For UK business owners
Business Sales & Exits Explained.
Free, practical guidance for UK business owners considering a sale, succession or retirement. Understand your options, prepare your business and make informed decisions. Read our articles, guides and explanations without payment or registration.
- I want to sell my businessHow a business sale works, who buys and what affects price.
- I want to sell my business and retireRetirement sales, timing, succession and keeping the business in good hands.
- I want to sell part of my businessPartial business sales, investment, mergers and ownership transfers.
Have a question about selling your business?
Search our practical guides, frequently asked questions and glossary for clear explanations of business sales and exits.
Exit routes
Ways to sell or exit your business
Not every route suits every business. Each guide sets out who it suits, how it works, the risks and the questions to ask.
The main business exit routes
Full sale
Ownership transfers entirely to a trade buyer, investor or other purchaser.
Partial sale
You sell a majority or minority stake and remain involved alongside an investor.
Management buyout
Your existing management team buys the business, usually with external funding.
Employee Ownership Trust
A trust acquires the business on behalf of all employees.
Succession
Ownership passes to family or a chosen successor, often gradually.
The right route depends on your objectives, the business's readiness and the buyers available. Many owners compare more than one.
- Trade saleSell to another company that values what you have built.
- Management buyoutSell to the team that already runs the business.
- Employee Ownership TrustTransfer control to a trust for all employees.
- Selling to an investorPrivate equity and strategic investment.
- Merger or allianceCombine with another business.
- All exit optionsFamily succession, staged exits, closure and more.
Confidential review
Considering Selling or Exiting Your Business?
Every business is different, and the right approach depends on more than simply achieving the highest price. Your objectives, timing, management team, ownership structure and preferred level of involvement can all influence the options available.
Our Confidential Business Sale & Exit Review offers an opportunity to discuss your circumstances with an experienced adviser before deciding how to proceed.
Request Your Confidential ReviewConfidential enquiry. No obligation to proceed. Your business will not be advertised or approached to buyers as a result of your enquiry.
- Understand the routes potentially available.
- Explore factors influencing value and saleability.
- Consider trade buyers, MBOs, EOTs and partial exits.
- Understand different advisory arrangements.
- Discuss potential next steps without obligation.
Explore your circumstances
Questions an experienced adviser can help you answer
- Value & saleabilityInitial Business Value & Saleability AssessmentUnderstand the difference between what a business may be worth and whether it is likely to attract credible buyers.
- Potential buyersWho Might Buy My Business?See how trade buyers, investors, management teams and employee ownership trusts may view your business differently.
- Sale readinessBusiness Sale Readiness ReviewIdentify the issues that could weaken a sale or delay completion, while there is still time to address them.
- Advisory approachesCompare Advisory Fee ApproachesUnderstand how retained and no-upfront-engagement-fee arrangements differ in cost, risk and scope.
Comparison
Trade sale, MBO or EOT?
| Factor | Trade sale | Management buyout | Employee Ownership Trust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who buys | Another company | Your management team | A trust for employees |
| Price basis | Can include strategic value | Limited by funding | Not more than market value |
| Cash at completion | Often more substantial | Often partial | Often limited |
| Confidentiality risk | Higher | Lower | Lower |
| Continuity | Variable | High | High |
Understand the essentials
Before you sell your business
Owner questions
Questions about selling your business?
Find straightforward answers about business sales, valuations, buyers, retirement, ownership transfers and professional advice.
Browse Questions & AnswersTerminology
Business sale terminology explained
Understand the language of business sales and acquisitions, from EBITDA and enterprise value to Heads of Terms, earn-outs and management buyouts.
Explore the GlossaryTalk your options through in confidence
Understand your options before deciding. Enquiries are reviewed by experienced advisers who can discuss suitable options. Submitting an enquiry does not create an advisory engagement.
Request Your Confidential ReviewFrom the archive
Recent articles
- What Happens When You Receive an Unsolicited Offer
- Exit Planning: What Happens When Only One Partner Wants Out
- When Selling Is Not the Best Option: Alternatives to a Full Exit
- The Emotional Side of Letting Go – And How to Handle It
- What Family Members Need to Know About Your Business Exit
- Selling in Stages: When a Phased Exit Makes Sense
Common questions
Frequently asked
What is the most common way to sell or exit a business?
For established SMEs, a trade sale to another company is the most common full exit, but management buyouts, Employee Ownership Trusts and partial sales are all widely used.
How long does it take to sell a business?
It varies widely with size, preparation and buyer appetite. Many SME sales take the better part of a year from instruction to completion.
Is the information on this site advice?
No. Our guides are general information. Take professional legal, tax and financial advice before making decisions.
Editorial transparency. BusinessExits.co.uk is a UK information resource operated by Exit Partners Limited. Our educational content is free to access. Professional advisory services are subject to a separate discussion and any applicable engagement terms. Our guides cite official UK sources where possible and show when they were last reviewed. Read our editorial policy and disclosure.