Sell Your Business in Fort Worth, TX

You Built It. Now Sell It the Right Way.

Selling a company is usually a once in a lifetime event. Most owners have never done it before, and the buyer across the table often has. That gap is where money gets lost.

This page lays out what actually happens when a Fort Worth owner sells, month by month, so you know what to expect and where your attention matters most.

Before the Business Goes to Market

The work you do before a single buyer hears about your company shapes the price more than anything that comes later. Expect the first few weeks to focus on three things.

• Your number. A business valuation built from your real earnings, not a rule of thumb.
• Your story. Why the company wins work, who runs what, and where a new owner could grow it.
• Your paperwork. Tax returns, profit and loss statements, leases and key contracts, gathered in one place.

If something will scare a buyer, such as a lease that ends next year or one customer that brings in most of the revenue, it is better to address it now than to explain it later.

While It Is on the Market

Your broker writes a short blind listing that describes the company without naming it. Interested buyers sign a nondisclosure agreement, then receive a fuller package called a confidential information memorandum, or CIM.

Your job during this stretch is simple and hard at the same time: keep the business running at full speed. Buyers watch your monthly numbers, and a dip in the middle of a sale gives them a reason to lower the price.

The broker fields the calls, screens out tire kickers and only brings you buyers who have the money and the background to close.

Who Is Buying in Fort Worth

Fort Worth draws buyers from several directions. Some are local owners who want more trucks, more crews or a second location. Others are investors from Dallas, Houston or out of state who like the growth in Tarrant County.

Individual buyers often finance a purchase with an SBA 7(a) loan, which the SBA caps at $5 million. Private equity groups usually bring their own capital and look for companies with a strong manager in place.

Knowing which type of buyer fits your company helps your broker decide where to look and how to pitch it.

Comparing Offers

Interested buyers submit a letter of intent, or LOI. It sets the price, the structure and the timeline. The highest number is not always the best offer.

• How much cash do you get at closing?
• Is any of the price tied to a seller note or an earnout?
• Is it an asset sale or a stock sale, and what does that mean for your taxes?
• How long does the buyer want you to stay on, and are you paid for that time?
• How long a non-compete are they asking for, and where does it apply?

Bring your CPA in at this stage. Texas has no state personal income tax, but federal tax on the sale can still swing your net proceeds by a wide margin depending on structure.

Due Diligence and Closing

Once you sign an LOI, the buyer and their lender dig into your records. Expect requests for bank statements, customer lists, payroll details and copies of every contract you have.

Your landlord may need to approve a lease assignment, and that can take longer than owners expect. Start that conversation as soon as the timing allows.

In Texas, buyers will also want proof that your state taxes are paid before closing. Our guide to the Texas Certificate of No Tax Due explains why and how long it can take.

At closing, the asset purchase agreement or stock purchase agreement is signed, funds move and the keys change hands. Most sellers then stay on for a transition period to introduce the new owner to customers and staff.

What It Costs to Sell

Most brokers work on a success fee paid from the proceeds at closing. According to BizQuest, 10% is the most common rate for companies selling for $1 million or less, and larger deals often use a sliding scale.

For a closer look at fees, read how much business brokers charge.

Getting Started

Your first step costs nothing. Request a free, confidential valuation with the form on this page, or call (817) 555-0142 to talk it through.