How to Sell a Business in the UK: The Complete 2025 Guide

Selling your business is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make. Whether you're retiring, starting something new, or simply feel it's time to move on, the process can feel overwhelming. That's why our experts walk side by side with sellers, taking them through each step from valuation through to completion.
First step to understanding your true worth

The first step in selling any business is understanding its value. This isn’t just about turnover or profit — it’s about how your business performs, how predictable future income is, the strength of your brand, and the overall demand in your sector. Valuation should never be rushed. Too high and you scare off buyers, too low and you leave money on the table. At Agent Local, we provide a free business valuation that takes into account everything from financials and growth potential to industry benchmarks and recent market activity.

For us, it all begins with understanding the value of what you’ve built. That’s why we always start with a free valuation — no pressure, no sales pitch. Just a conversation about where your business stands, how it’s performing, and what buyers in today’s market are actually willing to pay. Our approach blends hard data with real market insight, so you’re not relying on guesswork or generic calculators.

Once you have that clarity, it’s about getting sale-ready, but we’re not talking about big changes or stressful audits. Most of the time, it’s small things that make a big impact. Organised accounts. Clean paperwork. A short summary of how the business runs day to day. These are the details that give buyers confidence — and confidence is what leads to serious offers.

Nationwide business sale experts
Tired of old broker practices

A lot of our clients come to us after dealing with traditional brokers. They’re tired of long contracts, vague fees, and being left in the dark. That’s why Agent Local was founded in 2019 — to change how businesses are sold in the UK. We offer fully managed sales for a fixed fee, with no hidden charges or tie-ins. It’s a simpler, fairer model that’s already helped over 3,000 business owners across the country.

When it’s time to go to market, we don’t just list your business and hope for the best. Our agents actively approach buyers — from competitors and corporate acquirers to high-net-worth individuals and franchise groups. We advertise on major platforms like Rightmove and Zoopla, but we also work behind the scenes, matching your business with serious, qualified leads from our private network.

“Valuing a business is about more than just profit and turnover, serious buyers want to know if the business has the potential to grow and sustain long-term success.”

Once offers start coming in, we handle everything — the calls, the negotiation, the buyer vetting, and the paperwork. Your dedicated agent manages the entire process, so you can keep running your business without distraction. When a deal is agreed, we work closely with solicitors to make sure the legal side is smooth and stress-free. We’re by your side until the funds are in your account and the handover is complete.

Selling your business doesn’t have to be complicated — not with the right people around you. At Agent Local, we’re here to make sure it’s done properly, with full transparency, expert support, and a clear focus on results.

If you’re ready to explore your options, book a free valuation today. No pressure, no long contracts — just honest advice from one of the UK’s most trusted business sales teams.