Small Business Broker — Sell Your Business

Most business brokers charge a success fee — a commission paid only when the sale closes — typically ranging from 8% to 12% of the final sale price for small businesses, with a minimum fee often applied to smaller transactions. Some brokers also charge upfront listing or valuation fees. At Chelsis Financial, we provide a complimentary Assessment of Value with no upfront cost, and our fee structure is discussed transparently during your initial consultation.

A small business broker manages the entire process of selling your business on your behalf. This includes valuing the business, preparing confidential marketing materials, identifying and qualifying buyers, negotiating terms, and coordinating the transaction through closing. At Chelsis Financial, we also help you prepare your business for sale in advance — addressing value gaps, reducing owner dependence, and structuring deals that align with your specific exit goals.

The timeline to sell a small business typically ranges from 6 to 12 months, though it can vary significantly based on industry, asking price, business condition, and market demand. Well-prepared businesses with clean financials and reduced owner dependence tend to sell faster and for better terms. Chelsis Financial works with you ahead of listing to maximize readiness and minimize time on market.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the Chelsis Financial process. We use blind summaries and require NDAs before sharing any identifying business information with prospective buyers. Your employees, customers, suppliers, and competitors are never informed without your explicit approval. Every call and interaction with our firm is held in strict confidence from the first conversation to closing.

We analyze your financial statements from the past three to four years — including profit and loss statements, cash flow, balance sheets, and seller's discretionary earnings — along with the value of tangible assets, market conditions, industry benchmarks, and comparable sales. The goal is a defensible, realistic asking price that attracts serious buyers without leaving money on the table. This assessment is provided at no charge.

Yes — preparation can significantly increase your sale price and reduce time on market. Key steps include reducing owner dependence, building out the management team, cleaning up financial records, and addressing customer concentration risks. Chelsis Financial advises clients to begin this process well in advance of their target sale date, as even modest improvements to business operations can materially impact valuation and deal terms.

Chelsis Financial has experience across a wide range of industries, including IT and managed services, healthcare, manufacturing, auto services, dental practices, retail, home improvement, aerospace, fuel distribution, and more. Whether you run a professional service firm, a trade business, or a product-based company in Indiana or the broader Midwest, we have the expertise and buyer network to facilitate a successful sale.

Receiving an offer is just the beginning. Chelsis Financial helps you evaluate whether the offer — including its structure, terms, and contingencies — truly reflects the value of your business and aligns with your exit goals. We guide you through negotiating representations, warranties, deal structure, and financing arrangements. We then coordinate all parties through due diligence, documentation, and the final closing to ensure a smooth transfer of ownership.