Top 10 Things to do today to make your business Sellable
I didn’t start my first business thinking I’d one day sell it. But after years of running a successful brick-and-mortar, I realized that a truly valuable business isn’t one that just pays your bills—it’s one that could run without you. It took time (and some unlearning), but I made my business sale-ready—and got it sold on a deadline.
Whether you want out in six months or six years, here’s the truth: the best time to prepare your business for a future sale is today. The bonus? These moves don’t just help you sell—they make your business easier and more enjoyable to run right now.
Here are 10 things you can do to make your business sellable, starting today:
1. Establish Systems and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
Before I became a business owner, I worked as an engineer on a ship. Ships are complex machines—think floating cities—and yet, any trained engineer can step aboard, grab the right manual, and operate the engines. That’s the power of systems.
When I opened my first business, I brought that same mentality with me. I wanted someone to be able to walk into my store and know how to run it. That mindset? It paid off when it came time to sell.
Start by documenting repeatable tasks:
How do you open or close for the day?
What’s the process for onboarding a customer or client?
How do you fulfill an order or respond to a refund request?
You can start with screen recordings, checklists, or simple Google Docs. The goal is to create a “how we do things here” manual for your business. Buyers love seeing operational clarity—it tells them your business isn’t chaos in disguise.
2. Automate Everything You Can
Are you still typing out invoices manually? Logging into three platforms to check messages? Running your business by brute force?
Automation is the bridge between burnout and freedom.
Some quick wins:
Use FloDesk, ConvertKit, or MailChimp to automatically send emails when someone joins your list or inquires about services.
Use QuickBooks, Wave, or Xero to send invoices and track expenses without spreadsheets.
Use Tailwind to automate Pinterest marketing, or Meta Planner to schedule out Instagram posts.
Buyers want a business that runs smoothly—and automation makes it feel like a well-oiled machine instead of a scrappy side hustle.
3. Clean Up Your Books
One of the first things a potential buyer will ask for is your financials. And if you can’t confidently hand over a clean Profit & Loss statement, you’re in trouble.
I know, numbers aren’t always fun—but this is where your business's story lives. If your books are messy, it raises red flags.
Start here:
Separate business and personal finances.
Make sure you’re tracking all income and expenses (yes, even the small ones).
Hire a bookkeeper if you can. It’s worth it.
Use software like QuickBooks or Xero to get everything in one place.
Clean books = clean confidence. It also means your business can be valued more accurately—and buyers trust accurate numbers.
4. Diversify with One More Income Stream
Want to make your business more attractive? Show that it’s not putting all its eggs in one basket.
This could look like:
A service-based business adding a digital product (like a course or guide).
A retail store starting a subscription box.
A freelancer creating a paid resource library.
When I was getting ready to sell my shop, I looked at ways to diversify revenue without adding a ton of overhead. That additional stream helped stabilize monthly income—and made my business look less risky to buyers.
Don’t go wild. One strong new stream is better than five half-baked ones.
5. Reduce Owner Dependency
This is big. If your business depends entirely on you—your brain, your face, your name—it’s going to be hard to sell. Buyers want to know the business will work without you in it.
Start here:
Shift away from being the only face on social or the only person clients interact with.
Delegate customer service, bookkeeping, or content creation to others.
Build a team—even a small one—so there’s continuity.
You can still be present, but don’t be the glue holding everything together. Systems, documentation, and team support make the business transferable. Bonus: they also make your life easier.
6. Get Your Legal and Licenses in Order
This one’s not glamorous—but it’s essential. Imagine buying a car and then realizing the title’s not clean. That’s how buyers feel when a business has legal or licensing issues.
Check these now:
Is your business legally registered and up to date?
Do you have the correct business licenses and permits?
Are your client agreements, contracts, and privacy policies in writing?
If you don’t know where to start, connect with a small business attorney or use platforms like LegalZoom or HoneyBook (for contracts).
Clean paperwork reduces risk for everyone—especially your future buyer.
7. Build a Brand, Not Just a Business
Your brand is what people remember. It’s more than colors and a logo—it’s the feel, vibe, and consistency of your messaging.
Ask yourself:
Does your website communicate what you do—and why it matters?
Are your visuals cohesive and professional?
Do customers recognize your name and associate it with something positive?
A buyer will want to know they’re buying something memorable—not just a name on a utility bill.
Your brand also adds perceived value. A branded business can command a higher price than an unpolished one. A brand surrounding a person will be more difficult to sell, but not impossible. A strategic selling strategy and plan for transitioning the business will have to come into play.
8. Get Testimonials and Document Results
Whether you’re service-based or product-based, social proof matters. Buyers want to know the business works—and that customers are happy.
Start gathering:
Written testimonials from happy clients or customers
Case studies or before/after stories
Screenshots of positive reviews or social proof
Put these in a folder now. They’ll become part of your listing materials and build confidence in your offer when the time comes.
9. Keep It Fun and Sustainable
If you’re stressed, overwhelmed, and burned out—you’re not going to build a business someone else wants to run. Buyers can sense that desperation a mile away.
Rebuild your business in a way that’s actually enjoyable to run. That could mean:
Taking Fridays off
Saying no to projects that aren’t aligned
Automating that annoying customer follow-up
Hiring help, even part-time
When your business feels good to you, it tends to perform better too. And buyers want a business that comes with joy, not just spreadsheets.
10. Think Like a Buyer
Finally, zoom out. Ask yourself:
If I were going to buy this business, what would I want to know?
Would I be confident in its performance?
Could I learn to run it from a manual?
Buyers want to step into something that’s understandable, profitable, and organized.
Start preparing your business like you’re already getting ready to sell it. Whether you exit in six months or six years, these steps will make the transition smoother—and potentially way more profitable.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to know your exact exit date. You just have to start acting like the kind of business that could be sold if the right offer came along. That’s where freedom lives. That’s where options start showing up.
The real gift? Everything you do to make your business more sellable also makes it more scalable, profitable, and peaceful to run.
If you’re thinking about selling one day (or just want to feel less stuck in your business), now’s the time to get serious.
Want Help Getting Started?
Download the Business Sale Master Plan from BeneathThePalms.com—a guide to get your business ready to sell, even if you’re years away. It walks you through the first five moves to start building value and creating freedom.
Not every business is sellable. And just because a business makes a profit, does someone want to buy it. So much plays into the sale of business. At the end of the day, you are selling a job. Here are 10 tips to add value to your biz and get it sold.