After the sale

Letting go: the part of selling nobody plans for

By Rick Rohac, Business Broker and M&A Advisor

We spend a lot of time on the numbers when you sell a business: the valuation, the terms, the tax picture. Those matter. But in my experience, the part owners are least ready for has nothing to do with money.

Your business is part of who you are

For years, maybe decades, the business set your schedule, your friendships and your sense of purpose. People in town know you as the owner. Your employees count on you. Walking away from that can bring a mix of feelings that surprise even the most practical owner: pride, relief, and sometimes a real sense of loss.

Think about the day after closing

Before you sign, ask yourself a few honest questions:

• What will a normal Tuesday look like for me a month after the sale?
• How involved do I want to stay during the transition, and for how long?
• What matters to me about how the buyer treats my people and my customers?
• Is there something I've been putting off for years that I finally want to do?

Owners who have answers to these questions make calmer decisions during the deal, and they're happier with the result afterward.

A pivot, not an ending

The owners I've seen do best after a sale treat it as the start of something: more time with family, a new venture, mentoring, or simply a well-earned rest. The business you built goes on, and so do you.

Part of my job is helping you get the right price. The other part is helping you get to the closing table at peace with the decision.