Most owners are surprised by how long the sale process takes. You do not just list your clinic and sign papers a few weeks later. It takes time. Usually six to nine months. Sometimes longer depending on how prepared you are, how fast buyers move, and how complicated your setup is.
If you are starting to think about selling, here is what that timeline really looks like. Step by step, no fluff.
First comes prep and it always takes longer than you think
You will hear brokers say it takes six months to close a deal. That part is mostly true. But what they forget to mention is how long it takes to get ready to even start that clock.
Before you even speak to a serious buyer, you need to take care of a few things:
- Clean up your books
- Calculate your actual EBITDA
- Separate business and personal expenses
- Organize leases, vendor contracts, and employment agreements
- Decide if you are selling the real estate or leasing it back
- Talk to your CPA and possibly your attorney
This quiet prep phase can take one to three months on its own. Especially if your financials are out of date or you are juggling day-to-day operations. The more buttoned up you are going in, the faster the rest will move.
Next is buyer outreach or waiting for the right one
Once you are ready, someone like you or a broker or your advisor starts putting the word out. This part is hard to predict. If you have a profitable well-located clinic, buyers can appear fast. Within a few weeks. But in some markets, it takes longer.
Here is what usually happens:
- NDAs get signed
- You share basic financials and background
- Buyers ask questions
- A few may go silent
- One or two will get serious
This stage usually takes another four to eight weeks. If multiple groups are interested, it can move faster. If you are only talking to one buyer and they slow down, it can drag.
Once someone is serious, they will send an LOI
The Letter of Intent is the first major step. It is not the final deal, but it lays out the big stuff. Sale price. Whether real estate is included. How long you will stay on after the sale. Whether it is an asset or stock deal.
You review it. Your advisor helps you negotiate. You sign it when the terms feel right.
That whole LOI process usually takes about two to four weeks. But it moves faster if you have been through it before or have good guidance.
Now comes due diligence and this is where things slow down
This part can feel intense. Once the LOI is signed, the buyer will want to see everything:
- Financial statements
- Payroll and tax reports
- Contracts and employment agreements
- Production data
- Vendor agreements
- Real estate details
- HR documentation
If your documents are clean and your systems are in place, due diligence can wrap in four to six weeks. If your books are messy or if the buyer is moving slow, this stage alone can stretch to two or three months.
Most deals that fall apart fall apart here. Not because the business is bad. But because it takes too long to give buyers what they need. They get spooked or distracted. Speed matters here.
The final step is contracts and closing
After due diligence checks out, it is time to finalize the deal.
Legal teams go back and forth. You get a purchase agreement. A non-compete clause. A transition contract if you are staying on for a while. Real estate documents if the building is included.
This phase is unpredictable. Some buyers move fast. Others especially larger groups take longer to get through their internal process.
Four to six weeks is a fair target for this final stage. But if there are lease complications or loan delays, it can stretch longer.
So what is the real answer
Here is how the average timeline breaks down:
- Preparation takes one to three months
- Buyer outreach and LOI take one to two months
- Due diligence and closing take two to four months
Total is about six to nine months if everything goes smoothly.
Some deals wrap up faster. Especially if you have sold before and know what to expect. But if this is your first time and your financials are not in shape, a full year is not unrealistic.
What slows everything down
The biggest delays usually come from the seller’s side:
- Not being fully sure about selling
- Financials that are unclear or outdated
- Lease issues or last-minute real estate decisions
- Trying to fix things during the sale
- Lack of clarity about what you want
Fixing these early can shave off months and avoid buyer frustration.
What speeds things up
If you want the process to move faster and smoother, here is what helps the most:
- Clean well-organized financials
- An accurate EBITDA already calculated
- Clearly documented staff roles and workflows
- Long-term lease in place or clean real estate plan
- A broker or advisor who knows the buyer landscape
- Real clarity on what you want
These are the things that make buyers feel confident. They also help you hold your value when negotiations begin.
Final word
Selling your practice takes time. But it does not have to be stressful or dragged out. Most deals close in six to nine months if the prep work is done right. That is why the smartest owners do not wait until they are burned out or ready to retire. They start getting ready early and take control of the timeline.
If you want to understand how the process works from start to finish, this guide breaks everything down in plain English. It is written for owners who want to exit smart, not rushed.