers, and HVAC Business Brokers. are a subsidiary of Lion Business Advisors LLC of Texas. Professional Business Brokers, providing Mergers and Acquisitions services throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Kansas. Texas Offices: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houson, and Temple.
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