One of the first questions agency owners ask me is: “How do I know if I’m ready to sell?”
It’s a fair question — but the answer isn’t always as simple as revenue or profit. Readiness is about much more than the numbers.
Here are some of the key questions I encourage owners to ask themselves:
Do you have clean, accurate financials? Buyers will want to see at least 3 years of P&Ls, balance sheets, and tax returns. If your books aren’t buttoned up, it’s an immediate red flag.
Does your agency run without you? If the business collapses the moment you step back, that’s a big problem. Buyers want to know they’re buying an agency, not just buying you.
Are your revenues stable (or better, growing)? Even modest growth builds confidence. Flat or declining revenues can still sell, but often at a discount.
Do you have clear answers for “what’s next?” Do you want to walk away, stay and scale, or roll equity? A buyer will ask — and you should know before the process begins
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What’s your number? Do you have a number at which you would want to transact at? And do you know whether that number is reasonable or not? Buyers can get turned off by sellers who don’t really know what their agency is worth.
If you can answer “yes” to most of these, you’re closer to being “sale-ready” than you think.
Some owners start preparing 2–3 years in advance: cleaning up their books, tightening client contracts, building a stronger leadership team, even just documenting processes that only live in their head. All of these steps make the eventual deal smoother, faster, and more valuable.
So my advice is simple: don’t wait until you’re ready to sell to start preparing. The earlier you act, the more control you’ll have when opportunity knocks.
👉 If a buyer called you tomorrow with real interest, would you be excited to listen — or scrambling to get your house in order?
Contact us if you’re and agency owner and have considered selling or joining something bigger.