How Much Time Will an M&A Deal Take From Your Schedule?

Selling your business is a second job on top of your first one. Plan accordingly.

By phase

• Preparation (4–8 weeks): 8–15 hours per week gathering information, reviewing materials, aligning on strategy
• Marketing (6–10 weeks): 5–10 hours per week including management meetings with interested buyers
• LOI negotiation (2–4 weeks): 5–15 hours per week, spiky, with intense periods
• Due diligence (6–12 weeks): 10–20 hours per week — this is the heaviest phase
• Closing (4–6 weeks): 10–15 hours per week reviewing documents and finalizing

What eats the time

Data requests you have to source personally. Management meetings that require preparation. Late-night document reviews. Judgment calls only you can make. Emotional processing that costs mental bandwidth even when it's not on the calendar.

How to protect operating time

• Delegate operating decisions early — the process is your test of the second-in-command
• Block specific days or half-days for deal work
• Route routine deal requests through the advisor first
• Communicate honestly with your family about the intensity

The honest planning number

Assume 15–20 hours per week averaged across the 6–12 month process, with 30-hour weeks during diligence peaks. The business needs to run without your full attention during this time. If it can't, the sale process will damage the business — and reduce its value.