How much does it cost to list?

£19 per month, or pick the 1 percent success-fee plan and pay nothing until your business actually sells. There are no listing fees, no commission on top, and no charge to talk to buyers.

Will my customers, staff, or competitors find out?

You decide field by field what is visible. For each piece of information (turnover, town, business name, address, owner name, and so on) you choose one of three options: visible publicly before anyone signs an NDA, visible only to buyers who have signed your NDA, or never shown at all. The defaults err on the side of privacy: town and county show publicly, street and postcode only post-NDA, and your real name and contact details never appear until you choose to share them in conversation.

How long does it usually take to sell a business?

It varies. A well-priced retail or services business often gets serious enquiries within a few weeks. Specialist businesses can take six months or longer. The average UK SME sale takes around six to nine months from listing to completion.

Do I need a solicitor?

Yes, once an offer is accepted. A solicitor handles the share purchase or asset sale agreement, plus warranties and indemnities. We do not replace that work. We replace the broker who would have introduced you to buyers and charged a commission for it.

Can I get help if I am stuck?

Yes. Reply to any Fair Handover email and a real person responds, usually within a working day. We will not write your listing for you, but we will help you think it through.

What happens if I do not sell?

On the monthly plan you can pause or end your listing at any time. On the 1 percent success-fee plan there is nothing to pay if no sale happens. Either way, no penalties and no lock-in.

Sell your business in the UK

Sell your UK business directly to buyers with flat-fee listing and no broker commission. Start with a free valuation, no signup required.

Selling a business is one of the biggest decisions a UK owner makes, and for most it is the first time. Brokers typically take six to twelve months and 8 to 12 percent of the sale price. You should be able to do it yourself, on your own terms, with the same legal protections and confidentiality controls, for a fixed monthly fee or a single 1 percent success fee at the end.

Below is how it works in three steps, the guides we have written for first-time sellers, and an honest take on each sector we cover. The natural first step is a free valuation, so you know what you are working with before you commit to anything.

Find out what your business is worth

Free, takes about five minutes, no signup required. The valuation is the natural first step before deciding to list.

Start free valuation →

How it works

Three steps.
No jargon. No surprises.

We've designed the whole process to be straightforward and clear, so you can move at your own pace.

Get a free valuation

Answer a few questions about your business and we'll give you a sensible market range, based on your sector, your numbers, and what comparable UK businesses are asking.

Takes about 5 minutes

Build and publish your listing

Use the listing builder to decide what's visible publicly and what's hidden behind an NDA. Pay £19 a month, or pick the 1% success-fee plan and pay nothing until you actually sell.

Full control, always

Talk to real buyers

We email you the moment a buyer enquires or signs your NDA. Message them through Fair Handover, with your real email hidden until you choose to share it. Negotiate and close on your own terms.

Your real contact details stay hidden

Guides for sellers

Honest, UK-specific advice on the things first-time sellers actually worry about.

Business broker fees in the UK, explainedWhat UK business brokers actually charge, how the numbers work on a typical sale, and how the cost compares with a direct-to-buyer marketplace.Read the guide →Confidentiality when selling a businessHow to sell a UK business without your staff, customers, or competitors finding out before you want them to. What works in practice, what does not.Read the guide →How to sell a business in the UKA practical, step-by-step guide to selling a small or medium UK business. From valuation to completion, what to expect and when.Read the guide →How to value a businessHow small and medium UK businesses are actually valued. The common methods, the typical multiples, and what to do with the answer.Read the guide →Preparing your business for saleWhat to do in the 6 to 12 months before listing your business, to maximise the price, shorten the sale, and minimise surprises in diligence.Read the guide →Selling a business without a brokerAn honest read on selling a UK business without a broker: when it makes sense, when it does not, and how to handle the parts you would have outsourced.Read the guide →Tax when selling a business in the UKTax on selling a UK business: Capital Gains, Business Asset Disposal Relief, and the November 2024 budget changes. What to plan for and when.Read the guide →The seller's due diligence checklistWhat buyers will ask for in due diligence on a UK business sale, and how to assemble the diligence pack before they ask. A practical seller-side checklist.Read the guide →

By sector

Sector-specific selling advice. What buyers in your sector look for, how these businesses are valued, what you should have ready before you list.

Food & drinkSelling a UK pub, restaurant, cafe or food business. What buyers want to see on the lease, the kitchen, the licence, and the numbers.Sector guide →Service & tradesSelling a UK service or trades business. From cleaning rounds to electrical contractors, what buyers value and how to evidence it.Sector guide →RetailSelling a retail business in the UK, from a single high-street shop to a small multi-site operator. Honest valuations and a clear path to a sale.Sector guide →Professional servicesSelling a UK professional services practice. Accountancy, law, consultancy, advisory. Client book, qualifications, recurring fees, deal mechanics.Sector guide →Online & digitalSelling a UK online or digital business. Ecommerce, SaaS, content sites, agencies. What buyers diligence and how to evidence it cleanly.Sector guide →Property servicesSelling a UK property or commercial business. Letting agencies, property management, commercial brokers. Recurring fees, regulation, transfer.Sector guide →Care & educationSelling a UK care home, nursery, or education business. CQC and Ofsted transfer, staff continuity, fee mix. The specifics that matter.Sector guide →Leisure & entertainmentSelling a UK gym, salon, beauty, or leisure business. Membership transfer, equipment leases, venue lease, what buyers actually pay for.Sector guide →Agriculture & ruralSelling a UK agriculture or rural business. Farms, equine, rural enterprise. Land, subsidies, tenancy structures, IHT and APR considerations.Sector guide →Manufacturing & wholesaleSelling a UK manufacturing or wholesale business. Customer concentration, plant condition, working capital, what buyers diligence first.Sector guide →

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to list?: £19 per month, or pick the 1 percent success-fee plan and pay nothing until your business actually sells. There are no listing fees, no commission on top, and no charge to talk to buyers.
Will my customers, staff, or competitors find out?: You decide field by field what is visible. For each piece of information (turnover, town, business name, address, owner name, and so on) you choose one of three options: visible publicly before anyone signs an NDA, visible only to buyers who have signed your NDA, or never shown at all. The defaults err on the side of privacy: town and county show publicly, street and postcode only post-NDA, and your real name and contact details never appear until you choose to share them in conversation.
How long does it usually take to sell a business?: It varies. A well-priced retail or services business often gets serious enquiries within a few weeks. Specialist businesses can take six months or longer. The average UK SME sale takes around six to nine months from listing to completion.
Do I need a solicitor?: Yes, once an offer is accepted. A solicitor handles the share purchase or asset sale agreement, plus warranties and indemnities. We do not replace that work. We replace the broker who would have introduced you to buyers and charged a commission for it.
Can I get help if I am stuck?: Yes. Reply to any Fair Handover email and a real person responds, usually within a working day. We will not write your listing for you, but we will help you think it through.
What happens if I do not sell?: On the monthly plan you can pause or end your listing at any time. On the 1 percent success-fee plan there is nothing to pay if no sale happens. Either way, no penalties and no lock-in.

Looking to buy a UK business instead?

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Last reviewed 29 May 2026

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