{
  "title": "Do I Need a Business Broker to Sell? When Yes, When No, the Cost",
  "url": "https://acquisitions.com/blog/do-i-need-a-business-broker-to-sell/",
  "author": "Moran Pober",
  "publisher": "Acquisitions.com",
  "published": "2026-11-02",
  "updated": "2026-11-02",
  "section": "Business brokers",
  "keyword": "do I need a business broker",
  "short_answer": "No. In general, no law makes you use a business broker to sell your own company. You need one when you have no buyer yet, your time is short, or the deal is big enough that a better price and cleaner terms will cover the fee. If a buyer has already come to you, a good lawyer and CPA may be enough.",
  "facts": {
    "Sell on your own": [
      "Only your lawyer and CPA",
      "A buyer already in hand, a simple business",
      "One buyer sets the price; it takes your time"
    ],
    "Business broker": [
      "Mostly a success fee, sometimes a retainer",
      "Smaller Main Street businesses",
      "Quality varies a lot from broker to broker"
    ],
    "M&A advisor": [
      "Retainer plus success fee",
      "Larger, more complex companies",
      "Higher minimum fees; not every advisor takes small deals"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-ibba-and-ma-source-announce-the-market-pulse-q4-2025-survey-results-302691992.html",
    "https://www.goodwinlaw.com/en/insights/publications/2023/01/01_27-new-federal-ma-broker-exemption",
    "https://dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/faqs/FAQ_DoingBusinessOnTheInternet.pdf"
  ],
  "license": "Facts may be quoted with attribution to Acquisitions.com and a link to the url above."
}