You Can't and You Won't Sell Your Business in 2025

This will soon be a reality. The average M&A timeline in IT spans five to eight months, and as we move through summer, the window to close a transaction in 2025 is narrowing.

Myths of the Quick Sale

The myth of a quick sale is as persistent as it is misleading. As advisors, we’d love a 90-day path from start to wire transfer. The truth about IT M&A deals is that most successful deals take between five and eight months. Some longer. Even when things go well.

The Timer Has Started

When it comes to M&A, timing is strategy and your competitive advantage. Starting your process too late in the year puts you at a disadvantage. Deals get bogged down in due diligence. Buyers hesitate. Holidays disrupt momentum. And suddenly, your “end-of-year goal” is looking more like it might happen in January or not at all.

The best move? Start early and give yourself more runway to avoid pitfalls.

What actually takes all that time?

Time-consuming culprits are littered throughout the M&A process. Time kills deals, so let's identify some of the familiar areas.

• Preparation: Your financials aren’t ready or as ready as they should be. Content that is vital to the buyers is missing.

• Buyer Discovery: Your business will be marketed to buyers of interest. The first buyer through the door or the buyer that you’ve known in the past won’t always be the A+ choice.

• Negotiations & Due Diligence: Two of the most important parts of the M&A process. With the buyer taking the position of “fault identifier” and you as the presenter of information, any discrepancy will give the buyer leverage against your original offer.

• losing: Lawyers, signature, and the occasional surprise. All of which are slow.

The Advantage of Advice

The best way to avoid surprises is to talk to an advisor before the clock starts ticking. A seasoned M&A advisor isn’t just a guide, they are a team member. The right advisor helps you:

• Identify red, yellow, and green flags

• Mediate between parties

• Translate market conditions into strategy vs guesswork

• Manage your process while providing foresight

Risk of Misreading the Clock

What happens if you misjudge your timeline? For starters, you risk ending the year with a transaction that is half-baked. Not only does that leave money on the table, but it can also disrupt your personal plans or cause your deal to fall apart entirely. That vacation you promised your spouse could turn into another round of negotiations with buyers.

How to become a Smart Seller

1.      Start Now: If you are going to sell in 2026, your timeline has already begun.

2.      Get Organized: Your financials, legal docs, and address any lingering issues.

3.      Engage Advisors: Not just any advisors. Ones who know M&A for your business.

4.      Know the Process: Plan for the time it takes and know the steps ahead of time.

5.      Stay nimble: Markets shift, customers close unexpectedly, be ready to pivot.

Final Thoughts

Do you sell your business in 2025? It is one of the biggest moves you’ll make. Don’t let poor timing turn it into one of your biggest regrets. With the right preparation and expert advice, you can sell confidentially, on schedule, and with no nasty surprises.