Free tool · Net proceeds
Business sale net proceeds calculator
Estimate what you'll actually walk away with after selling your business: sale price minus broker commission, debt payoff, and closing costs.
This estimate excludes taxes. Capital-gains treatment depends on your basis, entity, and deal structure, so check with a tax advisor for your after-tax number.
What you actually keep from a business sale
The headline sale price is rarely what the seller pockets. Broker commission, payoff of any outstanding loans, and closing costs all come out first. This calculator gives you the pre-tax walk-away number so you can plan, and so the price you negotiate reflects what you'll actually keep.
How to use this calculator
Enter the expected sale price, broker commission, any debt that will be paid off at closing, and other costs. The calculator shows your estimated net proceeds and the total costs deducted. To set realistic expectations on price, read how to value a business and our exit strategy guide.
Frequently asked questions
Net proceeds are what the seller actually keeps after the sale price is reduced by broker commission, any debt that gets paid off at closing, and transaction costs like legal and escrow fees. It's the 'walk-away' number before taxes.
The main deductions are the broker or M&A advisor commission, payoff of any business loans or liens, and closing costs (legal, escrow, and transfer fees). Some deals also have prorations and holdbacks.
No. This estimate is before taxes. Capital-gains treatment depends on your cost basis, entity type, and how the deal is structured (asset vs. stock sale), so work with a tax advisor for your after-tax figure.
Main Street business brokers commonly charge around 10%, often on a Lehman-style sliding scale for larger deals. The exact rate is agreed up front, before the business goes to market.
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