GoKawiilReport: Up to 80% of Businesses Listed for Sale Never Find a Buyer
Citing the Exit Planning Institute's latest report, the article states that as many as 80% of businesses put up for sale fail to sell. The piece, written by an Entrepreneur contributor, attributes stalled sales to owners clinging to unrealistic price expectations, bloated overhead and outdated pricing, and messy or unclear financial records.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The figures suggest a persistent gap between what small business owners believe their companies are worth and what buyers are actually willing to pay, which could leave many owners unable to cash out when they want to retire or move on. The advice to use objective valuations and clean records implies that better preparation, not just market conditions, may determine whether a sale succeeds.
- Up to 80% of businesses listed for sale don't sell, per the Exit Planning Institute
- Emotional attachment to a business often inflates owners' price expectations beyond market value
- Clean records, trimmed overhead and updated pricing are recommended before going to market
Source: entrepreneur.com — Jessica Fialkovich, 2026-10-20
Published there as: “3 Reasons Why So Many Businesses Don’t Sell – And How to Make Sure Yours Does”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.