Tips for selling a business in 2026

As we head rapidly towards a new calendar year, you might well be considering the future of your business. 2025 has been a year of challenge and change. Despite this, it feels like the business market is on an upward trajectory. Here at Business Partnership, we are optimistic about the prospects for business owners who want to sell in 2026. Buying and scaling a business is still a viable business proposition and investment opportunity.

Positive signs for business sales

Several UK Start-Ups have been snapped up by big brands this year – Deliveroo, Lux Rewards and Peak.ai among them. The Autumn Budget wasn’t half as bad as the media suggested it would be. According to ONS data, the value of domestic mergers and acquisitions (UK companies acquiring other UK companies), between July to September 2025 totalled £5.3 billion – £1.9 billion higher than the previous quarter.

However positive the prospects, you might be thinking ‘do I really want to still be doing this next year’? Perhaps you’re approaching retirement, or you have health or family issues you need to prioritise. If this is your personal situation, you might feel under a little more pressure to make progress and get the ball rolling in 2026. Deciding to sell your business is a huge decision. Achieving both maximum profit, favourable terms and the best outcomes for everyone involved are always our objectives.

If you are looking to buy, there are plenty of profitable, stable businesses on the market with excellent growth potential. Take a look at our current listings.

Common questions about selling a business in 2026

Selling a business is never without its risks, so if you are thinking about selling in 2026, improving sellability should be your focus. Read on for some frequently asked questions and top tips to help prepare your strategy, make your business attractive to buyers, and put it in the best possible position to sell.

1. Where do I start with selling my business?

Start with your Why. Where do you see yourself having sold your business? What are your personal and financial goals from the sale? Keep these personal motivations in mind throughout what can be a long, drawn-out business sale process. In the case of joint or multiple owners, your individual Why’s could become a sticking point during negotiations. We recommend aligning expectations now to help you over the months to come.

It’s not unusual for a lone vendor to feel at a loss once they’ve sold, so make plans now to enjoy what comes next and prepare yourself mentally. Of course, selling your business doesn’t always mean you have to leave after signing on the dotted line. Many owners choose to remain in the business as a consultant or in another capacity under the terms of a deal. 

2. What do I need to do to prepare my business for its future owner?

You may feel ready to sell on a personal level, but if selling is something you have only been considering for a few weeks or months, there may be work ahead to prepare your business for sale. Business readiness activities include developing staff to step up and replace you, growing your customer base to add value to the bottom line, refining processes, and reviewing governance.

3. How can I make my business attractive to a buyer?

Write a list of all the positive attributes of your business and the reasons why a buyer might find these an attractive proposition. This will assist you in the future when positioning your business or negotiating the terms of a deal.

4. What does a potential buyer want to see from my business?

The first thing a buyer wants to see is up-to-date business records and robust record-keeping processes. We’ve lost count of the number of vendors who regret not maintaining business records prior to due diligence. If you want to prepare thoroughly, start reviewing key financial, commercial and people records before you engage in the sale process. It will speed up due diligence, eliminate errors, and showcase a well-managed business to interested buyers.

The second thing a buyer wants to see is no evidence of outstanding challenges or issues. Internal issues may cause problems in a future sale, so identifying and resolving these now will help reduce the risks for interested buyers. Think about key employees due to retire, contract negotiations, ongoing legal action or client/supplier disputes. Make sure to document every action to provide evidence during due diligence, if required.

5. How can I add value to my business?

The best way to prepare your business for sale and achieve the most profitable outcome is to identify the areas in which you might be able to add value. Recurring revenue streams, healthy cashflow, secure contracts, and a scalable business model are all attractive to buyers. If you’re not sure how or where to start, your local business broker can help you. Find yours here.

6. Are current market conditions going to impact my business sale?

In 2025, deals continued the trend of taking between 6-12 months to complete, with some taking longer due to buyers’ cautiousness and the specific complexities of the sale. It is very much a business buyer’s market. To gain the upper hand, research whether businesses like yours are selling on the open market or to private buyers. Take time to understand the economic factors that affect a sale (e.g. interest rates, obtaining finance, regulation) to inform your decisions and optimise the timing of your sale.

7. What are the tax implications of selling my business?

From both a vendor and buyer perspective, tax implications are a consideration in every business sale, but they shouldn’t be the primary driver. Focus on increasing the quality of your business to attract a buyer, and you are more likely to receive offers that are higher than any tax you were looking to mitigate.

8. How do I find a trustworthy broker to help sell my business?

With more than 80 years’ combined experience between us, there’s not much Business Partnership brokers haven’t seen in the business sales market. You can trust our professionalism, discretion and nationwide connections to get your business sold. Take a look at our case studies for examples of successful deals across a variety of sectors.

Appointing a trusted business broker has a host of benefits. From reaching a realistic sale value and marketing your business through an extended network, to devising detailed deal structures, negotiating terms, and providing calm reassurance.

Contact your local business broker

Get in touch to access our Business Partnership network of local, trusted business brokers to discuss options for selling your business in 2026.