When it comes to selling your business, ‘good enough’ is not good enough

Selling your business isn’t just a transaction — it’s a defining moment. For many business owners, it marks the culmination of a lifetime of work. Years of late nights, risks taken, challenges overcome and wins hard-won. That’s why it’s so important that when the time comes, the outcome reflects the full value of what’s been built — not just financially, but strategically, structurally and personally.

Yet too often, we hear of business owners who settle.

An offer comes in. It feels fair. It’s from a buyer who seems interested and capable.

And because it’s the only offer on the table, or the process has dragged on too long, or emotions are high, it’s accepted.

But “good enough” is not good enough. Not when there’s more value to unlock, a better fit to be found and more options to explore. Not when the final deal can shape your legacy, your team’s future and your own next chapter.

So what does an exceptional deal actually look like?

It’s one where the value is right, and so is the structure. Where the buyer sees the potential and is aligned with your vision. Where you walk away not just with a cheque, but with clarity, confidence and pride.

Achieving that doesn’t happen by accident. It requires:

1. Multiple qualified buyers

Too many business owners fall into the trap of negotiating with a single buyer. But one buyer gives you a price. Multiple buyers create competitive tension, and that tension drives value. It puts you in the driver’s seat, giving you options to compare and the power to negotiate from a position of strength.

2. A compelling, well-positioned business story

Every business has a story, but not every story is told well. Buyers need more than balance sheets. They need to understand your value proposition, your growth potential, your people and your purpose. The right narrative opens the right doors.

3. An advisor who sees the deal through

A deal isn’t done until it’s signed, sealed and delivered. And a lot can go wrong between initial interest and final close. Valuation gaps, due diligence hurdles, cultural mismatches or shifting priorities can quickly derail months of progress. That’s why execution matters. You need an advisor who knows how to keep deals moving, solve problems before they become roadblocks and protect your interests every step of the way.

You only sell your business once. Make it count.

At Deal Leaders International, we don’t settle for average outcomes. We partner with you to unlock the full value of your business through a proven process, a powerful global buyer network and an unwavering commitment to finding the right deal, not just any deal.

If you're considering your exit, talk to us. You might be surprised at what’s possible and how much better than “good enough” your future can be.

About Deal Leaders International

Deal Leaders International (DLI) is a boutique M&A advisory firm specialising in helping business owners and executives, with a business EBITDA between R20 million and R300 million per year, engineer their growth-to-exit journey.  

We go beyond traditional advisory services, partnering with our clients to design, execute and optimise strategies that achieve maximum value when selling their businesses.  

Our mission is to empower our clients to achieve outcomes that align with their financial, professional and personal goals while positioning their businesses as highly attractive to the right buyers.  

As the Africa representative of the Pandea Global M&A Network, we offer our clients both local and international expertise and experience. With 69 offices in 34 countries, and over 2500 successfully completed transactions with a combined deal value over €30 billion, DLI offers deep market insights, practical expertise and a results-driven approach to prepare and successfully execute on business growth and exit strategies.