A business listing that reads like a legal document gets ignored. Buyers scroll past vague revenue numbers and generic "turnkey operation" claims. This template and the section-by-section guidance help you write a listing that earns a buyer's attention, protects confidentiality appropriately, and leads with the metrics serious buyers actually care about.
⚠️ Not Legal Advice
This template is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional legal counsel. Business acquisitions involve complex legal, financial, and tax issues that vary by state and transaction type. Always consult with a qualified business acquisition attorney before signing any binding agreement.
TEASER LISTING (200–400 words — public, pre-NDA)
HEADLINE: [COMPELLING, SPECIFIC, NO BUSINESS NAME — e.g., "Profitable B2B Cleaning Services Company — $2.4M Revenue, 30%+ Margins, Mostly Recurring Contracts"]
FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT:
- Annual Revenue: $[AMOUNT] (trailing 12 months) | [TREND: growing / stable / down X%]
- SDE / EBITDA: $[AMOUNT]
- Asking Price: $[AMOUNT] ([X.X]x SDE)
- Year Established: [YEAR]
- Employees: [NUMBER] full-time, [NUMBER] part-time
BUSINESS OVERVIEW: [3–4 sentences. Describe the business without naming it. Include: what the business does, who it serves, geographic market, and business model. Example: "Established commercial landscaping company serving 75+ recurring contract clients in the [REGION] metro area. Services include maintenance contracts, seasonal cleanup, and snow removal. Revenue is 80% recurring under annual contracts, with average client retention of 6+ years."]
WHY THIS BUSINESS STANDS OUT: [3–5 bullet points. Lead with the most compelling attributes:]
• [e.g., "80% recurring contract revenue — predictable cash flow from day one"]
• [e.g., "Owner works [X] hours/week — strong management team in place"]
• [e.g., "Lease runs through [YEAR] at below-market rates — long-term cost advantage"]
• [e.g., "Multiple untapped growth channels identified — ready for a growth-oriented owner"]
• [e.g., "Clean financials — 3 years of tax returns match P&L statements"]
GROWTH OPPORTUNITY: [2–3 sentences on the single biggest growth lever. Be specific. Example: "Current owner has turned down [X] enterprise client inquiries in the past 12 months due to capacity constraints. A buyer who adds one crew could capture $[AMOUNT] in additional annual revenue without any additional marketing spend."]
REASON FOR SALE: [Be honest and specific. "Owner retiring after [X] years." "Owner relocating." "Owner pursuing other business interests." Vague reasons raise flags.]
IDEAL Buyer: [2 sentences. Example: "This business is ideal for an owner-operator looking to replace a $[SALARY RANGE] income with a proven, established business, or a strategic buyer in the [INDUSTRY] sector looking to add [GEOGRAPHY] coverage."]
[FOR MORE INFORMATION — QUALIFIED BUYERS ONLY]: Contact [BROKER NAME / SELLER CONTACT] to receive our Non-Disclosure Agreement and Confidential Information Memorandum. Proof of financial qualification required.
