The Exit Timeline
(Simple but Real)

Here's the reality of a typical business sales timeline:

• Preparation Phase6–24 months
• Marketing & Buyer Search3–9 months
• Due Diligence / Close2–6 months

Translation: If you want a smooth exit, you ideally begin preparing 12–24 months before you want to sell. Not because it takes that long to list the business — but because it takes that long to fix what buyers punish:

• Messy financials
• Undocumented processes
• Shaky contracts
• Owner dependency
• Customer concentration
• Weak leadership bench

And here's the truth:

You don't rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your preparation.