Small and large business owners alike develop strong and often emotional bonds with the companies they own. Often, these owners have seen their businesses through thick and thin, and may have even been with them from the beginning. For all of these reasons, deciding whether or not it is time to sell one’s business is a very difficult thing to do. Why put oneself through all of that heartache and distress for no reason? When one is optioning whether or not to sell a business, it is necessary to make sure it is exactly the right thing to do.

Weighing the pros and cons of business selling can be difficult, especially if its owner is slightly biased. Fortunately, there are plenty of signs that can help one dictate whether or not it is time to sell a company.

•  Succession: Often, small businesses especially, tend to run in families. If an owner of a company has spent a very long time training his or her next familial successor, he or she must watch for the correct timing to turn over the reigns. These transitions require years of training and expert assistance, but if one waits too long, family feuds can develop. One can hire a succession planning expert to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
• Offers: Sometimes, unexpected offers for business sales can arise. Even if one was not thinking about selling one’s business, a good enough offer can be enough to force one to stop and think about the opportunity. It is important in this circumstance not to inform one’s employees. Before making a decision, one should weigh the pros and cons, and certainly contact qualified advisors.
• Profitable: If one’s business is particularly profitable, it may be worthwhile to sell. The purpose of a business is not just to provide goods and services to clients, but to provide earnings for its employees, especially its owner.
• Life Changes: If the owner of a business is going through extreme life changes, good or bad, it is always wise to consider the option of selling. Owning a business is a difficult job, so one must always be equipped to do so.

Selling a business is never easy, and without one of the signs listed above, it may not even be wise. Selling a business requires the same strengths that owning a business does: perception, determination, and intelligence. With these qualities, anyone can successfully sell his or her business.