CIM Section 1: Executive Summary (Post-NDA)
[This section is the first page of the full Confidential Information Memorandum — provided to qualified buyers after NDA]
BUSINESS NAME: [FULL NAME]
LOCATION: [FULL ADDRESS]
WEBSITE: [URL]
ASKING PRICE: $[AMOUNT]
FINANCING: [Seller financing available up to $[AMOUNT] at [X]% over [Y] years for qualified buyers / SBA eligible / All cash required]
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION: [3–5 paragraphs. Cover:
1. What the business does, how it operates, how it serves customers
2. History: when founded, key milestones, how the business has evolved
3. Market position: competitive advantages, reputation, differentiation
4. Operations: team structure, owner's role, day-to-day operations
5. Physical location and assets overview]
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:
| Year | Gross Revenue | SDE / EBITDA | YoY Change |
|------|--------------|-------------|-----------|
| [YEAR-2] | $[X] | $[X] | — |
| [YEAR-1] | $[X] | $[X] | [+/-X%] |
| TTM | $[X] | $[X] | [+/-X%] |
ADD-BACK SCHEDULE:
| Item | Annual Amount | Notes |
|------|--------------|-------|
| Owner salary | $[X] | Replaced by SDE calculation |
| Owner health insurance | $[X] | Non-recurring personal benefit |
| Owner auto expense | $[X] | Personal use portion |
| [Other add-backs] | $[X] | [Explain each] |
| Total Add-Backs | $[X] | |
| Adjusted SDE | $[X] | Net income + add-backs |
CIM Section 2: Products, Services & Market
REVENUE BREAKDOWN BY SERVICE/PRODUCT:
| Product/Service | Annual Revenue | % of Total | Margin | Growth Trend |
|----------------|--------------|-----------|--------|-------------|
| [ITEM 1] | $[X] | [X]% | [X]% | Growing/Stable/Declining |
| [ITEM 2] | $[X] | [X]% | [X]% | — |
[Continue...]
CUSTOMER PROFILE:
- Total active customers: [NUMBER]
- Average customer tenure: [X] years
- Largest single customer: [X]% of revenue (anonymized)
- Top 5 customers combined: [X]% of revenue
- Customer acquisition: [DESCRIBE HOW — referrals, digital, direct sales, etc.]
- Customer contracts: [X]% on contract, [X]% month-to-month
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE:
[Name 3–5 competitors. For each: name (if willing to disclose), size, market share estimate, and how your business differentiates from them]
MARKET OPPORTUNITY:
[2–3 paragraphs on the market. Is it growing? What are the tailwinds? What opportunities exist that the current owner has not pursued?]
CIM Section 3: Operations & Team
STAFFING:
[Describe team structure without naming individuals until serious buyer stage]
- [NUMBER] full-time employees: [describe roles generally — e.g., "2 field technicians, 1 office manager"]
- [NUMBER] part-time / seasonal employees
- Owner's role: [DESCRIBE hours per week, specific tasks, what is owner-dependent]
- Key employee strengths: [DESCRIBE without naming]
- Any retention risks: [DISCLOSE honestly — buyer will find out in due diligence]
OPERATIONS OVERVIEW:
[Walk through a typical week/month. Cover: how work comes in, how it's scheduled/dispatched, how it's delivered, how invoices go out, how collections work]
TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS:
- Accounting: [QuickBooks / Xero / other]
- CRM: [NAME]
- Scheduling / dispatch: [NAME]
- Point of sale: [NAME]
- Other critical platforms: [LIST]
FACILITIES:
- [DESCRIBE: size, lease terms, condition, equipment overview]
- Lease: [TERM, MONTHLY COST, RENEWAL OPTIONS]
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES: [Top 3–5 specific, actionable growth levers a new owner could pursue:]
1. [SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY — with estimated revenue impact]
2. [SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY]
3. [SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY]
Need a Business Acquisition Attorney?
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Include: annual gross revenue (last 3 years or trailing 12 months), SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings) or EBITDA, asking price and asking multiple (e.g., "Asking $750,000 — 3x SDE"), and a brief note on revenue trends. Omit customer names, detailed financials, and anything that could identify the business before an NDA is signed.
Yes for initial listing — especially if employees, customers, or competitors could see it. Use a general description ("profitable HVAC company in the Mid-Atlantic region") rather than the business name. Provide full details only to qualified buyers who have signed an NDA.
Recurring revenue or contracted revenue (predictable cash flow), multiple growth levers that a new owner can pull immediately, low owner-dependence, clean financials with verifiable numbers, and strong reason for sale that isn't a red flag. Buyers are trained to be skeptical — every vague or evasive element increases their discount.
The initial teaser (what appears on listing sites before NDA) should be 200–400 words — enough to qualify interest without revealing confidential details. The full CIM (Confidential Information Memorandum) provided after NDA should be 10–30 pages with full financial detail, market analysis, and growth opportunities.