How old should a business be before selling?

Short Answer

The appropriate time to sell your business depends more on the

business's performance
your personal situation and goals, and
having sufficient advance planning to maximize the value and ensure a successful transition.

The appropriate time to sell your business depends more on the

business's performance,
your personal situation and goals, and
having sufficient advance planning to maximize the value and ensure a successful transition. The key is to sell when the business is in a strong position, not necessarily after a fixed number of years.

Tennessee Center for Employee Ownership