The costs of a Florida sale are the same three as anywhere else, the intermediary, the lawyer and the tax on the proceeds, and only the first of them is negotiable before you start, which is why it is the one to shop before you sign anything.
The intermediary is the biggest line and the least transparent
Where a fee is published at all in this record it runs from 5% to 15% of the sale price, with flat floors underneath that decide the price of a small sale. No Florida-focused main-street broker read here publishes anything. Ask for the commission, the dollar minimum and everything payable before the sale on the first call, from three firms on the same day.
Legal and closing costs
A purchase agreement drafted or reviewed properly is the cheapest insurance in the transaction, and escrow protects both sides between signature and transfer. Two of the marketplaces in this record include escrow at no extra charge; a private sale has to arrange and pay for it.
Tax on the proceeds is a separate calculation
How the price is allocated across asset classes decides a large part of what you keep, and both sides report the same allocation to the IRS. Florida's lack of a state income tax does not change the federal treatment. Get your accountant into the allocation conversation before the purchase agreement is drafted.
Questions people ask about sell your business florida
How long does a Florida business sale take?
Months rather than weeks, and the state filings are rarely the bottleneck. Preparation and due diligence are.
Can I sell a Florida business to an out-of-state buyer?
Routinely, and it is one of the reasons the market is active. The buyer will usually form a Florida entity to acquire the assets.
Do I need a Florida attorney?
You need someone to draft or review the purchase agreement, and for a Florida asset sale that is normally Florida counsel. This site gives no legal advice.